In its Statewide Roadway Departure Action Plan, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) recommended the installation of rumble strips and high-friction surface treatment (HFST), primarily on state roads with functional class “collector” or higher. The state evaluated these countermeasures and determined a benefit-cost ratio for centerline and edge-line rumble strips of up to 65:1 and a 44:1 ratio for HFST.
These findings led KYTC to systematically integrate rumble strips into the state’s resurfacing schedule. KYTC then developed a suite of safety performance functions used in network screenings for proven countermeasures, such as cable median barrier and HFST. This tailored network screening uses crash types and facility types that correlate with where these countermeasures are most effective (e.g., wet weather curve crashes for HFST). This allows KYTC to focus on locations with the most potential for safety improvement.
Learn more:
- EDC News, Sept. 1, 2022
- Every Day Counts
- Questions about reducing rural roadway departures? Contact Cate Satterfield with the FHWA Office of Safety or Dick Albin with the FHWA Resource Center.