Caltrans reflects latest safety policy

After recent studies, California DoT is reviewing its highway design standards
By David Arminas August 7, 2020 Read time: 1 min
Caltrans has installed two-way reflective markers to prevent potentially fatal mistakes (image credit: Caltrans)

Recent pilot programmes by California’s Department of Transportation - Caltrans – and a university research centre highlight effective measures that have been taken on board by the US state.

The pilot was developed following 10 wrong-way driver related collisions on freeways around the cities of Sacramento and San Diego in the first six months of 2015.

Caltrans engaged the University of California’s Davis Advanced Highway Maintenance and Construction Technology (AHMCT) Research Center to gather data on the rare but often deadly wrong-way driving collisions.
 
One of the prevention measures included in the three-year pilot programme was reflectors that alert drivers who are entering the roadway in the wrong direction - leading to a 44% drop in such offences in San Diego.
 
“Adding the two-way reflective markers proved to be so effective that Caltrans updated its state-wide design standards,” said Toks Omishakin, Caltrans director. 

During the study, Caltrans installed and tested different ways to deter wrong-way drivers along exit ramps in San Diego as well as the city of Sacramento.

There will be more on this story in the North America edition of ITS International September/October 2020 

Enforcement

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Incoming chair of ITS America looks at the road ahead for ITS
    June 3, 2015
    Jill Ingrassia, incoming chair of ITS America, on the exciting and challenging road ahead. Question: You have been a member of the Board of ITS America since 2008. What, for you, have been the top few standout achievements in that time? Answer: Hosting the 2014 ITS World Congress in Detroit is a clear standout. The meeting was a great convergence of the right people, in the right place, at the right time. The newsworthy events at the World Congress created energy and excitement about ITS America and the fut
    Read More
  • Verizon applies C-V2X pedestrian safety
    November 1, 2021
    California’s CCTA will initiate validation of the tech for its ADS Grant Program 
    Read More
  • Inrix informs FHWA’s data improvements
    December 19, 2017
    Refinements in the data available from the US Federal Highway Administration will improve road management across America. David Crawford reports. In August 2017, the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued the first results from an upgraded version of its National Performance Management Research Data Set (NPMRDS). Developed to identify the locations and times of high congestion affecting traffic flows along America’s 259,000km (161,000 mile) national highway system, this is a key resource for sta
    Read More
  • Joining old and new in Canada’s Highway 407
    June 17, 2016
    David Arminas visits Canada’s Highway 407 ETR to see how the concession is working and hear about new arrangements for the roadway’s extension. The Toronto region is North America’s eighth largest metropolitan area and its roads become notoriously congested. In 1997 Highway 407, a 68km concrete toll motorway which skirts the northern edge of Toronto, was opened and initially operated by the province and CHIC - a consortium of four leading Ontario-based companies. Finance came from the Ontario Financing Auth
    Read More

Highlighted Content