The South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) has intensified efforts to reduce lane departure crashes, a leading cause of traffic fatalities and serious injuries in the state.
Lane departures, where vehicles unintentionally veer off the roadway or into opposing traffic, have been a significant concern, according to a report from SDDOT. Between 2010 and 2014, such incidents accounted for 30% of the state's fatal and serious injury crashes on rural two-lane roads.
To address this, SDDOT has implemented several countermeasures. One notable strategy is the installation of Centerline Rumble Stripes (CLRS) on rural, undivided roadways with daily traffic exceeding 2,500 vehicles.
Introduced in 2016, CLRS have proven effective, with a 60% reduction in head-on collisions, as highlighted in the state's Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST) have also been applied at over 67 locations prone to crashes, such as curves, bridges, and intersections. These treatments have resulted in an 80% reduction in road departure crashes under winter conditions.
The Strategic Highway Safety Plan underscores the state's commitment to eliminating all traffic deaths, according to SDDOT. The plan sets ambitious goals, aiming for 100 or fewer traffic fatalities and 400 or fewer serious injuries by 2029.
Source: South Dakota Department of Transportation, KCCR News
