Best Practices for Road Weather Management

1. Report No.

FHWA-HOP-12-046

4. Title and Subtitle

Best Practices for Road Weather Management, Version 3.0

5. Report Date

June 2012

6.  Performing Organization Code

7. Author(s)

Ray Murphy, FHWA; Ryan Swick, Booz Allen Hamilton; Gabe Guevara, FHWA

8. Performing Organization Report No.

9. Performing Organization Name and Address

Booz Allen Hamilton
8283 Greensboro Drive
McLean, Virginia 22102

10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS)

11. Contract or Grant No.

12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
Office of Transportation Operations
Washington, DC  20024

13. Type of Report and Period Covered

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. Supplementary Notes

16. Abstract

On average, there are over 6,301,000 vehicle crashes each year. Twenty-four (24) percent of these crashes—approximately 1,511,000—are weather-related, resulting in 7,130 fatalities and 629,000 injuries. In spite of these statistics, there is a perception that transportation managers can do little about weather.  However, three types of mitigation measures may be employed in response to environmental threats: advisory; control; and treatment strategies.  Advisory strategies provide information on prevailing and predicted conditions to both transportation managers and motorists.  Control strategies alter the state of roadway devices to permit or restrict traffic flow and regulate roadway capacity.  Treatment strategies supply resources to roadways to minimize or eliminate weather impacts.  Many treatment strategies involve coordination of traffic, maintenance, and emergency management agencies.  These road weather management strategies are employed in response to various weather threats including fog, high winds, snow, rain, ice, flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes, and avalanches. 

This report contains 27 case studies of systems in 22 states that improve roadway operations under inclement weather conditions.  Each case study has six sections including a general description of the system, system components, operational procedures, resulting transportation outcomes, implementation issues, as well as contact information and references.  Appendix A is an acronym list. 

17. Key Words

adverse weather, traffic management, emergency management, winter maintenance, traveler information

18. Distribution Statement

No restrictions.

19. Security Classif. (of this report)

Unclassified.

20. Security Classif. (of this page)

Unclassified.

21. No. of Pages

92

22. Price