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Identification and Alleviation Of Hazardous
Utility Poles
Phase I - Development and Testing of Program
Guidelines
Background Information There are over 80 million utility poles nationwide on
public right of way that result in 1,100 deaths and approximately
40,000 serious injuries each year. Collectively, these collisions
represent an annual cost to society of $5 billion. Utility pole
collisions are the second most frequent and the most severe of all
fixed object collisions involving a man-made obstacle, and are
nearly six times more likely to result in a fatality and three
times more likely to result in an injury than any other highway
collision. Statistics show that approximately 80% of utility pole
collisions are frontal impacts and the remaining 20% are side
impacts, which are generally more severe and frequently result in
fatalities. Drivers involved in these collisions are very likely to
be injured while passengers are very likely to be
killed.
This is not a new hazard, but rather one that has been identified by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) since the mid 1960's. The top ten states account for 55% of the total fatalities and the top 20 states account for 80%. Utility pole crashes are the third highest ranking of all fixed object fatalities with trees and roadside barriers (guardrail, etc.) being the top two. Compilation of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) data for 1990-1994 by the Federal Highway Administration, ranks North Carolina eleventh (11th) out of the fifty states in utility pole related fatalities and 22nd in utility pole related fatalities per 100 billion vehicle miles traveled. |
Study Purpose The final outcome of this study will be
to develop a comprehensive work plan for identifying and
alleviating potentially hazardous utility poles on North
Carolina's highways. This will be a project that will require
inter-agency coordination and teamwork to be fully successful.The work plan is divided into two separate and distinct phases. Phase I will primarily be a pilot phase and will serve as a "test bed" for research, analysis and investigation ideas and techniques. In essence, Phase I will target a specific county by which to develop and test the "blueprint" and model the methodologies, practices and theories of how a state wide implementation plan should be carried out. Phase II of this plan will be the statewide endeavor of identifying and alleviating hazardous utility poles. It is anticipated that this will be a self-sustaining and on-going process for years to come. Related Links Workplan  Gantt Chart - Revised March 2003 Quarterly Reports |
