907.3 Travel Safe Zones

Worksheet

Travel Safe Zone Plan Worksheet

A Travel Safe Zone (TSZ) is any area upon or around any highway where a highway safety analysis shows the number of fatal or disabling injury crashes exceeds a "predicted safety performance level for comparable roadways", as stated in Missouri Revised Statute 304.590. MoDOT uses TSZs to improve safety of a clearly defined roadway segment. This statute establishes that fines shall be doubled for moving violations (as defined in section 302.010, RSMo, or any offense listed in section 302.302, RSMo) within designated TSZs.

In order to designate a TSZ, MoDOT installs TRAVEL SAFE ZONE – FINES DOUBLED signs that are clearly visible from the highway. The end of the TSZ shall be designated with a FINES DOUBLED ENDS sign. Although local ordinances are not required to install a TSZ on the state highway system when the speed limit for that portion of the highway is established by state statute, MoDOT should not discourage the use of ordinances. Each municipality shall determine whether the municipality requires a local ordinance. An ordinance may be required if the speed limit within the TSZ is already established by ordinance.

Signing

TRAVEL SAFE ZONE – FINES DOUBLED grabs the attention of travelers and designates the beginning of a TSZ while FINES DOUBLED ENDS marks the end of a TSZ. The dimensions of the FINES DOUBLED ENDS sign are 36 in. (wide) x 30 in. (tall). Refer to Table 903.6.3 Warning Sign Sizes to determine the proper dimensions of the TRAVEL SAFE ZONE – FINES DOUBLED sign since its size depends on the type of facility on which it is located.

Recommendations

When considering the establishment of a Travel Safe Zone, it is recommended to gather the support of the regional Blueprint Coalition. A plan should be developed to increase law enforcement, a public information campaign and consideration of improved engineering strategies. Support from law enforcement is an integral part of making a TSZ effective and the traveling public needs to know this has been designated an area of concern. The TSZ plan should have an established start and end date. Depending upon the predetermined timeframe of the TSZ, the regional TSZ team (comprised of engineering, law enforcement and public information individuals committed to the TSZ plan) should conduct periodic monitoring of the safety performance. Once the end date has arrived, an analysis should be performed to determine the benefit of the TSZ and whether to continue using the TSZ. Should the TSZ be continued, another plan should be developed. The signs should be removed once a TSZ is determined to no longer be needed.