Semarang 23rd & 24th April 2012

Roadside hazard management

Phillip Jordan, Consultant

Road Safety International Pty Ltd

• Discuss the “clear zone” concept

• Discuss the 5 part strategy

• Look at some safety tips for roadside safety

In this presentation:

A “forgiving” road is one that:

- does all that is possible to keep the vehicles on the road

- has driveable side slopes, no drains nearby

- removes or relocates roadside hazards

- uses forgiving roadside furniture

- has crash barrier only where really needed

- is well maintained

You can improve safety by providing a forgiving road

Barriers should only be the last option – and if used they must be correctly

installed and maintained:

- located well off the road

- correct height, long enough to shield the hazard

- safe terminals (most terminals are not safe in Indonesia)

- good reflectors (for night time safety)

- well maintained

You can improve safety by installing crash barriers only where

really necessary

•Single vehicle run-off-road crashes are the single biggest

group of serious and fatal crashes on Indonesian toll roads

INDONESIAN HIGHWAYS?

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What is Roadside Hazard Management ?

Roadside hazard management aims to “identify, prioritise and treat roadside hazards in order to maximise safety by reducing

the incidence and/or severity of such crashes.

What is a Clear Zone ?

A driveable roadside area that should be kept clear of hazardous objects in order to minimise the danger

of a collision should a vehicle leave the road.

X

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What is a Clear Zone ?

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Clear Zone Chart

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i. remove the hazard

ii. relocate the hazard

iii. alter to reduce severity

iv. protect using barriers/attenuators

1. Keep vehicles on the road

2. Provide a forgiving roadside

The 5 part strategy for Roadside Hazard Management

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- remove trees

- underground power lines

- maybe joint-use poles

Remove the Hazard

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Relocate the Hazard

Ideally to a location outside the clear zone, or at least relocate to a

less vulnerable position so that we reduce risk.

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- frangible lighting poles

- slip base

- impact absorbing

- frangible sign posts

- grade steep slopes (4:1 or flatter)

- driveable culverts

- cover drains

Alter the Hazard to Reduce

Impact Severity

More on these later............

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flexible (wire rope)

semi- rigid (W-beam guardrail)

rigid (concrete)

Also impact attenuators

Three types of crash barriers

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Crash barriers

Remember that safety barriers are roadside hazards – try

to design the new road to avoid having to use them

We can never be sure….

…. just where or when a vehicle will

leave a road.

We can never be sure….

…. just where or when a vehicle will

leave a road.

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i. remove the hazard

ii. relocate the hazard

iii. alter to reduce severity

iv. protect using barriers/attenuators

Culverts are dangerous

Can the road features, signing or delineation be improved to keep

vehicles on the road?

Can the hazard be removed to improve safety?

Are there steep slopes or other roadside hazards within the

Clear Zone?

Can the hazard be relocated to reduce the risk of it being hit?

Can the hazard be altered to reduce the severity of impact?

Can a safety barrier be installed to shield the hazard?

Determine the Clear Zone Distance

Improve the road features, signing or delineation to help

keep vehicles on the road?

Remove the hazard

No action is requiredMove the hazard beyond the

clear zone or to a safer location

Redesign or modify the hazard to reduce the severity of

impact?

Install an appropriate safety barrier to shield the hazard?

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Yes

Forgiving sign supports

Forgiving sign supports

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Crash barriers ........

End treatments are necessary to avoid penetration into the vehicle