Posts
Funding rural road safety projects
Rural areas routinely get short shrift when it comes to transportation funding in the U.S. Between 2009 and 2015, they received about 37% of federal highway funds—even though 71% of public roads are in rural areas. While the justification for this makes sense (fewer people live in rural areas, and rural roads see less traffic), […]
Rural Road Safety: Problems and Solutions
Picture yourself driving on a rural road. Maybe you’re winding your way through rolling fields of corn or cattle. Maybe you’re high in the mountains, maneuvering curves like a pro. Maybe you’re cruising through the desert in a pink plastic convertible, singing along to Indigo Girls. Wherever you are, chances are you feel relaxed—at least […]
Carmanah launches new chevron signs with remote connectivity for rural roads
Almost half of all fatal vehicle crashes in the U.S. each year occur on rural roads, despite just 19% of the population living in rural areas. Half of them are roadway departure crashes, incidents in which a vehicle “crosses the edge or centerline, or otherwise leaves the travelled way.” (source) Carmanah’s new chevron signs with […]
Understanding accessibility guidelines and standards for pedestrian safety infrastructure
>>>Want to learn about recent changes to accessibility standards in the US? Our partners at Polara have you covered on all things PROWAG ADAAG. PROWAG. MUTCD. It might seem like we’re bashing on our keyboards, but in fact these seemingly random characters represent some of the most important sources when it comes to accessible transportation […]
Building walkability in a rural community: RRFBs in Esko, Minnesota
Background Esko, MN is a small place. Not a town, not a village, but a “census designated place” that falls within the legal boundaries of Thomson Township, which is itself small: less than 40 square miles and home to about 5,000 people. But what it lacks in size, Esko makes up for in spirit, exemplified […]
New crosswalk technology helps Kansas community boost safety and efficiency
The City of Parsons, KS is investing in its future with innovative smart city technology for critical safety assets. On Monday, Public Works, with the assistance of Wichita-based traffic equipment supplier Gades Sales, installed a new solar-powered crosswalk system at the corner of Main St and N 10th, a well-used pedestrian route linking the north and south […]
The Safe System Approach: Rethinking roadway safety
Pedestrian deaths have hit another historic high in the U.S., with at least 7,508 people struck and killed while walking in 2022. Overall traffic fatalities are even worse: 12.9% Americans per 100,000 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2021–the highest in the industrialized world. It doesn’t have to be this way. Other countries–Sweden, France, Japan–have […]
LED Enhanced Signs: Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s a sobering thought: Every time we leave the house, whether by car, bus, bicycle or on foot, our lives depend on people seeing and obeying traffic signs. We count on drivers to stop at stop signs, slow down in school zones, and turn left (and right) at intersections where it is legal and safe […]
Introducing the MX Series: Simple, Affordable Connectivity
It’s always an exciting day when we get to launch something new, and today we’ve got something big. We’d like to introduce our new MX Series of connected beacons and signs: the simplest and most affordable way to monitor, control, and gather data from roadway safety infrastructure. MX does connectivity differently Until now, if you […]