IN-SERVICE EVALUATION OF SAFETY APPURTENANCES: PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS (ABRIDGMENT)

In-service evaluation is the logical final stage of development of new highway safety appurtenances. It is intended to identify and correct unsuspected problems with a new device before its widespread adoption is recommended. Although most highway agencies do evaluate new appurtenances, until recently no guidelines have been available to ensure consistency and uniformity of these efforts. NCHRP Report 230, "Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Appurtenances," provided such guidelines. By using these guidelines an in-service evaluation plan was developed and tested in conjunction with pilot installations of a self-restoring barrier guardrail at locations in Illinois, Virginia, New York, and Colorado. The evaluation procedures suggested in NCHRP Report 230 proved valid. However, the evaluation process can be significantly improved by soliciting support and involvement from potential users early in the research effort, by selecting appropriate installation sites, by obtaining a specific commitment from those persons monitoring the installation, and by ensuring an effective feedback cycle for further development of the appurtenance based on its actual performance.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/970/970-001.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IN-SERVICE+EVALUATION+OF+SAFETY+APPURTENANCES%3A+PROBLEMS+AND+SOLUTIONS+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=R.+Powers&publication_year=1984
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Safety Appurtenances. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Powers, Richard D
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 1-3
• Monograph Title: SAFETY APPURTENANCES AND UTILITY ACCOMMODATION
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 970
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Development; Feedback control; Guardrails; Guidelines; Monitoring; Performance evaluations; Research; Safety equipment
• Uncontrolled Terms: Feedback; Research and development
• Old TRIS Terms: Self recovery
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00394942
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309037522
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 30 1985 12:00AM