Road Construction is Dangerous
When highways are constructed or repaired there are hazards that, if motorists are unaware of, can be fatal. One such hazard is the roadway drop off.
A roadway drop off is where a newly paved portion of the road adjacent to the dirt portion of the road drops off without warning. This drop off, if deep enough, can cause the driver to lose control of his vehicle and not regain control before striking another vehicle or concrete road embankment.
Drop offs are more likely to occur on undivided rural highways with higher speed limits (between 45 and 70 mph) where drivers encounter twists and turns, driveways and oncoming traffic.
Good highway design and construction requires that the drop off on a highway where the speed limit is 55 mph should be no greater than one inch.
In addition, designers should provide space at the shoulders of highways to enable drivers to take evasive maneuvers to avoid potential crashes.
According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, “well-designed and properly maintained shoulders are needed on rural highways with appreciable volume of traffic.”
