This article describes how a county in California implemented a low-cost and successful program for saving lives on secondary roads. The author begins by introducing statistics regarding fatalities and accidents on secondary roads. The article then describes how in a landmark, low-tech program, the Mendocino County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) reduced its crashes by a startling 42.1 percent from 1992 to 1998 at a cost of $79,260 over the 6-year period. This cost-effective method for enhancing safety on rural roads is based primarily on making the driver more aware of road conditions through consistent signing and markings. The author also describes the road review process, which is used by the county to maintain and update the signs. A final section outlines the showcasing (September 2004) of the Mendocino County program, which was done to help other counties understand how to implement their own sign review and maintenance program and to share the strategies used for reducing crash rates on rural roads. One sidebar reports on Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sign color studies; another summarizes software applications that can help local agencies develop their sign review programs.
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