Print this page Roadside Improvements for Local Roads and Streets
Vincent D. Reynolds, MBA, P.E.
Course Outline
This 2 hour course will cover the low cost methods of improving and enhancing roadside safety. Roadside improvements will be studied which includes clear zone improvement, obstruction removal or revisions, and guardrail installations. The causes of vehicle instability will be covered including; snagging, rolling, and vaulting.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student would have learned the following:
- Type of changes that can be used to improve highway safety;
- Why some clear zones cannot be completely free of potential hazards;
- The fixed objects that cause the most amount of fatalities;
- Factors that are found to relate to hazardous utility poles;
- Five (5) methods that could be used to improve roadsides;
- The preferred side slopes along roadways;
- The size of tree trunks that will generally stop a vehicle;
- How to reduce snagging of vehicles;
- How to reduce vehicle rollover; and
- The types of breakaway sign posts and their effectiveness to increase roadside safety.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for those wanting an understanding of the Roadside Improvements for Local Roads and Streets. It could be especially useful for professionals working in roadway design, urban planning, traffic engineering and site design.
Benefit to Attendee
This course is designed so that the intended audience will benefit immediately with the information to be able to implement low cost roadside improvements for local roads and streets.
Course Introduction
Roadside fixed objects such as trees, bridge abutments, utility poles, signage, and even mailboxes can be detrimental to the safety of drivers due to their close proximity to the travel way. Cars often collide with trees that are adjacent to the roadway and this type of accident results in the most fatalities as compared with collisions with any other fixed objects.
Course Content
This course will cover the low cost methods of improving and enhancing roadside safety. Roadside improvements will be studied which includes clear zone improvement, obstruction removal or revisions, and guardrail installations. The causes of vehicle instability will be covered including; snagging, rolling, and vaulting. The student will be directed to study the document “Roadside Improvements for Local Roads and Streets,” as published on the website of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Roadside Improvements for Local Roads and Streets
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Course Summary
This course contains very useful knowledge can be utilized by the engineer and designer to implement low cost roadside improvements for local roads and streets.
Using good engineering judgment is always paramount in any situation. Utilizing good judgment and the knowledge gained in this course will aid the reader with the knowledge to be a success in the implementation of Roadside Improvements for Local Roads and Streets.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:
Federal Highway Administration:
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/
Transportation Research Board:
http://www.trb.com
AASHTO:
www.transportation.com
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
