Citation

Loutzenheiser DW. Transp. Res. Rec. 1974; 523: 20-24.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Review is made of Federal Highway Administration actions related to pavement skid-control qualities of federal-aid highway projects since the Highway Safety Act of 1966. Emphasis is on measuring skid resistance; obtaining and correlating accident data, material properties, and practices in design, construction, and maintenance for better skid resistance; and determining priorities for current projects. A coordinated research program was expanded in 1970 to include study on all phases of skidding accidents and the engineering factors and actions for their reduction, including 3 field test centers to calibrate skid measurement equipment. It is FHWA policy that pavement surfaces on all projects be designed, constructed, and maintained with the best practical skid resistance properties and that highway sections that are inadequate be identified and corrected. Since 1968, project work to improve pavement skid resistance has been eligible for Federal aid. Concern of the state highway departments for the legal implications of use of minimum skid numbers is recognized. The present program uses guidelines set by each state for their specific conditions to establish priorities for correction.

Language: en