Your road to data-driven decisions

Many highway authorities routinely measure skid resistance on their key routes and carry out targeted improvements to reduce the risk of collisions. Typically, decisions about when and where to invest are guided by the research and approaches taken for national road networks. For local authorities, whose roads have different geometries, junction types, traffic speeds and traffic flow, the lack of evidence to support a risk-based approach posed a challenge for the effective management of their networks.

Now, under research funded by the Road Safety Trust, a prioritisation method has been developed to help local highway authorities identify the locations that will most benefit from treatment to improve skid resistance. The research has been carried out in collaboration with 19 local authorities and consisted of a desk study followed by a pilot implementation trial.
‍
Project summary
‍
See below for a summary of the research findings

The LASR approach
‍
The prioritisation method, known as the LASR (local authority skid resistance) approach, combines information about the road characteristics, skid resistance, traffic and collision history to obtain a priority ranking for each location. The method uses the estimated benefit-to-cost ratio of treatment and the relative likelihood of collisions in wet conditions, based on evidence that was obtained from local roads during the desk study. It provides a practical and balanced approach to assessing risk, consistent with best practice in asset management.
‍
The current version of the methodology is v3.0
‍
An Excel template is available to help road authorities wanting to use the LASR v3.0 method to analyse their skid resistance data this autumn.

Download LASR v3 methodology Download LASR v3 Template

Any local authorities wishing to pilot or implement the method are invited to collaborate with the established local authority Steering Group. Please email enquiries@lasr-approach.org

Image showing the cover of report called Prioritising local authority skid resistance: Pilot tial of the LASR approach

Research findings

The headline findings of the research are:

Where a significant improvement in skid resistance was achieved, surface treatment was associated with a 38% reduction in wet collisions, compared with untreated comparison sites.
The reduction affects collisions on wet, rather than dry roads, as expected.
The reduction in wet collisions was greatest on the sites with lower initial skid resistance.
The high skid resistance thresholds for junctions, currently required by default in many local authority policies, are not supported by the evidence gathered in either phase of this research.
Treatments on bend/gradients were particularly effective.
The LASR method was found to be a practical and effective method of identifying lengths that can deliver safety benefits, with advantages over conventional methods.

Reports on the research can be downloaded here:

Phase 1 Desk study underpinning the LASR methodology

Phase 2 Pilot trial of the LASR approach

To find out more about the project or the LASR method please email enquiries@lasr-approach.org

Related research

An Analysis of Skid Resistance Investigatory Levels in Wiltshire

This recent study, conducted independently of the LASR research, has some useful insights that can inform how authorities select threshold values, either as part of the LASR method or within an alternative strategy for managing skid resistance

Earlier news

The LASR Approach Set To Shine On World Stage

Projects dedicated to improving road safety announced

Read more