10.13023/KTC.RR.2019.28
Howell, Brian K.
Brian K.
Howell
University of Kentucky
Staats, William Nicholas
William Nicholas
Staats
University of Kentucky
Albright, Nancy
Nancy
Albright
University of Kentucky
Evaluation of Guardrail Needs and Update of Guardrail Rating Program
Kentucky Transportation Center, University of Kentucky
2019
Research report
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) seeks to reduce the frequency of roadway departure crashes, which often prove fatal. Roadside barriers such as guardrail have proven effective at mitigating these crashes, however, the demand for installations is high throughout the state. KYTC must prioritize prospective guardrail locations to match available funds with the most critical, or unsafe, sites. The current guardrail rating program (GRP) was established in 1989 to identify and prioritize guardrail needs. Despite periodic updates, the existing program no longer meets the transportation industry’s safety guidelines and policies. The Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) studied national and state guardrail practices and developed a new methodology for prioritizing guardrail installations. The new GRP model focuses on two main factors: crash frequency and crash severity, with the goal of maximizing safety outcomes for roadway departure crashes.
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© 2018 University of Kentucky, Kentucky Transportation Center