60 likes | 266 Views
Intersection Safety Case Study Summary. Improving Traffic Signal Visibility: Retroreflective Borders on Traffic Signal Backplates. A South Carolina Success Story. FHWA-SA-09-011. The Challenge.
E N D
Intersection Safety Case Study Summary Improving Traffic Signal Visibility:Retroreflective Borders on Traffic Signal Backplates A South Carolina Success Story FHWA-SA-09-011
The Challenge • More than 170,00 injuries and about 900 fatalities occur because ofred-light running every year1. • Driver failure to see the traffic control device in time to comply is a common problem. • South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) sought simple,low-cost safety treatments to increase visibility of intersections, and reduce the number and severity of crashes at signalized intersections. 1. Federal Highway Administration Red-Light Running Web Site (2008), http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/redlight/.
Solution Retroreflective Borders: • 3-inch wide yellow retroreflective borders added to existing backplates in June, 2005 • Border extends around the perimeter of the signal backplate • Border’s visibility increases significantly at night or under limited visibility conditions
Location: 3 high-crash locations in Columbia, South Carolina US 378 (Sumter Highway) andS-37 (Lower Richland Boulevard) I-26 Westbound with S-1280(Piney Grove Road) S-1280 (Piney Grove Road)with S-1791 (Jamil Road) Speed Limits: Ranged from 35 mph to 45 mph Implementation Cost: $1,500 per intersection Implementation Time: 2 hours per intersection Implementation Issues: SCDOT experienced no implementation issues with this countermeasures Technical Data
Results Average Crash Reductions: • 49.6% reduction in late-night/early-morning crashes per year • 36.7% reduction in injury crashes per year • 28.6% reduction in total crashes per year
For More Information • Visit FHWA’s intersection safety web site to download this and other case studies highlighting proven intersection safety treatments from across the country: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/ • Or Contact: Joey D Riddle South Carolina Department of Transportation, Columbia, SC Phone: (803) 737-3582 E-mail: riddlejd@dot.state.sc.us Ed Rice Office of Safety (HSSD) Federal Highway Administration Phone: (202) 366-9064 E-mail: ed.rice@dot.gov