According to the FHWA, the nighttime fatality rate on our nation’s roadways is three times higher than the daytime rate, and 76 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur at night. Enhancing nighttime visibility where non-motorists mix with traffic during times of darkness can, and will, save lives.
The FHWA Every Day Counts nighttime visibility for safety initiative focuses on deploying countermeasures to safely connect people to the community and essential services. Reducing crashes at intersections is one major focus area for this initiative.
Available tools include proven safety countermeasures and products, as well as updated and new approaches for lighting design and application of traffic control devices.
For example, designers can use light-emitting diode (LED) lighting to control lighting levels and color temperatures that enhance nighttime contrast and small target detection. Improving luminance and color contrast improves nighttime visibility and results in fewer crashes, injuries, and fatalities. In addition to the safety benefits, LED luminaires use less energy than traditional ones, such as high-pressure sodium luminaires, creating cost savings.
Other measures include adding edge lines and delineators on curves and applying wider pavement markings (from 4 to 6 inches) on selected roads. MnDOT developed a process to streamline prioritization and funding of lighting installation at higher-risk rural intersections. The process allows luminaires to be proactively installed through systemic analysis in both district and county road safety plans. Since implementation, MnDOT has noticed a reduction in nighttime crashes at the rural intersections where lighting was installed.
(Reprinted and adapted from EDC News and the EDC website.)
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