April 20, 2010
Every community and most journeys you take has one, a curve in the road with a high incidence rate of speed related road departure accidents and fatalities. The tragic cost both emotionally and economically from the combined effects of incorrect or excessive speed at a horizontal curve, make the challenge of addressing the issue a top priority on every community agenda.

Facts about horizontal curves

Over 40,000 people are killed on North Americas roads each year, the equivalent of several 747’s falling out of the sky each week. The greatest numbers of traffic fatalities occur away from the major highways on rural county and urban conventional roads.

Nearly 25% of people who die each year on the Nation’s roadways are killed in vehicle crashes at curves.

75% of all fatal crashes occur in rural areas, and more than 70% are on two-lane secondary highways, many of which are local roads.

Furthermore, the average crash rate for horizontal curves is about three times that of other highway segments.

76% of the curve-related fatal crashes involve single vehicles leaving the roadway and striking trees, utility poles, rocks, or other fixed objects or overturning.

Another 11 percent are head-on crashes, the result of one vehicle drifting into the opposing lane when a driver tries to cut the curve or redirect the vehicle after having run onto the shoulder.

Dynamic Curve Warning VATCS
INDEPENDENT TRACK RECORD

Dynamic Curve Warning Vehicle Activated Traffic Calming Signs (VATCS) originated from the United Kingdom where the technology was independently proven to have an impact on reducing road speeds and saving lives.

A federal study undertaken by TRL the Transport Research Laboratory on behalf of the UK’s Highways Agency on 60 of the radar activated sign installations over a 5 year period, lead to the technology being incorporated into the UK TSRGD MUTCD manual for uniform traffic control devices.

The results of the TRL548 report were a strong endorsement for the approach

- A 7mph drop in average speed in advance of road hazards ( e.g. Dangerous Curves)
- A 1/3 rd reduction in accidents over the full 5 year period

The Dynamic Curve Warning VATCS provide a reasoned and clear message to the targeted driver to slow down when required, only becoming activated to enhance the existing static plate warning signage when an unsafe speed is detected by the integrated sign radar.

It is this reasoned approach based on informing the driver why he/she is being asked to adjust his/her speed that gets the best results. When the sign isn’t required to inform drivers its covert blank out style face blends into the background, waiting to save a life down the road.