Low-Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety

Nearly 25% of fatal crashes occur at or near a horizontal curve. Hence, addressing the safety problem at horizontal curves is one of the 22 emphasis areas of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan prepared by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Also, crashes at horizontal curves are a big component of the road departure crash problem, which is one of Federal Highway Administration's three focus areas. This publication was prepared to provide practical information on low-cost treatments that can be applied at horizontal curves to address identified or potential safety problems. The publication concisely describes the treatment; shows examples; suggests when the treatment might be applicable; provides design features; and where available, provides information on the potential safety effectiveness and costs. The treatments include: Basic traffic signs and markings found in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD); Enhanced traffic control devices; Additional traffic control devices not found in the MUTCD; Rumble strips; Minor roadway improvements; and Innovative and experimental treatments. The publication concludes with a description of maintenance activities that should be conducted to keep the treatments effective.

• Record URL:
  • http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/horicurves/fhwasa07002/
• Record URL:
  • http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/horicurves/fhwasa07002/
• Record URL:
  • http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/horicurves/fhwasa07002/fhwasa07002.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Incorporated

  8300 Boone Boulevard, Suite 700
  Vienna, VA  United States  22182-2626

  Transportation Research Corporation

  11671 Audubon Trail
  Markham, VA  United States  22643

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Safety, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • McGee, Hugh W
  • Hanscom, Fred R
• Publication Date: 2006-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 66p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Highway curves; Highway safety; Improvements; Road markings; Rumble strips; Traffic control devices; Traffic signs
• Identifier Terms: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices; Strategic Highway Safety Plan
• Uncontrolled Terms: Horizontal curvature
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01049318
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-SA-07-002
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-05-D-00024
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 8 2007 4:22PM