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                Promoting Safety via Road Safety Audits in Pennsylvania
    

    
    
          14 February 2007

**Authors**:

Michael Castellano
Federal Highway Administration
Pennsylvania Division
phone: 717.221.4517
email: mike.castellano@fhwa.dot.gov

Ronald A. Weber
National Highway Safety Associates
phone: 703.620.9598
email: weber@nhisa.com

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), includes Southeastern Pennsylvania. One of its goals is to improve and promote safety for the region's roadways. This summary describes one of the road safety audits (RSA) of the several planned for the region.

After several years of discussion on improving transportation movement and safety along a section of Pennsylvania Route 896 (PA 896), an RSA team was formed to improve safety on 5.6 miles of PA 896. This section is a two-lane rural minor arterial of varied cross section and lined with utility poles; the section runs between London Britain and New London Townships, and traverses Franklin Township in Chester County. A Pre-Audit meeting was convened on November 6, 2006.

The twelve-member team consisted of members from DVRPC, the townships, the county, PennDOT, the Pennsylvania State Police, FHWA and other interested parties.

At the November 6 meeting, the team reviewed the RSA process and the benefits of performing an RSA. The team then reviewed maps, line diagrams, aerials, operational characteristics, crash, and traffic data for the highway. A checklist was provided for use in a field review the next day.

The overall speed limit on the 5.6 miles of PA 896 was 45 mph, with a reduction to 35 mph in one village. In addition, numerous curves were signed with an advisory speed of 25 mph. There were 25 unsignalized intersections with one intersection controlled by a 4-way stop.

Crash data indicated 132 reportable total accidents for the years 2003-2005. September had 19 accidents, the most of any month; January was second with 16. Crash severity levels were 2.2% fatal and 2.2% major, with the majority of accidents resulting in minor injuries or property damage only. Accident peaks occurred during a.m. morning and p.m. afternoon rush hours. Fourteen cluster locations were identified, with thirteen of the clusters at intersections. Thirty percent of the accidents occurred on wet road surfaces. Sixty-two of the drivers were judged as driving too fast for conditions and 32 drivers either had over or under compensated on curves.

The greatest number of accidents, 36, resulted from vehicles colliding with fixed objects. An additional 38 accidents were angle collisions while 14 others were rear end collisions.

On the third day, the team reviewed their findings from the field inspection. Recommendations were formulated and future needs and steps were enumerated.

Key issues involved included the need for intersection improvements, uniform roadway cross sections, and relocation of utility poles. In four villages, it was recommended to establish eight-foot-wide greenways next to a 22-foot-wide traveled way and four-foot-wide pathways adjacent to the greenways. Outside the villages, the recommended cross section was for a 22-foot-wide traveled way with four-foot-wide shoulders and eight-foot-wide shoulders in the more densely populated areas.

The team recognized that in order to accomplish some of the recommendations, the municipalities needed to update zoning ordinances, subdivision and land development codes. They also recommended that various affected stakeholders pursue implementation of the plan through publicity, distribution, and promotion.
              
      
    
          Last updated: Wednesday, October 15, 2014 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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