BOOBY TRAPPED: POTHOLES

What size pothole constitutes a hazard is not well defined by research or the courts. Limited research has looked at the damage potential to vehicles when striking various sized holes, but the effects of any given size pothole or driver response is little understood. Environmental and traffic factors also influence the degree of danger any one pothole poses. These diverse factors include speed, traffic density, weather and pavement conditions, roadside hazards, curves, opposing traffic and vehicle mix. Because potholes can occur at new locations near recent repairs, pictorial proof of repairs could be helpful in defending claims and suits. A motorist claiming an agency failed to repair an already identified and repaired potholde could be refuted if photographic evidence supplemented with time, data and location information proved otherwise. Pothole maintenance should be a high priority item in both risk management and maintenance management programs. The elements, ass a minimum should include; 1) Identification utilizing street and highway personnel as well as police; 2) Procedures for notifying responsible officials and employees: 3) Prioritization of response based on environmental and traffic factors; 4) Performance standards for repairs; 5) Traffic control procedures based on road and traffic conditions; 6) Documentation of agency actions from time of notification to repair; 7) Evaluation of repair procedures; and 8) Employee training for all safety during repair operations.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0884612X
• Corporate Authors:

  TranSafety Incorported

  9520 Lee Highway
  Fairfax, VA  United States  22031

  TranSafety Incorporated

  2020 K Street, NW, Suite 350
  Washington, DC  United States  20006
• Authors:
  • Anderson, R W G
• Publication Date: 1985-4

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 4
• Serial:
  • TRANSAFETY REPORTER
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: TranSafety, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0884-612X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Evaluation; Hazards; Liability; Maintenance management; Pavements; Potholes; Risk assessment; Standards; Strategic planning; Traffic density; Traffic speed; Weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pavement conditions
• Old TRIS Terms: L
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00395710
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1985 12:00AM