Driving FoRRRwD - A Systemic Approach to
Reducing Roadway Departures
California Webinar
September, 2019
Source: NHTSA FARS (2014 – 2016 Annual Average)
The Rural RwD Component of Fatalities
FHWA Definition: A crash in which a vehicle crosses an edge line, a center line, or otherwise
leaves the traveled way.Rural RwD
11,874
34%Rural
18,045
51%
U.S. Traffic
Fatalities
35,230
Source: Oregon State Police
Percent Rural RwD Fatalities
53
63
37
44 (NH)
66 (VT)69
63
32
54
51
65
36
52
4046
45
5 (MA)
32
46
41
48
34
27
26
12 (CT)
4322
37
3121
10 (RI)
33
45
16 (MD)
60
31 (DE)27
27
10 (NJ)47
55
44
39
39
16
48
17
26
0 (DC)
36
54
> 50%
average 35% - 50%
average20% - 34%
average < 20%
2014-2016 Annual Average of Rural Roadway Departures Source: FARS
More than 2 of these will
be in California
Where do rural roadway departures occur?
Local16%
Interstate10%
Other Principal Arterial
26%
Minor Arterial19%
Major Collector
23%
Minor Collector
6%
Roads typically
maintained by states
= 55% of Rural RwD
fatalities
Roads typically
maintained by locals
= 45% of Rural RwD
fatalities2014-2016 Annual Average of Rural Roadway Departures Source: FARS
NACE estimates that
40-60% of fatalities
occur on roads under
local jurisdiction.
Focusing on Reducing Rural Roadway Departures (FoRRRwD)
• Mission - Reduce the potential for serious injury and fatal roadway departure crashes on all public rural roads by increasing the systemic deployment of proven countermeasures.
All
Public
Roads
Syste
mic
Appro
ach
Safe
ty A
ction P
lans
Pro
ven C
ounte
rmeasure
s
Why do drivers leave the roadway?
Photo credit: FHWA
Roadway Condition
Vehicle Component Failure
Collision Avoidance
Driver Error
Where would
you invest
money to
improve safety?
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Systemic Safety Improvements
Systemic
• Based on Risk
• Correlated with particular severe crash types
“Systemic safety improvement" means an
improvement that is widely implemented
based on high-risk roadway features that
are correlated with particular crash types,
rather than crash frequency.
— 23 USC 148 (a)(12) Systemic safety
improvement.
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/systemic/index.htm
Center for Accelerating Innovation
10
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc_4/ddsa_resources/ddsa_systemic_analysis.pdf
You don’t have to wait until a
crash occurs to make
improvements!
Rural Roadway Departure Fatalitiesby Most Harmful Event
Head-On
3,354
28%
Rollover
3,609
30%
Trees
2,312
19%
2014-2016 Annual Average of Rural RwDs by MHE Source: FARS
63%
84%
78%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Tree
Head-On
Rollover
Rural RwD fatalities where speed
limit is > 50 MPH
50%
32%
44%
0% 20% 40% 60%
Tree
Head-On
Rollover
Curve-related Rural RwD Fatalities
Poles/
Sign
Posts
Barriers
Other
Fixed
ObjectsOther
HSIP: 23USC 148(c), 23 CFR 924.7
Safety Action Plans
State Strategic Highway Safety Plan
(SHSP)
HSIPOther State
Highway funds
Local funding sources
SAFETY ACTION PLANS
• Regional Plans
• Tribal Plans
• Local Plans
• Other Plans
Roadway Departure Objectives
1st - Keep vehicles on the road
2nd - Reduce the potential for crashes
3rd - Minimize the severity
Improved curve delineation
Friction treatments in curves and other spot locations
Edge line, shoulder & center line rumble strips.
14
1st - Keep vehicles on the road
Shoulder Widening
SafetyEdgeSM
Maintained clear zones
Traversable roadside
slopes
15
2nd - Reduce the potential for crashes
• Breakaway Features
• Signs and luminaire supports
• Utility poles
• Barriers to shield obstacles including:
• Trees and shrubbery
• Other fixed objects
• Slopes
3rd - Minimize the severity
Focusing on Reducing Rural Roadway Departures
• Mission - Reduce the potential for serious injury and fatal roadway departure crashes on all public rural roads by increasing the systemic deployment of proven countermeasures.
How can we help you?
Contact
Cate Satterfield
• FHWA Office of Safety
Dick Albin
FHWA Resource Center
Questions and Discussion
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