Head-On Collisions: Appendix 8
Profiles of State and Local Implementation Efforts: Strategy 18.1 A2 (California Department of Transportation)
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Emphasis Area
18.1-Reducing accidents involving head-on collisions
Objective
18.1 A-Keep vehicles from encroaching into opposite lane
Strategy
18.1 A2-Install profiled thermoplastic strips for centerlines
Agency and Jurisdiction
California Department of Transportation
Problem(s) Identified
Head-on crashes, especially at night or during wet conditions
Goals and Objectives Established
Increase safety and visibility on two-lane roads.
Description of Strategy Implemented
Caltrans uses both an inverted profile stripe and a raised and inverted profile stripe. It provides a tactile and audible warning to vehicles that unintentionally cross the centerline. It is also used on edgelines to reduce ROR crashes. In some cases this is an inexpensive, incremental measure while more cost intensive project is being designed and funded.
Summary of Implementation Effort
California had been implementing this strategy experimentally since 1993. It is no longer considered experimental. The strategy is now standardized for use in the districts without special approval from headquarters. Design details are provided below.
Summary of Results
There has been no formal evaluation of this strategy.
Contact Person and Information
Roy Peterson, Roy_Peterson@dot.ca.gov
A raised profile where a thicker layer of thermoplastic is applied on 20-in. centers along the stripe
An inverted profile where depressions are made every 1 in. along the stripe