Rural Road Safety Solutions
CONTACT A 3M ROAD SAFETY EXPERTWhen a large percentage of India’s population are living in rural areas, advancing rural road safety and road connectivity in these regions can make a positive socioeconomic impact to many people, and help alleviate poverty in these areas.
Since 2000, greater attention and investment has been given to rural road development by the Government of India through the Prime Minister’s Rural Roads Program (PMGSY), which seeks to provide all-weather road connectivity to hundreds of thousands of unserved villages in India’s rural areas. The National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA) has also developed the Rural Road Safety Manual to assist in enhancing road safety technical and operational issues at every stage of development.
Here, we will identify the types of rural road hazards and key safety risks, and suggest road safety solutions such as 3M™ Raised Pavement Markers or Delineators that can be used to minimise them.
What are rural roads?
Rural roads in India are commonly referred to as:
• Other District Roads (ODR): These are roads serving rural areas and providing them with outlets to market centres, block development headquarters or major district roads. They connect villages with a population of 1000 and above.
• Village Roads (VR): These connect villages or a cluster of villages with each other and with the nearest road of a higher category.
Types of safety risks encountered on rural roads
• Physical hazards: Any roadside object or feature that is located on or near the road which is likely to create danger to the occupants or riders of any vehicle.
• Road hazards at intersections: Road safety issues at intersections are primarily caused by poor visibility of oncoming traffic due to neglected high fences, bushes, trees and hoardings.
• Traffic passing through habitations or centres of activities: In these areas, road safety issues commonly involve pedestrians, non-motorised vehicle users, or cattle belonging to the inhabitants.
Common rural road safety issues and their suggested solutions
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Mitigation Measures & Road Safety Solutions
• Speed regulatory and Cautionary/Warning traffic signs (Class B, Type IV) should be installed before the approach of the curve as per Indian Roads Congress’ (IRC) Code of Practice for Road Signs (IRC67:2012).
• Raised Pavement Markers with red reflectors should be installed along both sides the road bend to highlight edges of curved road.
• If embankments are present, Road Delineators more than 1.5m and less than 2.5m in height should be installed to display.
Solutions:
High Intensity Prismatic Reflective Sheeting (Class B, Type IV)
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Mitigation Measures & Road Safety Solutions
• Regulatory, Cautionary/Warning traffic signs as well as Informatory signs (Class B, Type IV) should be installed before the approach of the hazard as per IRC67:2012.
• Raised Pavement Markers with red reflectors should be installed along both sides of the road to highlight the edges.
• Road Delineators more than 1.5m and less than 2.5m in height should be installed to safeguard against any embankments.
Hazard markers or reflective sheeting should be installed at sides of the parapet walls to caution traffic.
Solutions:
High Intensity Prismatic Reflective Sheeting (Class B, Type IV)
Aluminum-backed Flexible Prismatic (AFP)
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Mitigation Measures & Road Safety Solutions
• Aluminum-backed Flexible Prismatic (AFP) sheeting can be applied directly onto electric poles, trees, or any permanent object close or on the rural road to increase night-time visibility of the hazard.
• Raised Pavement Markers with red reflectors can be installed to delineate traffic from the object and highlight road edges.
• Cautionary/Warning traffic signs should be installed before approach of the hazard as per IRC67:2012.
Solutions:
High Intensity Prismatic Reflective Sheeting (Class B, Type IV)
Aluminum-backed Flexible Prismatic (AFP)
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Mitigation Measures & Road Safety Solutions
• When rural intersections or junctions are not visible due to encroachment, the following should be installed for road safety:
- Traffic calming devices such as pedestrian crossings with Solar Studs.
- Advanced Cautionary/Warning traffic signs on the left and right of the junction.
- Advanced Informatory/Directional traffic signs that warn of the side road ahead.
- A 'STOP' sign at the approach of the junction.
- Road Pavement Markers with red reflectors to highlight the edges of the curves/turns of the road.
Solutions:
High Intensity Prismatic Reflective Sheeting (Class B, Type IV)
Image source: National Rural Roads Development Agency.
Note:
1. Sizes and colour of traffic signs, kerb and height clearances, as well as the spacing between traffic signs must follow the Code of Practice for Road Signs (IRC:67-2012).
2. For a complete list of rural road mitigation measures and their regulated standards, please refer to the National Rural Roads Development Agency’s (NRRDA) Rural Road Safety Manual.
Featured road safety products
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Suitable for rural roads, our durable reflective sheeting meets or exceeds ASTM D4659 Type III and IV standards and is warranted up to 10 years.
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3M’s durable, highly-reflective markers are impact-resistant, and suitable for asphalt or concrete road surfaces.
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Make construction work and traffic detour zones be as visible as possible with high-performance retroreflective and fluorescent technologies.
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Additional resources and insights
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Learn more about the safety regulations and standards that govern roads in India.
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Download case studies to see how state governments created safer rural roads with 3M Traffic Safety solutions.
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Get answers to common questions about 3M Traffic Safety solutions and products.
