ABSTRACT
Road crashes are a significant risk to a road controlling authority (RCA), especially if the condition of its assets contributes directly to the crashes. One of the key contributors to road crashes is the condition of the road surface. Funding is tight, so a risk-based skid resistance strategy for the road network will produce a prioritised programme of work, which can be tailored to the Client’s budget. Working closely with an RCA, the following process has been developed:
Determining and agreeing skid demand for different situations based on the risk of a crash (consequence and likelihood)
Segmenting the network according to these risk categories, including the identification of the start and end points and the severities of curves, using a curve-prediction risk model
Developing a skid resistance prioritised ranking system for the segments, based on:
– wet weather crashes
– likelihood of a crash (based on the severity of the road geometry)
– consequence of vehicle leaving the road, if vehicle loses control
– volume of traffic and road function
– surface age
– speed limit
Investigating the higher-scoring sites in the field, including consequence of a crash, and determining if skid resistance testing is required
Following testing, and based on the site inspection, prioritising a list of sites to be treated
Developing a suite of cost-effective performance-based treatments
Develop and implement a monitoring programme to continually improve the strategy
This paper demonstrates how the development and implementation of an actual strategy delivers a cost-effective, risk-based prioritised skid resistance works programme tailored to the Client’s budget.
