DESIGN IN RURAL ROAD SAFETY...BUT BALANCE ACCIDENT REDUCTION WITH THE COST
Ways of incorporating road safety measures into reconstruction of rural roads, while cost-effectively minimizing accidents, are addressed. Vehicle-to-vehicle collisions on rural roads are far less likely than single-vehicle accidents. Appropriate measures for reducing the number of single-vehicle accidents are wide roadways and shoulders, clear and flat roadsides, gradual alignment, and high-quality traffic signs and signals, the cost of which is generally prohibitive for the mileage on low-volume roads. Local officials are faced with two undesirable options: to spend available funds on improving as many miles of low-volume roads as possible to primary roadway standards; or to avoid unjustified expenditures by making no improvements on low-volume roads. An objective set of guidelines is needed for built-in safety attributes and for traffic control features on low-volume roads which balance maximum safety and minimum cost. Least expensive options for improved rural road safety concern speed limit signs, shoulders, total road width, horizontal curves, centerline markings, no passing stripes, and roadside design. The safety record of rural roads is discussed, and data on recommended roadway widths are provided.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0149337X
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Supplemental Notes:
- Research sponsored by American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
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Corporate Authors:
Buttenheim Publishing Corporation
Berkshire Common
Pittsfield, MA United States 01201 -
Authors:
- Glennon, J C
- Publication Date: 1980-1
Media Info
- Pagination: p. 29-32
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Serial:
- American City & County
- Volume: 95
- Issue Number: 1
- Publisher: Penton Media
- ISSN: 0149-337X
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Costs; Crashes; Geometric curves; Guidelines; Highway design; Highway safety; Low volume roads; Pavements; Road markings; Road shoulders; Roadside; Rural highways; Safety; Single vehicle crashes; Traffic safety; Traffic signals; Traffic signs; Width
- Uncontrolled Terms: Horizontal curvature
- Old TRIS Terms: Pavement width; Traffic marking
- Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00387455
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 503
- Files: HSL, USDOT
- Created Date: Aug 30 1984 12:00AM