Australia’s transport research organisation has introduced new guidelines to assist local councils and road asset managers in properly using High Friction Surface Treatments.

The Australian Road Research Board says traffic accident blackspots, approaches to intersections and pedestrian crossings, and tricky-to-negotiate corners can all benefit from proper use of these treatments – which are designed to make roads more skid resistant.

“These guidelines will enable those responsible for maintaining road networks to make informed decisions, and to select the right treatment for the right spots, with the aim of improving road safety,” ARRB senior professional leader, Future Transport Infrastructure, Steve Patrick said.

With 50 per cent of urban crashes occurring at intersections, and a high percentage of rural crashes involving cars leaving the road, discovering roads where skid resistance should be improved was vital, he said.

ARRB employs its Intelligent Safe Surface Assessment Vehicle to determine where High Friction Surface Treatments may be beneficial.

ARRB principal professional, Strategic Enablers Group, Richard Wix said the iSSAVe measured skid resistance while collecting asset imagery and other safety related parameters such as road geometry, texture, roughness and rutting.

“Local government authorities can ask ARRB to measure the condition of their road network with iSSAVe, and we can determine a prioritised list of sites which could benefit from High Friction Surface Treatments,” he said.

ARRB’s High Friction Surface Guide to Good Practice is avilable for download here.