average, are over 5,760,000 vehicle crashes each year. Approximately 22% of “On these crashes nearly 1,259,000 are weather-related. On average, nearly 6,000 – – ….. people are killed and over 445,000 people are injured in weather-related crashes each year. (Source: Ten-year averages from 2004 to 2013 analyzed by Booz Allen Hamilton, based on NHTSA data).” Significant impacts on wet weather related accidents can through the application of net-work level preservation strategies that address both friction aspects and hydroplaning potential. Tools exist that can address these issues both from a theoretical and experience basis. Over a half century of data is available to demonstrate the benefits of longitudinal grooving of pavements. Caltrans has successfully used longitudinal grooving to combat wet weather accidents for over half a century. The following excerpt is from one of their early studies; grooving is particularly effective in preventing hydroplaning accidents “…Longitudinal on curved sections of roadways, bridges, and tangent section of roadways subject to high cross winds. During an emergency stop, the longitudinal grooves also help hold the vehicle within its own traffic lane, a factor which is extremely important on multiple-lane roadways.” Due to the enhanced lateral stability provided by diamond grooving, some vehicle response results in apparent steering input to the driver. This problem was recognized by Caltrans early on who developed a narrower groove (i.e. 0.95”) to mitigate this effect. The California research conducted in the 1960s and 70’s employed bias ply tires and vehicle suspensions quite different than modern car fleets. There is a need to research the impact of groove width and groove spacing on vehicle control to optimize the performance of this safety treatment.
“On average, are over 5,760,000 vehicle crashes each year. Approximately 22% of these crashes – nearly 1,259,000 – are weather-related. ….. On average, nearly 6,000 people are killed and over 445,000 people are injured in weather-related crashes each year. (Source: Ten-year averages from 2004 to 2013 analyzed by Booz Allen Hamilton, based on NHTSA data).” Significant impacts on wet weather related accidents can through the application of net-work level preservation strategies that address both friction aspects and hydroplaning potential. Tools exist that can address these issues both from a theoretical and experience basis. Over a half century of data is available to demonstrate the benefits of longitudinal grooving of pavements. Caltrans has successfully used longitudinal grooving to combat wet weather accidents for over half a century. The following excerpt is from one of their early studies; “…Longitudinal grooving is particularly effective in preventing hydroplaning accidents on curved sections of roadways, bridges, and tangent section of roadways subject to high cross winds. During an emergency stop, the longitudinal grooves also help hold the vehicle within its own traffic lane, a factor which is extremely important on multiple-lane roadways.” Due to the enhanced lateral stability provided by diamond grooving, some vehicle response results in apparent steering input to the driver. This problem was recognized by Caltrans early on who developed a narrower groove (i.e. 0.95”) to mitigate this effect. The California research conducted in the 1960s and 70’s employed bias ply tires and vehicle suspensions quite different than modern car fleets. There is a need to research the impact of groove width and groove spacing on vehicle control to optimize the performance of this safety treatment.