Nearly 25% of people who die each year on the Nation’s roadways are killed in vehicle crashes at curves. About 75% of all fatal crashes occur in rural areas, and more than 70% are on two-lane secondary highways, many of which are local roads. Furthermore, the average crash rate for horizontal curves is about three times that of other highway segments. Hence, addressing the safety problem at horizontal curves is one of the 22 emphasis areas of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan prepared by AASHTO. Also, crashes at horizontal curves are a big component of the road departure crash problem, which is one of FHWA’s three focus areas.
This course 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 course 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 course concludes with a description of maintenance activities that should be conducted to keep the treatments effective.
The treatments include:
• Basic traffic signs and markings found in the MUTCD
• Enhanced traffic control devices
• Additional traffic control devices not found in the MUTCD
• Rumble strips
• Minor roadway improvements
• Innovative and experimental treatments
Civil engineers, traffic engineers, technical professionals, construction personnel and anyone interested in applying low cost treatments that add safety to horizontal curves will benefit from this course.
Review the course material, “Horizontal Curve Treatments,” and you then need to take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of thirty questions to earn your 6 PDH credits.
