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Texas DOT adds highway shoulders, width to reduce crashes

GasBuddy Blog -- Often it's where the rubber meets the road that makes all the difference. In Texas, highways are safer now thanks to hundreds of projects completed in recent years to add shoulders and width to more than 1,000 miles of rural, two-lane highways.

An analysis of 189 Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT) road projects around the state shows that wider pavements make highways safer and result in fewer crashes.

Texas Transportation Institute analyzed three years of pre- and post-improvement data on more than 1,000 miles of narrow two-lane highways that had been widened. And the results show that on 1,159 miles of recently added highway shoulders, there were 133 fewer fatalities and 895 fewer injuries compared to prior to the...

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Submitted Aug 21, 2012 By: PD

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1COR1533 Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,696 Points:316,260 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Aug 30, 2012 9:33:37 PM Ignore 1COR1533 Report Abuse ok
retired23 Sophomore Author Oakland Posts:237 Points:150,405 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 27, 2012 9:05:35 PM Ignore retired23 Report Abuse Maybe the Federal Interstate system should look into this highway modification for the entire country.
swfan1963 Rookie Author Chicago Posts:2 Points:1,065 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Aug 26, 2012 1:32:18 PM Ignore swfan1963 Report Abuse I miss living in Texas - except for the wicked heat and humidity in the summer (Houston).
after10 Veteran Author Hamilton Posts:363 Points:47,985 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 10:37:00 AM Ignore after10 Report Abuse Good, money well spent
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,632 Points:1,610,495 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 24, 2012 6:11:31 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse two lanes esp. in Texas invite speeding. Hopefully it gives a little more room to make errors so there are less deaths.
67Duetto Rookie Author Alabama Posts:70 Points:206,780 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Aug 23, 2012 9:28:41 AM Ignore 67Duetto Report Abuse Great for bicycles too!
spiderjay Champion Author Little Rock Posts:4,773 Points:1,282,235 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 6:26:57 PM Ignore spiderjay Report Abuse maybe it will but nah
Stevedog Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,858 Points:1,946,870 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 3:20:36 PM Ignore Stevedog Report Abuse Extra girth is usually good
Spetsnaz Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,879 Points:619,480 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 2:05:15 PM Ignore Spetsnaz Report Abuse This is a good thing, because when you meet someone on those narrow roads, you are close to the ditch.
Dennisjk Champion Author Detroit Posts:6,486 Points:1,926,200 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 11:46:48 AM Ignore Dennisjk Report Abuse More room to drive 90 down there.
DarthDadJr Champion Author Virginia Posts:7,317 Points:1,522,395 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 11:06:52 AM Ignore DarthDadJr Report Abuse Hopefully this does not take resources away from other projects...
zaq001 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,985 Points:1,474,050 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:46:38 AM Ignore zaq001 Report Abuse old news
MrLuigi Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,778 Points:967,660 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:42:37 AM Ignore MrLuigi Report Abuse ok
dlemma Champion Author Wyoming Posts:4,111 Points:1,555,995 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:41:23 AM Ignore dlemma Report Abuse great shoulders
waterwerks Veteran Author New Mexico Posts:349 Points:185,930 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:39:29 AM Ignore waterwerks Report Abuse old like my ______.
LoadToad Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,364 Points:1,298,045 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:39:00 AM Ignore LoadToad Report Abuse I remember driving some of those narrow roads when I was on active duty and based in Texas.
jerej829 Champion Author Memphis Posts:2,856 Points:694,565 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:37:02 AM Ignore jerej829 Report Abuse Ok
lonewolfhead Champion Author Texas Posts:1,652 Points:562,810 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:36:58 AM Ignore lonewolfhead Report Abuse old news
nanu4u21 Champion Author Orange County Posts:1,108 Points:239,760 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:36:32 AM Ignore nanu4u21 Report Abuse ok
CheckitoutGuy Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,311 Points:769,590 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:36:26 AM Ignore CheckitoutGuy Report Abuse OK
ZeroBoxes Champion Author Mississippi Posts:1,079 Points:213,340 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:36:11 AM Ignore ZeroBoxes Report Abuse Do Texans still get to pass at speeds on the right?
BlueVanGroup Champion Author Colorado Posts:7,204 Points:1,528,495 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:36:08 AM Ignore BlueVanGroup Report Abuse Fortunately, Texas hasn't crippled its economy, as has many blue states.
JagXKR Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,164 Points:1,092,355 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:36:05 AM Ignore JagXKR Report Abuse Better infrastructure means a better life.
hvgasboy Champion Author New York Posts:13,331 Points:2,707,225 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:36:01 AM Ignore hvgasboy Report Abuse Not surprising. Can you say DUH!
msgt_usa Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,473 Points:933,830 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:33:36 AM Ignore msgt_usa Report Abuse this is old news, time to move on
40mpgsaturn Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:2,495 Points:522,155 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:31:16 AM Ignore 40mpgsaturn Report Abuse Good!
Hybrid923 Sophomore Author Ottawa Posts:198 Points:142,160 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:30:57 AM Ignore Hybrid923 Report Abuse Old news
Amanstrom Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,857 Points:538,905 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:30:30 AM Ignore Amanstrom Report Abuse Interesting
uptherefiners Champion Author Chicago Posts:5,048 Points:1,002,000 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:28:50 AM Ignore uptherefiners Report Abuse please see yesterday's reply
BigDenOH Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,359 Points:580,300 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:28:06 AM Ignore BigDenOH Report Abuse Good job
RAKARWOWSKI Champion Author Chicago Posts:4,005 Points:822,000 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:27:59 AM Ignore RAKARWOWSKI Report Abuse I am moving to Texas.
Indy1 All-Star Author Quad Cities Posts:877 Points:804,475 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:27:55 AM Ignore Indy1 Report Abuse Submitted Yesterday
PADI Champion Author Ontario Posts:5,144 Points:1,261,870 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:26:50 AM Ignore PADI Report Abuse Should help.
JimVP All-Star Author Chicago Posts:632 Points:154,210 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:25:37 AM Ignore JimVP Report Abuse Should add to safety.
nskmda Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,290 Points:787,530 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:25:29 AM Ignore nskmda Report Abuse the same old 'news'
ou812again Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:3,324 Points:671,110 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:25:25 AM Ignore ou812again Report Abuse old news
donny47 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:2,666 Points:987,390 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:25:11 AM Ignore donny47 Report Abuse yesterdays news!
HailstormCA Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,855 Points:1,472,020 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:25:10 AM Ignore HailstormCA Report Abuse 'bout time!
CDMAuto Champion Author Connecticut Posts:3,798 Points:754,890 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:24:27 AM Ignore CDMAuto Report Abuse old news
JENNYHK Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,646 Points:714,520 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:23:33 AM Ignore JENNYHK Report Abuse ok.
PathTrack Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,203 Points:134,685 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:23:16 AM Ignore PathTrack Report Abuse Big state, big roads!
BackwoodsPundit Champion Author Richmond Posts:5,185 Points:1,012,725 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:22:53 AM Ignore BackwoodsPundit Report Abuse Thats not actually that many highway miles when you think about it, so surprised it had that much effect.
zimowski Champion Author San Jose Posts:6,676 Points:1,585,440 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:22:45 AM Ignore zimowski Report Abuse Go Texas...
driveonby1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:1,507 Points:256,665 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:22:12 AM Ignore driveonby1 Report Abuse Yesterday's article. Still good, though.
dbobguy Rookie Author Philadelphia Posts:7 Points:585 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:22:00 AM Ignore dbobguy Report Abuse I'm sure this has been recognized for years by the highway engineers. It comes down to money, how much to maintain and there is not enough extra realestate to keep the extra space or shoulder on the roads everywhere.
INBwana Champion Author Indiana Posts:5,467 Points:696,960 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:21:59 AM Ignore INBwana Report Abuse All states should be looking at this.
Tegger Champion Author Ontario Posts:3,128 Points:1,647,485 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:21:54 AM Ignore Tegger Report Abuse Hope they add wake-up strips too
belladog Champion Author Mobile Posts:2,587 Points:936,080 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:21:50 AM Ignore belladog Report Abuse rerun
grandmacbc Champion Author Buffalo Posts:6,540 Points:1,430,775 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:21:23 AM Ignore grandmacbc Report Abuse For breakdowns a wide shoulder is safer than being half off the road!
JLSindy Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,491 Points:674,015 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Aug 22, 2012 10:21:16 AM Ignore JLSindy Report Abuse I agree with much of what everyone says.