STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING ROADSIDE SAFETY

Roadside safety is a major component of highway safety in the United States. Roadside crashes account for one third of the total highway fatalities in the U.S. each year and they cost society $80 billion a year. Crashes with trees account for about 10% of the national fatalities and crashes with utility poles about 5%. Rollovers are the most severe type of roadside crashes. Roadside safety has not improved as much as other aspects of highway safety. The driver, vehicle and roadway all need to be addressed when considering roadside safety. A vision for improved roadside safety includes the following. 1. Increase the awareness of roadside safety and support for it. 2. Build and maintain information resources and analysis procedures to support continues improvements in roadside safety. 3. Keep vehicles from leaving the roadway. 4. Keep vehicles from overturning or striking objects on the roadside when they do leave the roadway. 5. Minimize injuries and fatalities when overturns occur or objects are struck in the roadside. Some strategies to address these improvements include: installing shoulder rumble strips to alert drivers; removing or shielding trees or utility poles close to the roadway; using public service announcements and citizen initiatives to increase awareness; improving safety management systems; implementing highway maintenance programs; improving driver education programs; soliciting support in identifying hazardous roadside locations; increasing speed enforcement at locations with known roadside safety problems; promoting development of innovative technologies to keep vehicles on the road; and improving vehicle design to increase compatibility with roadside hardware.