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Kentucky Roadway Departure 

Best Practices

The Kentucky Roadway Departure Safety Implementation Plan’s goal was to reduce roadway departure 

fatalities by approximately 65 fatalities per year, or by an approximate 15 percent reduction per year

Background 

Focused Approach to Safety

The Focused Approach to Safety provides additional resources to eligible, high priority, states to address the Nation’s most critical 

safety challenges through program benefits such as people, time, tools, and training. This approach increases awareness to critical 

and severe crash types and leads to the identification of appropriate safety infrastructure improvements, assists in the prioritization 

of limited resources, and creates positive organizational changes in safety culture, policies and procedures. Each eligible state 

participating in the Focused Approach to Safety is assisted in reducing fatalities in any one, or all, of three critical crash focus areas: 

roadway departure, intersection, and pedestrian/bicycle. These three focus areas encompass almost 90% of total highway fatalities 

in the U.S.

The Kentucky Strategic 

Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) 

had a safety goal of reducing 

the number of annual 

roadway fatalities within the 

State to no more than 700 

by the end of 2008 and an 

additional 15 percent 

reduction per year in the 

following years. In 2010, 

FHWA completed the

Kentucky Roadway 

Departure Safety 

Implementation Plan 

(RwDSIP) for the Kentucky 

Transportation Cabinet 

(KYTC). The study aimed to 

assist in addressing roadway 

departure-related crash 

patterns throughout the 

state. The RwDSIP included traditional treatments at isolated high-crash locations, systemic treatments on corridors with moderate 

levels of crashes, and comprehensive safety solutions incorporating law enforcement and education. With a customized data 

analysis package, the RwDSIP identified a set of cost-effective countermeasures, potential deployment levels, and approximate 

funding needed to achieve the 15-percent reduction in roadway departure fatalities per year in the next 10 years, translated to 65 

lives saved per year.
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Kentucky has approximately 80,000 miles of public roadway, with approximately 27,000 miles being maintained by KYTC. Based on 

crash data obtained between 2004 and 2008, nearly 85-percent of total statewide fatalities occurred on state-maintained roadways. 

Additionally, there were a total of 2,846 roadway departure fatalities on state-maintained roadways between 2004 and 2008. With 

over a dozen potential countermeasures provided in the RwDSIP, the KYTC placed their focus on systemic implementation, and 

based countermeasure considerations on several factors including the availability of right-of-way, the need for public meetings, and 

environmental impacts. The KYTC developed deployment programs for four major countermeasures from the RwDSIP—rumble 

stripes/strips (i.e., center line, edge line, shoulder); high friction surface treatments (HFST) at horizontal curves; horizontal curve 

alignment sign improvements; and median cable barrier installations. Each program was generally funded by HSIP and through 

other state maintenance programs. The following document summarizes noteworthy practices from each of the four major 

countermeasure deployment programs. 

Rumble Strips/Stripes 

Kentucky’s RwDSIP identifies 290 state-maintained candidate roadway 

sections, based on crash data, that could benefit from center line rumble 

stripe improvements (CLRS), with an additional 1,086 candidate sections for 

edge line rumble stripe improvements (ELRS), and another 397 candidate 

sections for shoulder rumble strip improvements. The KYTC has developed a 

statewide rumble strip/stripe program inclusive of each of the potential 

rumble treatments. As of 2016, approximately 1,537 miles of center line rumble stripes, 1,540 miles of edge line rumble stripes, and 

295 miles of shoulder rumble strips have been installed across the state. In addition to a very successful deployment, KYTC has 

provided guidance in their standard details on how various rumble strips/stripes should be programmed into proposed projects 

based on several factors, including the number of lanes, pavement width, striping type, and location (i.e., rail crossings, driveways, 

mailbox turnouts, etc.). Although the state of Kentucky has provided guidance regarding rumble strips/stripes, they do not currently 

have any standard policies requiring the installation of rumble strips/stripes but highly encourage their project managers to have 

them included in their projects. 

Figure 1 includes standard details for edge line rumble strip consideration along two-lane roadways in Kentucky. Additionally, Figure 

2 illustrates an example of a recent center line rumble stripe and shoulder rumble strip application along a rural undivided two-lane 

roadway. 

The 2016 Kentucky Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) annual report indicated that the benefit-cost ratio for rumble 

stripe projects throughout the state was approximately 65.7, which shows that the countermeasure has been very efficient in 

reducing crashes based on the costs invested.

The RwDSIP indicates that up to 

approximately 32 annual fatalities could be 

reduced on state rural roadways with 

rumble strip/stripe improvements.
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Figure 1: KYTC Standard Detail Excerpt for Edge Line Rumble Strip Consideration along Two-Lane Roadways 

Source: Kentucky Department of Highways. 

Figure 2: Rumble Strip and Stripe Applications along a Rural Undivided Two-Lane Road

Source: Kentucky Department of Highways.
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High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST) 

Kentucky’s RwDSIP identifies 159 state-maintained candidate roadway 

sections that could benefit from HFST improvements. The KYTC studied 

crash data and conducted pavement condition assessments at candidate 

RwDSIP locations to determine if crashes were being attributed to poor 

superelevation or low pavement friction (i.e., wet crashes). From their 

evaluation, locations with low pavement friction were prioritized for HFST 

application. The KYTC has deployed HFST applications along more than 100 roadway segments over a two-year period, with each 

segment consisting of at least one horizontal curve, and along some segments, two horizontal curves along a winding section of 

road. 

Below are two noteworthy HFST projects that Kentucky completed after the RwDSIP was developed in 2010. The first project 

included a HFST application along State Highway 22 in Oldham County (Figure 3). A significant reduction in total roadway departure 

crashes was observed during the first three years following the application (see Table 1). The second noteworthy project includes an 

HFST application along an interchange off-ramp at the I-75/Paris Pike interchange. At this interchange, the northbound I-75 off-ramp 

to Paris Pike (Figure 4) was experiencing both wet and dry condition roadway departure crash patterns prior to treatment. After the 

HFST application was completed, only one roadway departure crash was reported during the three years following the application 

(see Table 1). 

Figure 3: State Highway 22 HFST Application in Oldham County

Source: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The RwDSIP indicates that up to 

approximately two annual fatalities could 

be reduced on state rural roadways with 

HFST.
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Figure 4: I-75/Paris Pike Interchange Off-Ramp HFST Application

Source: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

Table 1: Oldham County and Paris Pike Interchange Ramp Before and After Roadway Departure Crash Data

Location 3 Years Before HFST 

Application 

3 Years Before HFST 

Application 

3 Years After HFST 

Application 

3 Years After HFST 

Application 

Road Condition Wet Crashes Dry Crashes Wet Crashes Dry Crashes

Oldham County 53 3 5 0 

I-75 Off-Ramp to Paris Pike 17 8 0 1 

Source: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. 

From the HFST projects performed throughout the state, KYTC has found that typical project applications extend approximately 50 

to 100 linear feet beyond horizontal curve tangents and require approximately 700 to 1,000 square yards of HFST application 

materials. Kentucky’s ongoing HFST program consists of an annual case-by-case screening process for new candidate HFST locations 

throughout the state where low pavement friction may be attributing to roadway departure crash patterns.
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Horizontal Curve Alignment Signing Improvements

Kentucky’s RwDSIP identifies 976 candidate horizontal curves that can 

benefit from potential horizontal curve alignment signing improvements. The 

KYTC performed field reviews and collected ball bank indicator data at 

candidate horizontal curves to determine appropriate advisory speeds and to 

inventory existing signs. Once this data was collected, the KYTC prioritized 

horizontal curve alignment signing projects based on associated crash types 

and frequencies. Additionally, KYTC determined that if at least two horizontal curves were prioritized along the same corridor, then 

signing improvements would be systemically developed for the entire corridor within the limits of the county. Due to the number of 

potential projects identified, KYTC developed a horizontal curve signing program that consists of five implementation phases. As of 

May 2017, Phase 1 has been completed with Phase 2 being underway.d 

Figure 5 consists of a sample quantity list for a proposed construction package as part of KYTC’s horizontal curve signing program.

Figure 5: Example Horizontal Curve Alignment Sign Quantity Sheet

Source: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

For each new horizontal curve alignment sign installed, a tracking number and barcode is assigned so KYTC can monitor each 

horizontal curve alignment sign in their asset management database. The effectiveness of this countermeasure will be evaluated 

once sufficient data is available for the locations implemented in Phase 1. 

The RWDSIP indicates that up to 

approximately 6 annual fatalities could be 

reduced with enhanced signing and 

marking improvements.
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Median Barrier Installations

Kentucky’s RwDSIP identifies 49 candidate segments that could benefit 

from median barrier installation. The KYTC considers two types of median 

barriers—W-Beam (guardrail) barrier and cable barrier.

The KYTC prioritizes W-Beam barrier installation based on a numeric score 

derived from a crash analysis and a risk analysis. For the crash analysis, 

KYTC uses the frequency and severity of crashes to calculate a crash rate, and a corresponding crash analysis score. For the risk 

analysis, KYTC considers terrain, lane/shoulder widths, and other roadside characteristics (i.e., recovery area, location of fixed 

objects, slopes, subjective hazard ratings, etc.) to develop a risk analysis score. Summing the individual crash analysis and risk 

analysis scores, an overall W-Beam barrier score is calculated and used to prioritize W-Beam installation projects. 

Cable median barrier is considered based on crash analysis results and when locations can meet minimum median width and slope

criteria. Although KYTC does not currently have a cable barrier specific policy, they do prioritize project locations based on their 

location (i.e., interstate facilities), crash history, median width, median slope profile, traffic volume, traffic composition, and 

operating speed. As of July 2017, KYTC has installed approximately 262 miles of cable median barrier throughout the state and

continues to annually monitor existing systems to identify necessary improvements. 

Results/Effectiveness of Implementation of the Roadway Departure Safety Implementation 

Plan (delivered by FHWA 2010)

Between 2004 and 2008, there were approximately 2,850 reported roadway departure fatalities on state-maintained facilities. In 

2010, FHWA completed the Kentucky RwDSIP to assist in addressing roadway departure-related crash patterns throughout the state. 

The RwDSIP goal was to reduce roadway departure fatalities by approximately 65 fatalities annually, or by an approximate 15 

percent reduction per year. Since 2010, the KYTC has taken a focused and systemic approach in addressing this statistic. Based on 

available crash data between 2013 and 2017, approximately 2,100 roadway departure fatalities were reported. This indicates that 

approximately 750 lives have been saved over the recent 5-year period, or an approximate average of 150 lives saved per year. This 

actual reduction is far greater than the expected 325 lives saved as targeted in the RwDSIP.

For Additional Information

For additional information about the FHWA Roadway Departure Focus State Initiative, contact Joseph Cheung, FHWA Office of 

Safety, at joseph.cheung@dot.gov. 

For additional information about the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, contact Tracy Lovell, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet – 

District 7, at Tracy.Lovell@ky.gov. 

Publication Number FHWA-SA-19-006

The RwDSIP indicates that up to 

approximately three annual fatalities could 

be reduced with median barrier 

improvements.