Safety Concerns on Low Volume RoadsTowns & Township Meeting

December 2015

ByCliff Reuer

Technical Assistance ProviderSDLTAP

MUTCD – 2009 EDITION

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/

• OFFICIAL VERSION -UPDATED

Purchase At: http://www.atssa.com/

RESPONSIBILITY• Section 1A.07 Responsibility for Traffic Control Devices• Standard:01 The responsibility for the design, placement, operation, maintenance, and uniformity of traffic control devices shall rest with the public agency or the official having jurisdiction, or, in the case of private roads open to public travel, with the private owner or private official having jurisdiction. 23 CFR 655.603 adopts the MUTCD as the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, bikeway, or private road open to public travel……….

AUTHORITY• Section 1A.08 Authority for Placement of Traffic Control DevicesStandard:01 Traffic control devices, advertisements, announcements, and other signs or messages within the highway right-of-way shall be placed only as authorized by a public authority or the official having jurisdiction, or, in the case of private roads open to public travel, by the private owner or private official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic.02 When the public agency or the official having jurisdiction over a street or highway or, in the case of private roads open to public travel, the private owner or private official having jurisdiction, has granted proper authority, others such as contractors and public utility companies shall be permitted to install temporary traffic control devices in temporary traffic control zones. Such traffic control devices shall conform with the Standards of this Manual.03 All regulatory traffic control devices shall be supported by laws, ordinances, or regulations.

SECTION 2A.08 – TABLE 2A-3

HEIGHT & LATERAL PLACEMENT

7 Ft.

Section 2B.06 STOP Sign ApplicationsSection 2B.07 Multi-Way Stop Applications

Section 2B.09 YIELD Sign Applications

WARNING SIGNS

Minimum & No Maintenance Signs

Primary Concerns:

• Safety in Maintenance Operations

• Keeping Good Roadway Shape

• Surface Gravel Quality

Routine blade maintenance is commonly done in much of the US without warning signs.

Always have a flashing amber warning light!

Put signs up when anything more than routine maintenance work is planned!!

Acceptable in the 1950s – not today

But smaller vehicles have to be considered

when doing maintenance

and rehabilitation

No Crown = Holds Water = Soft Spots = Pot Holes

Excessive Crown – Two Track Road

Corrugation – Material Issue – No Binder

Substandard Surface Gravel

Generally two problems will be defined:

• Does not meet state or “standard” specificationor

• Simple allegation that gravel was not of proper type to provide a safe driving surface

Know your gravel quality Which Would You Rather To Drive On?

Know and understand your

state’s specification for surface gravel

Is this a safe road?

The unpaved surface?

Gravel roads can be maintained safely, but material quality, maintenance operations and roadway shape must be understood and managed well.

ROW CONCERNS

DO NOT DIG !! CALL 811

UNAPPROVED MAIL BOXES

Mailboxes not meeting AASHTO

Tree Stump in Right of Way…

Hay Bales – In Ditch

Intersection Sight Distance???

Objects in Ditch

Examples of serious public hazards…

QUESTIONS?

BE SAFE!!!THANK YOU