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Skid Resistance of Asphalt Surfaces Report
The Highways Agency has responded to media interest in the report into the Early Life Skid Resistance of Asphalt Surfaces, which was published on October 18th 2005.
See: http://www.ha-research.co.uk/projects/index.php?id=661
We commissioned TRL Limited to investigate the behaviour of newly laid surfaces in response to concerns that such surfaces could exhibit lower skid resistance.
It was found that for most roads, and in most circumstances, the increased risk of accidents associated with new surfacings is likely to be small.
The risks are no greater than for older roads that are in an acceptable condition.
The report further confirms that new surfaces are safe if drivers obey the Highway Code and any advisory signs where new surfacing has been laid.
The report also confirmed that the interim advice, issued by the Agency to its contractors in 2003, on the risk assessment and signing of newly surfaced areas, is the best advice at present.
The agency said: "Low-noise surfacing is widely used across Britain and Europe and provides good adhesion for vehicles and has a proven safety record.
‘All thin asphalt surfacings used on the trunk road network meet the strict standards and specifications and provide a safe and reliable surface on which to drive."
Thin asphalt surfacings were adopted by the agency for trunk roads following extensive trials with suppliers during the early 1990s and strong public support for quieter road surfacings.
They provide road users and people living next to busy trunk roads with a number of welcome benefits, including:
- Significant reductions in road traffic noise when compared with traditional surfacing such as hot rolled asphalt;
- Compared with hot rolled asphalt, there is a significant reduction of spray in wet weather, helping to maintain good visibility for road users;
- Thin surfacings can be laid quickly and have good durability properties, reducing congestion due to road works;
- Thin surfacings use quality aggregates which have good long-term performance in terms of skid resistance in the wet.
The agency is carrying out further research into the link between new surfacings and accident risk.
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