Traffic safety in rural areas continues to be a source of concern among the nation's highway users. Reducing crashes in rural areas is an important national transportation goal, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) could play a critical role in achieving this goal. This report examines current, past and planned infrastructure-based technology applications aimed at reducing the frequency and/or severity of rural crashes. Although the report covers a range of technology applications, the main focus is on Variable Speed Limit (VSL) Systems and Safety Warning Systems (SWS). The information contained in this report was gathered from a literature review and direct contacts with ITS Specialists in Federal Highway Administration Division Offices, State departments of transportation and foreign road authorities. The population of rural fatal crashes addressed by each technology category and the situations where deployment of such systems should have the greatest potential payoff were identified. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting