Enforcement: Run off the Road collision data is difficult to obtain because there are a combination of causal factors including speed and DUI. WSP uses POPS philosophy to identify problem areas and works in partnership with WSDOT to address engineering concerns.
Engineering:
43% of all fatalities (1149) in our state between 2006 and 2010 involved a run-off-the-road collision. 82% (942) of those fatalities involved impaired driving, speeding, or both.
Run-off-the-road collisions are nearly three times as likely to involve a fatality as a non-run-off-the-road collision, and half again as likely to result in a serious injury.
While our partners work hard to address behavioral issues such as speeding and impairment, not all drivers can be intercepted prior to a serious behavior-related collision.
Barriers and rumble strips represent our last possible opportunity to intervene in a collision and potentially save someone’s life, or prevent a serious injury.
Centerline Cross-over statistics
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As of July 2011, WSDOT has installed 2,205 miles of centerline rumble strips on two-lane highways, with an additional 325 miles under current contracts for installation. When these contracts are complete, WSDOT will have covered approximately one-half of all miles of the two lane highway system that were initially identified as candidates for this safety feature.
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Before and After analysis on 493 miles of two-lane highway from 2002 – 2009, exhibited a reduction (in targeted crashes) of 44.5% for all severity crashes and 48.6% for fatal and serious crashes.
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An overall reduction of run-off-the-road to the right collision types by 6.8% for all severities and 19.5% for fatal and serious collisions.
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An overall reduction of lane departure collision types by 24.8% for all severities and 37.7% for fatal and serious collisions.
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Before and After analysis on centerline rumble strips for SR 97 corridor resulted in a reduction of 40% in all severity collisions, and 28% reduction in fatal and serious injury collisions.