Have You Heard of the 20 Proven Safety Countermeasures?
Did you know that 12 years ago the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) began promoting Proven Safety Countermeasures? The goal of these countermeasures is to reduce serious injuries and fatalities on American highways. Since its implementation, the FHWA has identified 20 treatments and strategies that we will discuss below. Can you recognize any of the below 20 Proven Safety Countermeasures in your city?
Accidents can happen in every city. If you are injured in a car accident in Las Vegas, seek medical help immediately. Once you have sought medical care, speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers are an experienced team of personal injury lawyers serving Las Vegas and vicinity. We’ve represented many car accident clients and give you a much better opportunity to gain maximum compensation because we specialize in building your case and dealing with insurance companies. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation, call (702) 857-6000
What Are the 20 Proven Safety Countermeasures?
There are 20 Proven Safety Countermeasures. According to the FHWA, the countermeasures offer significant and measurable impacts to improving safety. These countermeasures are described below. For additional information, see the FHWA booklet on the countermeasures. While reading, try to think of where you can see these countermeasures in your city.
Enhanced Delineation and Friction for Horizontal Curves
Enhanced delineation and increased friction can reduce crashes at curves. This measure includes chevron signs and high friction surface treatment.
Longitudinal Rumble Strips and Stripes on 2-Lane Roads
Roadway departure crashes account for more than half of the fatal roadway crashes annually in the United States. Longitudinal rumble strips are milled or raised elements on the pavement. These along with rumble stripes alert drivers through visibility, vibration, and sound that their vehicles have left the travel lane. Did you know that the Nevada Department of Transportation is installing centerline rumble strips in the median of selected state roadways?
SafetyEdgeSM
Vehicles may leave the roadway for a variety of reasons. An exposed edge may make it difficult for the driver to return to the roadway. SafetyEdgeSM technology shapes the edge of the pavement to eliminate the vertical drop-off at the pavement edge.
Roadside Design Improvement at Curves
Curves are a risky driving environment. Roadside design improvement at curves gives vehicles the opportunity to recover safely and reduces crash severity. Improvements to provide for a safe recovery include a clear zone, slope flattening, and adding or widening shoulders. Roadside barriers can be used to reduce crash severity. These include cable barriers, guardrails, and concrete barriers. Have you noticed any of these while driving on curvy roads?
Median Barriers
Median barriers are longitudinal barriers that separate opposing traffic on a divided highway. These barriers are designed to redirect vehicles striking either side of the barrier. Median barriers can be cable, concrete, or beam guardrail. Did you know that the Nevada Department of Transportation has begun a program of installing cable barriers in the median of selected state roadways?
Backplates with Retroreflective Borders
Traffic signal backplates improve the visibility of the illuminated face of the signal. A retroreflective border makes the signal head even more conspicuous. Retroreflective backplates are already in place at some intersections in Nevada.
Corridor Access Management
Access management refers to the design, application, and control of entry and exit points along a roadway.
Dedicated Left- and Right-Turn Lanes at Intersections
Turn lanes provide physical separation between turning traffic that is slowing or stopped and adjacent through traffic at approaches to intersections. Turn lanes are particularly useful at two-way stop-controlled intersections.
Reduced Left-Turn Conflict Intersections
Reduced left-turn conflict intersections are geometric designs that alter how left-turn movements occur. The purpose is to simplify decisions and minimize the potential for related crashes. Two common designs are the restricted crossing U-turn and the median U-turn.
Roundabouts
Roundabouts are one-way circular intersections in which traffic flows around a center island without stop signs or signals. Roundabouts can replace signals, two-way stop controls, and all-way stop controls.
Systemic Application of Multiple Low Cost Countermeasures at Stop-Controlled Intersections
The systemic approach involves deploying a group of multiple low-cost countermeasures at many stop-controlled intersections within a jurisdiction. It can include enhanced signing and pavement markings.
Yellow Change Intervals
The yellow change interval is the length of time that the yellow signal indication is displayed following a green signal indication. An appropriately timed yellow change interval can reduce red light running.
Leading Pedestrian Interval
A leading pedestrian interval gives pedestrians the opportunity to enter an intersection three to seven seconds before vehicles are given a green indication. This allows pedestrians to better establish their presence in the crosswalk.
Medians and Pedestrian Crossing Islands in Urban and Suburban Areas
A median is the area between opposing lanes of traffic, excluding turn lanes. A pedestrian crossing island is a raised island, located between opposing traffic lanes at intersection or midblock locations. It separates crossing pedestrians from motor vehicles. Have you noticed any new pedestrian medians or crossing islands in Las Vegas? These are included as part of Nevada’s pedestrian safety projects.
Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon
The pedestrian hybrid beacon is a traffic control device that is only activated by pedestrians when needed. It is designed to help pedestrians safely cross at midblock crossings and uncontrolled intersections. The beacon head consists of two red lenses above a single yellow lens.
Road Diet
A Road Diet, or roadway reconfiguration, typically converts an existing four-lane undivided roadway to a three-lane roadway. The new roadway consists of two through lanes and a center two-way left-turn lane.
Walkways
A walkway is any type of defined space or pathway for use by a person traveling by foot or using a wheelchair. This can be a pedestrian walkway, shared use path, sidewalk, or roadway shoulder.
Local Road Safety Plans
A local road safety plan provides a framework for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on local roads. The plan is tailored to local issues and needs. If you are curious as to what is included in such a plan, see the 2019 Nevada County Local Road Safety Plan.
Road Safety Audits
A road safety audit is a proactive formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection. It is performed by an independent and multi-disciplinary team. According to the FHWA, these audits can provide up to a 60 percent reduction in total crashes.
USLIMITS2
USLIMITS2 is a web-based tool. It is designed to help practitioners determine appropriate speed limit recommendations. The tool analyzes all major engineering factors used to set speed limits for specific segments of roads. Speed limits are important to safe driving. According to the Nevada Departments of Public Safety and Transportation, speeding accounts for one-third of all traffic deaths in Nevada.
If a speeding driver injures you or a loved one, consult with an experienced car accident lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers is an experienced team of car accident lawyers. Contact us today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
EXPERIENCED LAS VEGAS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
Have you been injured in a car accident in the Las Vegas area? Was it the fault of someone else? If so, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can give you legal advice and help protect your rights. Taking on insurance companies yourself can be tricky and you wouldn’t want to jeopardize your opportunity to receive the highest possible compensation. Our Las Vegas legal team understands that being an accident victim can be one of the most difficult things you will ever face. As you deal with injuries and wonder how to navigate the system, it is imperative that you consult with an experienced lawyer. The stress that comes from being injured in an accident can put you at a disadvantage if you are trying to deal with insurance companies on your own. Our experienced Las Vegas car accident lawyers will aggressively work on your behalf to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
With over 25 years of experience, Anthem Injury Lawyers specializes in personal injury claims. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 for a free consultation.
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