Over time, the pavement surface may become polished, thereby reducing 

the available pavement friction and creating a higher risk of crashes.1

Also, intersections are locations where friction demand is higher due to 

slowing, stopping, and turning actions that require an adequate supply 

of friction. High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) consists of a layer of 

durable, anti-abrasion and polish-resistant aggregate (typically calcined 

bauxite) over a thermosetting polymer resin binder that “locks” the 

aggregate in place to restore or enhance friction and skid resistance.

HFST is one of the FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures, and has been 

shown to significantly reduce injury and fatal crashes by roughly half 

at horizontal curves and nearly two-thirds at interchange ramps.2

 As a 

result, agencies are applying HFST at intersections as well.

High Friction

Surface Treatment

at Intersections

• Improved driver control

• Reduced stopping distances under both wet and dry 

conditions3

• Reduced skidding

• 20-percent reduction in total intersection crashes4

• 42-percent reduction for all rear-end crashes at 

signalized and unsignalized intersections4

• Nearly 70-percent of wet pavement crashes 

at intersections can be prevented by improved 

pavement friction on a systemic basis5

• Service life at least 5 years, with some over 10 years

• Very cost effective6

• The targeted nature of the treatment is conducive 

to short installation windows resulting in brief work 

zones and less impact to traffic

• Provides significantly higher friction at locations 

where vehicle slowing and stopping is both routine 

and critical

• Can mitigate for limited sight-distance at 

intersections by reducing the total distance needed 

to stop3

Safety Benefits of Improved Friction Advantages of HFST

1

https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/pavement_friction/high_friction/#technology

2

Safety Evaluation of High-Friction Surface Treatments”, Lyon, C., Persaud, B., Merritt, D.

and Cheung, J., for Federal Highway Administration under contract DTFH61-13-D-0001.

3

FHWA. “High Friction Surface Treatments Project Case Study.” FHWA-CAI-14-016. n.d.

https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/pavement_friction/case_studies_noteworthy_prac/docs/bellevue.pdf

4

NCHRP 617, https://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/156844.aspx

5

TRB Research Record 623, 1976 https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/pavement_friction/

6

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc-2/pdfs/hfst_faqs.pdf

Pavement friction is a critical characteristic for safe driving.

FHWA-SA-20-012
Intersection Applications

HFST is well-suited to intersection approaches. HFST can be applied using a systemic approach as a 

preventative safety strategy based on specific roadway, intersection, or pavement characteristics.

Installation Considerations 

High Friction

Surface Treatment Applications &

Installation

• FHWA Every Day Counts, Frequently Asked Questions – High Friction Surface Treatments 2017. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/

innovation/everydaycounts/edc-2/pdfs/hfst_faqs.pdf

• FHWA Every Day Counts, A Road Surface Treatment for Critical Safety Spot Locations that Helps Vehicles Stay in Their Lane. 

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc-2/pdfs/hfst_brochure.pdf

• High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST) website - https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/pavement_friction/high_friction/

Approaches to

higher-speed 

signalized and

stop-controlled 

intersections

Intersection 

approaches with a 

downward grade

Locations with history of 

rear-end, failure to yield, 

wet-weather and/or red-light 

running crashes, especially 

with severe injuries

Applied by machine 

at a similar speed to 

other paving surface 

treatments or applied 

with hand tools

Installed over 

virtually all 

asphalt and 

concrete 

pavement types

Applied in a 

relatively short 

timeframe

Can be tinted Results in minimal 

additional pavement 

thickness

( 1

/8” to 1/4” )

Additional Resources