SOURCE: Federal Highway Administration Office of Safety
Red-light running is one of the most serious traffic problems that Americans face today. It is estimated that vehicles running red lights cause more than 200,000 crashes, 170,000 injuries and approximately 900 deaths per year. Some of these crashes occur because drivers are unaware of the presence of an intersection or are unable to see the traffic control device in time to comply.
The following case study showcases a successful and effective low-cost treatment that measurably improved safety at three signalized intersections in Columbia, South Carolina (SC). The treatment consisted of adding a retroreflective border to the existing signal backplates.
Results
Problem: Drivers were violating traffic signals at three signalized intersections due to low visibility, leading to a high number of crashes at these intersections.
Solution: The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) installed yellow retroreflective borders around the perimeter of the face of existing signal backplates at selected signalized intersections in June, 2005.
Download the full Intersection Safety Case Study: Retroreflective Borders on Traffic Signal Backplates – A South Carolina Success Story by visiting the link below.
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/resources/casestudies/fhwasa09011/
Retroreflective borders on traffic signal backplates are one example of a safety improvement project you may be eligible to apply for financial assistance with.
Local Highway Safety Improvement Program
The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a federally funded program aimed at reducing Fatal and Serious Type A Injury crashes on the roadway system. Beginning in 2012 LHTAC began receiving approximately $3.7M of the state HSIP funds and administering the Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (LHSIP) for FY 2014. Eligibility for LHSIP is based on the number for Fatal and Type A Serious Injury crashes per jurisdiction using five years of crash data. The 13 jurisdictions with the highest amount of Fatal and Type A Serious Injury crashes per ITD district are identified. Eligible jurisdictions are notified in the fall to begin the application process. This federally funded program may require a 7.34% local match.
Every jurisdiction’s crash data is available through our website, www.gis.lhtac.org/safety. Crash data may be useful when analyzing areas to make improvements or to gain information for your LHRIP application.
2017 LHSIP Applications have been mailed out to 85 eligible jurisdictions and are also available online to download at www.lhtac.org/programs/lhsip/. Applications are due back to the office by January 30, 2015 at 5 p.m. MST.