Enhancing skid resistance on America’s highways
Services: High Friction Surface Treatment
Skid resistance is a critical factor in highway safety. In fact, most car crashes happen suddenly, with an unexpected loss of control as the vehicle skids across the road.
No one expects this to happen when they set out on a car journey. Yet there are more than 16,000 crashes every day in America, with poor road conditions being one of the most common causes.
Many factors can impact the skid resistance of a road including, weather conditions, high volumes of traffic and aging infrastructure. Highways in regions with severe weather or high traffic volumes will require more frequent and rigorous maintenance.
So, what are effective strategies for enhancing skid resistance on America’s highways?
High-Quality Pavement Materials: Using durable materials with natural skid-resistant properties, such as specific aggregates, can enhance the road surface’s friction. Materials like asphalt and concrete can be mixed with skid-resistant aggregates.
Surface Treatments: Applying surface treatments like high-friction surface treatments (HFST) can significantly improve skid resistance particularly in high-risk locations such as sharp curves, freeway ramps and intersections. HFST involves applying a thin layer of durable, skid-resistant material to the road surface and is estimated to reduce crashes by 57% – and wet crashes by as much as 83%. Another option is road surface retexturing which will restore the road surface to the same, or better, frictional characteristics as when it was first laid. This ensures the best road safety conditions of the road surface.
Regular Maintenance and Inspections: Conducting regular inspections and maintenance to identify and address areas with reduced skid resistance is crucial. This includes timely resurfacing and repairing worn or damaged sections of the highway.
Enhancing skid resistance on America’s highways is a vital component of road safety. By investing in high-quality materials and implementing effective surface treatments, we can significantly reduce the risk of skidding-related accidents.