Treatments to reduce the frequency of freeway exit sign hits.

Pesti, Geza; Obeng-Boampong, Kwaku; Songchitruksa, Praprut; Theiss, LuAnn · 2011 · ROSA P / Texas Transportation Institute

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Summary

This study addresses the significant maintenance and safety challenges associated with exit gore signs on Texas highways, which are frequently struck by errant vehicles. The research was motivated by the high frequency of these impacts, which endanger maintenance personnel working in gore areas and consume substantial resources for sign replacement. The primary objective was to identify and evaluate alternative signing methods or treatments that could reduce the number of sign hits and associated maintenance costs. The research was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, researchers identified sites with high-impact sign problems through a survey of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) districts and site visits. They analyzed historical accident data, geometric features, and driver expectancy factors to determine contributing causes and recommend potential countermeasures. In the second phase, the team selected a specific countermeasure for field evaluation: the elimination of exit gore signs at locations where appropriate advance warning was provided via overhead exit signs. Field studies were conducted at two freeway exits in Corpus Christi, Texas (Southbound SH 286 exits to Port Avenue and SH 358 East). Data collection involved measuring vehicle speeds using lidar guns and portable on-pavement traffic analyzers, as well as recording video data to assess deceleration behavior and erratic maneuvers. The results indicated that removing the exit gore signs at the two study sites did not produce negative consequences regarding traffic safety or operations. Specifically, the analysis of speed characteristics, vehicle deceleration patterns, and erratic maneuvers showed no adverse effects. Drivers maintained appropriate speeds and deceleration behaviors without the physical presence of the gore sign, provided that overhead advance warning signs were in place. The study found that the lack of exit gore signs did not lead to increased erratic maneuvers or unsafe driving behaviors at these locations. The significance of these findings lies in the potential to reduce maintenance burdens and improve worker safety by eliminating high-impact signs where overhead signage provides adequate guidance. The study supports the conclusion that exit gore signs are not strictly necessary at all locations, particularly where positive guidance is achieved through other means. This approach offers a viable strategy for transportation agencies to mitigate the risks and costs associated with frequent sign strikes while maintaining safe traffic operations.

Key finding

Eliminating exit gore signs at locations with adequate overhead advance warning did not result in negative consequences for vehicle speeds, deceleration behavior, or erratic maneuvers.

Methodology

field_study

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed. Discovered via bulk_ingest_rosap on 2026-05-23 (6 acquisition events logged).

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• perceptual countermeasures
• signage environment
• rail grade crossings
• incidence prevalence
• roadway lighting effects
• emergency work zone conspicuity

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes, observational prevalence