Case Studies
Research for a number of roadway safety industry topics is conducted and compiled into case study publication booklets annually and made available as an ATSSA member benefit.
Digital versions are available free of charge to all ATSSA members. Click on the 'Digital Download' button to login and view.
ATSSA, the leader in roadway safety, is now offering exclusive access to our publication library. These research and case study booklets are essential reading materials for anyone who understands the importance of safety on our roadways. By keeping abreast of best practices and research findings, readers can ensure they are educated on the importance road safety and roadway safety infrastructure.
For more information, please call 540-368-1701 or email customerservice@atssa.com.
Publication Date: 2023
Description: The 'Case Studies on Technology Solutions for Temporary Traffic Control Operations' booklet outlines the desire for efficiency and safety in implementing temporary traffic control (TTC) for a variety of situations, while utilizing devices that are straightforward, easily mobilized and moved, and are cost-effective. Five case study examples outline the uses and differences between Automated Flagger Assistance Devices (AFADs) and Portable Traffic Signals (PTSs). These examples will especially benefit interested transportation agencies, contractors and traffic control services companies.
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Description: 'Case Studies on Innovations in Temporary Traffic Control (TTC)' includes examples that outline some of the innovative techniques implemented by departments of transportation (DOTs) to meet work zone safety challenges. Six case study examples outline enhanced application of the concepts from the national standards as well as experimental applications to enhance work zone performance. These case study examples will benefit interested transportation agencies and private-sector representatives.
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Description: 'Successful Safety Solutions' presents significant advancements that have been made in the state of practice for roadway safety, including local road safety plans, roadway departure, wrong way driving, pedestrian safety, and work zone safety. This publication includes 16 case studies that align with implementation of state Strategic Highway Safety Plans and reflect successful safety solutions aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries on all public roadways.
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Description: 'Traffic Control Device Innovations to Improve Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety at Signalized Intersections' describes successful strategies adopted by transportation agencies to improve the ability of non-motorists to travel safely through signalized intersections by raising the visibility of pedestrians and bicyclists to motorists and maintaining the physical separation between motorists and non-motorists traveling through signalized intersections.
Publication Date: January 2019
Description: The 'Temporary Traffic Control Methods to Improve Safety at Special Events' publication discusses how Planned Special Events (PSEs) can result in a significant surge in travel demand and disturbance to local transportation networks. Traffic control strategies are critical towards ensuring the safety, mobility, and comfort for event participants, nearby communities, and major pass-through traffic arteries in the event area.
Publication Date: December 2018 Description: 'Evaluation of the Effects of Pavement Marking Width on Detectability by Machine Vision' explores the effect of longitudinal pavement marking width on the detectability of preformed tape pavement markings by a machine vision (MV) based advanced driver assistance system (ADAS).
Safety Benefits of Median Barrier and Roadside Guardrail
Publication Date: December 2017
Description: This publication, 'Safety Benefits of Median Barrier and Roadside Guardrail,' was developed to address some of the negative assumptions that have recently affected the guardrail and cable barrier industry. The study showcases the various technologies designed to specifically improve safety on our roadways. Featured are “success stories” where road user(s) lives were saved by the successful performance of guardrail and median barriers.
Note: These free digital releases of this 'Guardrails' publication and the supporting documents are available to the public. Other case studies are available to ATSSA members as a benefit of their membership.
PowerPoint Slides: This PowerPoint presentation describes the purposes of median barrier and guardrail and includes interesting data and illustrations. The PowerPoint is suitable for presentation to non-engineers by an engineering professional. Digital Download | Media Sheet | PowerPoint Slides
Publication Date: December 2017 Description: 'Advanced Technologies for Preventing Work Zone Intrusions' discusses the proven devices/products that can help protect workers against intrusions by alerting motorists or Connected Automated Vehicles (CAVs) approaching work zones or warning workers of potential intrusions.
Publication Date: December 2017 Description: 'Complete Streets: Opportunities for Growth in Roadway Access and Safety' examines design features and improvements applied to the roadways of cities across the U.S. to improve the mobility of all roadway users. The case studies show how complete streets policies can be incorporated to accommodate the different needs of localities while still transforming streets into truly multimodal roadways and enhancing the safety and overall quality of life for community residents. Digital Download
Publication Date: January 2017 Description: “ATSSA Member Business Opportunities Related to Connected and Automated Vehicles” will walk members through the most basic components CV/AV technologies. After a benchmark knowledge is attained by the reader, the following chapters dive into CV/AV deployment plans throughout the country, the impact of CV/AV technologies on ATSSA members, and recommendations on how to navigate these uncertain times. Digital Download | Purchase Hard Copies
Publication Date: August 2016 Description: Aging roadway infrastructure and increasing highway congestion means additional road work, resulting in greater work zone impact on the motoring public. Based on 2013 crash statistics, an average of 131 injuries and 1.6 fatalities occur in highway work zones every day. Additionally, work zones are estimated to account for 10 percent of all congestion. Proactive management of work zone traffic operations is necessary to ensure motorist and worker safety, minimize travel delays, maintain access to local businesses and residences, and ensure timely completion of road work.
Publication Date: January 2016 Description: Pavement markings are a common and relatively low-cost treatment used by transportation agencies to delineate travel lanes, inform drivers of lane use restrictions and rules, and ultimately make roadways safer. This booklet presents several case studies that highlight innovative pavement markings that are intended to improve roadway safety by informing and warning drivers of certain aspects of the road, the road users, or the surrounding environment. Digital Download | Purchase Hard Copies
Publication Date: April 2015 Description: Roadway crashes are a result of three primary contributing factors: human behavior, the roadway itself, and the vehicle. A combination of any or all of these factors may lead to a crash or increase the severity of a crash. The case studies in this publication illustrate how infrastructure safety countermeasures can impact driver behavior to improve roadway safety. Digital Download | Purchase Hard Copies
Publication Date: February 2015 Description: A Roadway Departure crash is defined by the Federal Highway Administration as “A crash in which a vehicle crosses an edge line, a centerline, or otherwise leaves the traveled way.” These crashes, comprising run-off-road and head-on collisions, tend to be more severe than any other crash type. In 2012, roadway departure crashes accounted for 56 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities. Digital Download | Purchase Hard Copies
Publication Date: February 2014 Description: Wrong-Way Driving happens when a driver, inadvertently or deliberately, drives in the opposite direction of traffic flow along a physically divided highway or its access ramps. These crashes are mainly head-on or opposite direction sideswipes which tend to be more severe in terms of type of injuries and number of fatalities. A recently conducted inquiry of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) database revealed that an average of 358 people were killed in Wrong-Way Driving crashes each year over an eight year period (2004 to 2011). Digital Download
Publication Date: February 2013 Description: Roughly half of all fatal crashes occur at intersections or on horizontal curves. In horizontal curve crashes, it is often the case that the vehicle speed and curve geometry create a “friction demand” higher than what can be achieved with standard pavement surfaces. Intersection crashes often occur when driver error creates an unexpected need for increased friction demand to serve as a “speed countermeasure.” One low cost approach that has been shown to be effective in addressing high “friction demand” locations is the installation of a High Friction Surface Treatment (HFST).
Publication Date: February 2012 Description: This publication is designed to assist ATSSA members in identifying approaches to pedestrian safety issues that will allow them to make a contribution to their state or local government’s efforts to reduce fatalities and move Toward Zero Deaths. This publication also presents information on new or expanded business opportunities. Digital Download
Publication Date: February 2011 Description: This publication is designed to be a resource and reference guide for local officials to improve roadway infrastructure safety on local roads. The focus of this publication is on local roads (i.e. county and smaller rural community roads), but the approaches and solutions presented are often transferable to urban areas. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, local roads (i.e. county and small rural community roads) comprise approximately 6,099,428 miles of the U.S. highway network as of 2009.
Publication Date: 2011 Description: Motorcycles and “motor scooters” are everywhere, and with a relatively low operating cost, a motorcycle is an affordable (and fun) alternative to the automobile if driven responsibly and safely. ATSSA members can make significant contributions “To Advance Roadway Safety” for motorcyclists, and the information contained in this report will hopefully assist ATSSA members in getting a business opportunity “jump-start” that focuses on making roadways safer for motorcyclists. The report also encourages ATSSA members to become actively involved in motorcycle safety-related issues and programs in their local communities. Digital Download
American Traffic Safety Services Association represents the roadway safety infrastructure industry with effective legislative advocacy, traffic control safety training and a far-reaching member partnership.