Engineering Action Plan
Description
Identify and systemically implement engineering countermeasures known to reduce distracted driving, such as edge line, centerline, and transverse rumble strips; wider and brighter striping; and lighting—especially in areas associated with distracted-driving crashes.
Steps For Implementation
- Identify and implement opportunities for creating a dialogue among cities, counties, law enforcement agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, TxDOT, and perhaps others to encourage collaborative working relationships.
- Define distracted crashes using Crash Records Information System (CRIS) terminology. Retrieve CRIS data and perform hot spot analysis. TTI can help clarify the crash categories and contributing factors associated with driver distraction. Research and address barriers—such as cost, fear of trying something new and unfamiliar, and limited availability in rural areas—to the use of transportation services by older users.
(Participating organization: TxDOT) - Identify owner/responsible party of hot spot locations.
(Participating organizations: TxDOT and owner agencies) - Review the current and upcoming project list, and match needs with the project list or develop a separate safety project.
(Participating organizations: owner agencies) - Identify the appropriate engineering countermeasures, and include any available standards/specifications into the project documents for consistent implementation (e.g., TxDOT work codes and Crash Modification Factors Clearinghouse).
(Participating organizations: TxDOT and owner agencies) - Broadly announce the availability of funds and the countermeasures to be implemented. Allow agencies to apply for the funds with supporting data and information.
- Review post-implementation crash data to evaluate effectiveness, and share the findings with other agencies.
(Participating organizations: owner agencies and TTI)
Participating Organizations
See above for each step.
Effectiveness
*****
Cost to Implement
$$$$$
Time to Implement
Short
Medium
Long
Barriers
- Knowledge sharing of subject matter experts from various disciplines such as engineering, maintenance, and traffic operations.
- Lack of communication and coordination among agencies.
- Lack of information on eligible project funds.
- Leadership buy-in by elected officials and administration.
- Funding for future projects.
- Public concerns about the noise associated with rumble strips in urban areas.