"This synthesis will be of interest to traffic engineers in federal, state, provincial, and local transportation agencies who are responsible for the design and operation of safe and efficiency highway systems. It will also be useful to consulting traffic engineers, sign manufacturers, and vendors in the private sector who assist governmental clients in the application of changeable message sign (CMS) and other intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technology. It is an update of NCHRP Synthesis no. 61 (1979)."--Avant-propos.

This document presents a synthesis of current information and operating practices related to roadside safety and is developed in metric units. The roadside is defined as that area beyond the traveled way (driving lanes) and the shoulder (if any) of the roadway itself. The focus of this guide is on safety treatments that minimize the likelihood of serious injuries when a driver runs off the road. This guide replaces the 1989 AASHTO "Roadside Design Guide."

The objective of this study was to develop and test word and symbol traffic control and hazard messages for portable changeable message signs (PCMSs). The messages were designed for the standard PCMS with three lines of eight characters. First, a comprehensive listing of candidate PCMS messages was developed. This was done by interviewing State highway engineers, surveying PCMS manufacturers and questioning motorists. In those situations where subjects did not express an overwhelming sign preference additional field testing was done. The detection distances of the candidate messages were determined using a PCMS under both day and night conditions.

The purpose of this manual is to provide clear and helpful information for maintaining gravel roads. Very little technical help is available to small agencies that are responsible for managing these roads. Gravel road maintenance has traditionally been "more of an art than a science" and very few formal standards exist. This manual contains guidelines to help answer the questions that arise concerning gravel road maintenance such as: What is enough surface crown? What is too much? What causes corrugation? The information is as nontechnical as possible without sacrificing clear guidelines and instructions on how to do the job right.