Side-by-side comparison of newly installed high-friction surface treatments (right) next to traditional surfacing. Photo: Frank Julian, FHWAThe Federal Highway Administration has bestowed its 2017 National Roadway Safety Awards on nine state transportation departments.
DOT winners for Infrastructure and Operational Improvements
Delaware – DelDOT placed high-friction surface treatments at horizontal curves and where wet road surfaces reduce pavement friction. The agency reports a 56 percent average drop in roadway-departure crashes at all HFST locations.
Florida – FDOT’s Wrong Way Driving Mitigation Initiative has reduced fatalities in the Tampa Bay area where 11 people died in wrong-way crashes in 2014. There were no such fatalities in 2015, and two in 2016.
Michigan – MDOT worked to reduce accident-scene crashes in which vehicles were striking responding fire apparatus.
Minnesota – MnDOT implemented County Roadway Safety Plans for all 87 counties.
Virginia – VDOT created an instant roundabout in Northern Virginia, using off-the-shelf markings, tubular markers and plastic curb sections to replace a high-accident two-way stop. The result was an 89 percent reduction in crashes with injuries.
DOT winners for Program Planning, Development and Evaluation
Alaska – ADOT&PF’s Alaska Safety Corridor Program
New Jersey – NJDOT’s Roundabout Implementation Program
Missouri – MoDOT’s Road to Saving Lives Design-Build Project
Tennessee – TDOT’s Safety Projects Evaluation Report
