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Abstract:This paper describes how roadway departures account for more than half of all roadway fatalities. Roadway departure fatalities, which include runoff- the-road (ROR) and head-on fatalities, are a serious problem in the United States. In 2003, there were 25,562 roadway departure fatalities, accounting for 55 percent of all roadway fatalities in the United States. That same year: (1) more than 16,700 people died in ROR crashes (39 percent of all roadway fatalities); and (2) head-on crashes represented 12 percent of all fatal crashes. Why are there so many roadway departure crashes? There are many contributing factors. Driver fatigue and drowsiness can contribute to ROR crashes; a drowsy driver can be as dangerous as a drunk driver. In other cases, drivers are inattentive, careless, or distracted, and drift out of the lane and off the road. Visibility also is an issue. The majority of accidents happen at night. Moreover, 70 percent of ROR fatalities occur on rural highways, and about 90 percent occur on two-lane roads. Rural highways usually are not as well lit as urban roadways. Inclement weather such as fog, snow, smoke, or dust storms also can decrease the visibility of pavement markings. In these conditions, drivers may drive off the road accidentally.
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