This research is developing and testing engineering measures and technologies to manage speeds and encourage wider adoption of travel speeds appropriate for the class of road, roadway design, and travel conditions. The Visibility Program is directed towards research for near-term improvement of the visibility on and along the roadway and of traffic control devices to enhance the safety of road users. The Visibility Program also promotes opportunities that advance new practices and technologies to improve visibility on a cost-effective basis. Human Centered Systems Studies Research shows inappropriate driver perceptions and behaviors are implicated in 80 percent to 90 percent of highway crashes. The primary objective of safety management is to ensure that highway safety resources are appropriately allocated to maximize the reduction of the frequency and severity of all types of highway crashes.
Crashes are the result of multiple errors, design, traffic control, and user.
The focus of this area includes identification of safety problems, development of analysis tools, and knowledge of the effectiveness of potential solutions.