Roadway departure crashes are frequently severe and account for the majority of highway fatalities. In 2010, there were 15,786 fatal roadway departure crashes resulting in 17,389 fatalities, which was 53 percent of the fatal highway crashes in the United States. A roadway departure crash is defined as a non-intersection crash which occurs after a vehicle crosses an edge line or a center line, or otherwise leaves the traveled way. The sharing and availability of information on roadway departure, roadside safety, and infrastructure safety is one of the greatest challenges we face to further improve the safety of our roads. The sheer volume and numerous sources of safety information available today make identification and interpretation of needed information a difficult task. Advancements in research and technology can only be effective in solving safety problems if practitioners at all levels are aware of these techniques. Ready access to information on the state-of-the-practice and the state-of-the-art, including effective solutions and countermeasures, all types of research, new technology, training, and other information on roadway and roadside safety are essential elements for successfully addressing safety problems.

The objective of this pooled fund project is to fully develop and launch the Roadway Departure Safety Information Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse will be an actively managed, comprehensive, centralized resource for roadway departure safety information. This effort will reduce frequency and severity of roadway departure crashes by aiding practitioners with more rapid identification and implementation of best practices, safety countermeasures, new roadside safety technologies, and the latest research and training. The Clearinghouse will serve as an integral tool in support of important safety initiatives that are underway in the United States including Toward Zero Deaths, the Decade of Action, and the various state Strategic Highway Safety Plans, all of which have elements related to roadway departure safety. These efforts have a common goal of eliminating deaths associated with highway crashes.

The scope of the Clearinghouse will include identification and dissemination of data, best practices, safety countermeasures, and research that will reduce the number and severity of roadway departure crashes. The three key elements of this scope include: 1. Reducing the frequency of vehicles leaving the roadway, 2. Reducing the potential of errant vehicles crashing if they do leave the roadway, and 3. Mitigating the severity of crashes that do occur. Tasks required to complete the Clearinghouse development include: content identification, system setup, website and relational database design, data collection and web content development, marketing, and quality control. A brief description of these tasks is provided in the attached proposal.

Seeking funding at $15,000 per year for 3 years from each partner agency. Full Solicitation Proposal Details are found in the attached document. SPR Waiver is being requested.