New Design Standards for Streets and Highways

As collisions with fixed objects are a leading cause of traffic fatalities in Texas, TxDOT is proposing changes to improve the crash worthiness of barricades and sign supports. This article discusses the role of AASHTO in establishing a national standard design criteria. The adoption of NCHRP 350 by FHWA provisions for its implementation are also discussed. The cooperative research of TxDOT and TTI has developed barricades, temporary sign supports and permanent sign supports that comply with NCHRP 350. A graph of fatal rural and statewide motor vehicle traffic accidents is included.