In-Service Performance Evaluation of Roadside Safety Features

Project Description

Over the last 30 years remarkable progress has been made in the mitigation of roadside safety problems. Unfortunately, roadside crashes remain a serious problem—more than 14,000 people are killed and almost 1 million injured in vehicle run-off-the-road collisions annually, at an estimated cost to society exceeding $80 billion per year.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) installs several different roadside safety devices to reduce the severity of run-off-the-road crashes. The devices currently in use include guardrails, concrete barriers, end treatments, crash cushions, and special sign support designs.

Researchers at TTI developed a customized In-Service Performance Evaluation (ISPE) process for TxDOT and evaluated the process in a six-month pilot test at four local maintenance offices: Central Houston Section, San Antonio Metro Maintenance Section, Fort Worth Central Maintenance Section, and Buffalo Maintenance Section. A detailed project report (0-4366-1) includes training material for the ISPE process and guidelines for analyzing data and implementing an ISPE process in Texas.

Although the pilot test was designed to test methodology, it also demonstrated that the ISPE process can be implemented with success in Texas.

Project Publications

Developing an In-Service Performance Evaluation (ISPE) for Roadside Safety Features in Texas 0-4366-1

An Overview of the Development of a TxDOT In-Service Performance Evaluation Process for Roadside Safety Features 0-4366-S

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