ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor
Town of Spencer
April 2014
Prepared for:
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Prepared by:
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
38 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table of Contents
Background .................................................................................................................................2
Project Data .................................................................................................................................4
Project Location Description .....................................................................................................5
Road Safety Audit Observations ...............................................................................................8
Corridor-Wide Observations ............................................................................................................... 9
Location 1: Route 31 at Howe Road ................................................................................................. 15
Location 2: Route 31 at Cranberry Meadow Road/Bacon Hill Road................................................ 17
Potential Safety Enhancements ...............................................................................................20
List of Appendices
Appendix A.
Appendix B.
Appendix C.
Appendix D.
RSA Meeting Agenda
RSA Audit Team Contact List
Detailed Crash Data
Additional Information
List of Figures
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
Locus Map .............................................................................................................................. 3
Route 31 (Charlton Road) at Howe Road............................................................................... 6
Route 31 (Charlton Road) at Cranberry Meadow Road/Bacon Hill Road ............................. 7
List of Tables
Table 1.
Table 2.
Participating Audit Team Members ....................................................................................... 4
Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements ....................................................................... 21
Page 1
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Background
The Road Safety Audit (RSA) focused on the segment of Route 31 in Spencer, Massachusetts, from just
south of Vista Lane to the Charlton Town Line. The segment of Route 31 experienced 49 crashes in
1999-2004 plus 2008-2013, including three fatal crashes. The Massachusetts Department of
Transportation (MassDOT) has determined that the Town of Spencer would be eligible to receive funding
for resurfacing and other improvements for Route 31 under the High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) program
of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) if a RSA were conducted and the proposed design
incorporated the safety improvements identified in the RSA. The HRRR program requires a roadway to
be classified as a collector or local roadway in a rural area on which the crash rate for injury crashes or
fatal crashes is higher than the statewide average. The RSA study area is illustrated in Figure 1.
A roadway improvement project (MassDOT Project # 602991) was approved in 2003, and survey and
conceptual design was completed in 2004-2005 in coordination with the Town of Spencer, MassDOT
District 3, and an engineering consultant. However, at the time, MassDOT required the geometric safety
issues (i.e. sag curves, etc., which can’t meet AASHTO requirements) to be addressed in the design. This
significantly increased the cost of the project; in 2006, the project cost was between $6-8 million. Given
the low AADT and high cost, the project does not score high enough on the TIP to gain approval;
however, funding options are being explored. The project is tentatively scheduled to begin construction
in Fall 2019, pending funding.
In general, the RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be evaluated and
included as part of current and/or future design efforts for resurfacing/reconstruction. The short-term,
low-cost potential improvements could be considered by the responsible agency for implementation prior
to resurfacing, as appropriate.
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Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer, MA
Locus Map
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Figure 1.
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
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Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Project Data
The audit team conducted an RSA for the Route 31 corridor between Vista Lane and the Charlton Town
Line in Spencer, Massachusetts, on Thursday, April 10, 2014. The RSA agenda appears in Appendix A.
Table 1 lists the audit team members and their affiliations. Appendix B provides contact information for
all team members.
Prior to the RSA, in order to begin assessing possible safety issues, the team reviewed collision diagrams
and a crash detail summary based on crash records supplied by the Spencer Police Department for the
corridor. Appendix C provides the detailed crash data for the study area.
Table 1. Participating Audit Team Members
Audit Team Member
Kevin Krasnecky
Dan Daniska
Dave Darrin
Bob Parsons
Michelle Buck
Eben Butler
Steven Tyler
Thuong Phan
Lola Campbell
Rick Handfield
Craig Roberts
Corey O’Connor
Ted Brovitz
Mike Tremblay
Agency/Affiliation
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
(CMRPC)
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
(CMRPC)
Town of Spencer Police Department
Town of Spencer Fire Department
Town of Spencer Town Planner
Town of Spencer Highway Department
Town of Spencer Highway Department/DPW
MassDOT District 3
MassDOT District 3 Traffic
MassDOT Highway Division
MassDOT Highway Division Safety Section
MassDOT Highway Division Safety Section
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
From 1999-2004 and 2008-2013, 49 crashes were reported along Route 31 between Vista Lane and the
Charlton Town Line. Of the 49 crashes, 23 (or 48%) were single-vehicle crashes with fixed objects on
the edge of the roadway. Ten crashes (20%) were angle-type crashes; ten (20%) were rear-end type
crashes; four (8%) were sideswipe crashes, and two (4%) were head-on crashes. Most crashes occurred
during daylight hours (63%). A significant number of crashes occurred on wet pavement (12%), snow
(20%), ice (10%), or slush (5%). Nearly half (48%) of crashes involved motorists who were aged 15-29
years old, including 26% of drivers between the age of 15-20 years old. Eleven crashes resulted in
personal injury, and three crashes resulted in a fatality.
Page 4
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Project Location Description
The RSA focused on Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) between Vista Lane and the Charlton
Town Line in Spencer. Within the study area, Route 31, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Town of
Spencer, is classified as an urban minor arterial north of Howe Road and as a rural major collector south
of Howe Road. Route 31 runs north-south between the Connecticut State Line in Dudley to the south and
the New Hampshire State Line in Ashby to the north. Within the Town of Spencer, Route 31 runs from
the Charlton Town Line to the south, where it is called Charlton Road, to the Paxton Town Line to the
north, where it is called North Spencer Road. Within the study area, Route 31 consists of one travel lane
in each direction, and runs continuously without any traffic signals or stop signs. No sidewalks are
provided in the study area south of Bemis Street, and no bicycle accommodations are provided along the
corridor. Passing is generally not permitted along the corridor except for a short stretch in the vicinity of
Howe Road; however, public safety officials stated that vehicles traveling faster along the corridor often
illegally pass slower traveling vehicles using the opposing travel lane throughout the corridor.
The RSA team also discussed two intersections along Route 31 that had unique safety issues compared to
the rest of the corridor.
Route 31 (Maple Street) at Howe Road is an unsignalized intersection with three approaches. The Howe
Road stop-controlled eastbound approach consists of one travel lane in each direction. Howe Road is
classified as a local road under the Town of Spencer’s jurisdiction. The Route 31 northbound and
southbound approaches each consist of one travel lane in each direction. Howe Road intersects Route 31
from the southwest, creating an acute intersection angle. Passing is permitted on Route 31 in the vicinity
of Howe Road. An aerial image of the intersection is shown in Figure 2.
Route 31 (Charlton Road) at Cranberry Meadow Road/Bacon Hill Road is an unsignalized intersection
with four approaches. The Cranberry Meadow Road stop-controlled eastbound approach and the Bacon
Hill Road stop-controlled westbound approach each consists of one travel lane in each direction. Both
Cranberry Meadow Road and Bacon Hill Road are classified as rural minor collectors and fall under the
jurisdiction of the Town of Spencer. The Route 31 northbound and southbound approaches also consist of
one travel lane in each direction. The intersection is located on a vertical curve; Cranberry Meadow Road
intersects Route 31 at an upgrade, while Bacon Hill Road intersects Route 31 at a downgrade. An aerial
image of the intersection is shown in Figure 3.
Page 5
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer, MA
ROUTE 31 (CHA
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Figure 2. Route 31 (Charlton Road) at Howe Road
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ROUTE 31 (CHA
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Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer, MA
ROUT
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Figure 3. Route 31 (Charlton Road) at Cranberry Meadow Road/Bacon Hill Road
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Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Road Safety Audit Observations
Based on field observations on Thursday, April 10, 2014, the RSA team determined that the segment of
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) between Vista Lane and the Charlton Town Line in Spencer has
the following issues that affect safety:
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Travel speeds;
Roadway geometry;
Drainage;
Signage;
Lighting;
Pedestrian and bicycle accommodations;
Intersection geometry;
Sight lines; and
Intersection control.
The following sections describe in more detail the safety issues and potential enhancements determined
during the RSA. Several of these issues require further study and engineering judgment to determine the
feasibility of implementing the improvements to address them.
Page 8
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Corridor-Wide Observations
The RSA team identified the following safety issues along the Route 31 corridor as a whole,
including travel speeds, roadway geometry, drainage, signage, and pedestrian and bicycle
accommodations.
Observations:
Travel Speeds
RSA participants indicated that speed is a significant safety issue on the corridor. Of the 49
crashes reported along the corridor, nine crash reports cited motorists driving erratically or
driving too fast for the conditions or speed limit. Route 31 is a rural road that typically does not
experience congestion, and there are no traffic signals or stop signs along Route 31 within the
study area, so vehicles may often maintain fast speeds.
High travel speeds may lead to severe crashes and out-of-control crashes along the corridor. Of
the 49 crashes reported along the corridor, 17 crashes occurred when the motorist lost control of
the vehicle, hitting a fixed object on the side of the roadway or another vehicle. These crashes
typically involved speeds that exceeded the posted speed limit of 40 mph and/or occurred on a
wet, snow-covered, or icy roadway surface.
Passing is not permitted on Route 31, except for a 1,000­
foot section of the roadway in the vicinity of Howe Road,
where passing is permitted. However, RSA team members
stated that vehicles often use the opposing travel lane to
pass on Route 31 despite the double yellow centerline
(DYCL) dividing directions of travel on the corridor.
Public safety officials attending the RSA stated that speed
enforcement does occur on Route 31 when possible.
Motorists are typically pulled over within the travel lane
with the understanding that motorists will drive around the
police vehicle in the opposite travel lane. Public safety
officials did state that there are very few places for police
vehicles to idle on public property and observe the speed of
passing vehicles. RSA team members stated that additional
enforcement is desired by public safety officials.
Passing is permitted only in a
small section of Route 31 south of
Howe Road.
space to idle and conduct speed
Roadway Geometry
Between Vista Lane and the Charlton Town Line, Route 31 contains a series of horizontal and
vertical curves. These curves may obscure sight lines between motorists on the roadway and
vehicles entering or exiting driveways or side streets. Vertical curves may also contribute to
travel speeds on downgrades. There is no intersection warning signage on Route 31, and no
Page 9
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
“Stop Ahead” signage on the stop-controlled intersecting roadways. Four crashes, including one
fatal crash, involved vehicles that did not stop at a stop sign.
There is no curb or paved shoulder along Route 31 within the study area. RSA participants
observed that delivery vehicles often park on the side of the road to service residents along the
corridor rather than parking in driveways, out of which it may be difficult to exit. One sideswipe
crash was reported between a service vehicle and passenger vehicle driving southbound along
Route 31 at 196 Charlton Road.
Guardrails are provided on one or both sides of the
roadway in areas where there is a significant drop-off in
grade at the side of the roadway. These guard rails are
often located within two feet of the edge of the paved
roadway, which may increase the number of property
damage only crashes as the roadway width is less
“forgiving” in these areas. Four crashes involved vehicles
that struck a guardrail, including one crash involving a
motorist that lost control of their vehicle as a result of
clipping the guardrail. Team members also noted that
Guardrails along the corridor
many guard rails do not have safe end treatments. Guard
typically have unsafe end
treatments.
rails should be treated with an impact attenuator. The
guardrails along the corridor typically do not have flared
ends, and thus present a hazard for vehicles if they hit the end of the guardrail. Guardrails that
recess into the ground without a flared end have a potential to lift vehicles off of the roadway,
causing severe crashes.
In locations with no guardrails, there is an inconsistent recovery area, where there are often trees,
utility poles, rocks, mailboxes, or other objects located very close to the edge of the roadway.
These objects may present safety issues, as many vehicles that depart the roadway hit these
objects because they do not have sufficient recovery time before striking a fixed object.
Nineteen of the 41 crashes involved vehicles hitting fixed objects on the side of the roadway.
However, team members also stated that the objects may help to calm traffic, as they visually
narrow the roadway and cause most drivers to drive more carefully.
Team members noted that East Charlton Road intersects Route 31 from the southeast at an acute
angle. This intersection angle allows East Charlton Street northwest-bound vehicles to enter
Route 31 northbound at high speeds, while left-turning motorists must look over their left
shoulder to see oncoming Route 31 northbound vehicles while watching for southbound vehicles.
Similarly, Route 31 southbound vehicles may enter East Charlton Road at high speeds due to the
geometry of the intersection. While no crashes were reported related to this observation, it was
seen as a potential safety issue.
Page 10
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Drainage
RSA participants indicated that there is poor drainage and a lack of drainage infrastructure
throughout the corridor. Most of Route 31 drains off the edge of the roadway; however, in some
locations, closed drainage systems collect and discharge water into wetland areas. At the time of
the RSA, the pavement along the Route 31 corridor within the study area was in very poor
condition. As a result, the crown of the roadway is poorly defined, impacting drainage. This
condition causes water and ice to build up on the pavement, contributing to some crashes. The
pavement was in such poor condition that snow, ice, and water collect large potholes that are
unreachable by snow plows.
There are many locations where drainage from abutting properties flows into the roadway,
creating unexpected wet or icy roadway surfaces. Many areas also lack a defined drainage swale
to remove and keep water off the roadway. Of the 41 crashes, 20 occurred on a roadway surface
that was described as snow, ice, slush, or wet pavement.
Team members also noted that some sections of the closed drainage system may be blocked,
negatively impacting its effectiveness, and that some of the swales on the sides of the roadway
may be overgrown, reducing their capacity.
Signage
Street name signs are provided; however, they are relatively small, especially considering the
40 mph posted speed limit on Route 31. The street name signage may also be obscured by
horizontal and vertical curves, as well as tree branches or other obstructions, in some locations.
Team members also noted that curve warning signage is not provided along the corridor. Some
of the out-of-control crashes along the corridor may have occurred in the vicinity of a horizontal
curve.
Delineation
A lack of delineation was observed throughout the corridor. Delineation devices such as
retroreflective pavement markings, recessed pavement markers, roadway edge reflectors, and
guardrail reflectors are not provided anywhere along the corridor. The lack of delineation makes
it difficult for drivers to comprehend where the edge of the roadway is, and makes it difficult for
motorists to navigate the winding roadway, especially at night and during inclement weather.
The lack of delineation also contributes to the single vehicle departure crashes.
Lighting
The lighting on the Route 31 corridor is inconsistent, and may be inadequate in some locations.
Of the 12 crashes that occurred at night, seven were reported to have occurred on a lighted
roadway, four were reported to have occurred on a non-lighted roadway, and one crash had
unknown lighting conditions. Team members also noted that additional lighting at intersections
may increase awareness of the intersections.
Page 11
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities
RSA participants observed that there are no bicycle and pedestrian facilities on the corridor
except for a small section of sidewalk located on the east side of Route 31 between Vista Lane
and Demers Drive. Team members stated that residents of the RSA participants expressed
concern about cyclists/pedestrians on Route 31, particularly given the high vehicle travel speeds
along the corridor and the history of speed related crashes where drivers lost control of the
vehicle. Although no pedestrian or bicycle crashes were reported in the crash data, the concern
of lacking pedestrian and bicycle accommodations was still raised during the RSA. Team
members noted that pedestrians often walk along Route 31 to access the Spencer State Forest
west of Route 31.
Page 12
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Potential Enhancements:
1. In the short-term, consider reinforcing the speed limit with new retroreflective speed limit
signage. Consider placing signage at the bottom of vertical curves, and consider using
oversize signage.
2. Consider using a speed display sign in areas where speeding is especially prominent. Radar
speed signage should display the posted speed limit and the vehicle speed. If the vehicle
speed exceeds the posted speed limit, the display should read “SLOW DOWN” to reinforce
to motorists that they are exceeding the posted speed limit.
3. Consider the use of advanced curve warning signs with advisory speed signage in advance of
horizontal curves. While not enforceable, advisory speed signage may alert motorists to a
change in the roadway, causing them to drive more cautiously, while the advanced curve
warning sign gives the motorist advanced notice on what to expect of the roadway ahead.
4. Consider the use of longitudinal rumble strips on Route 31 approaching hazardous horizontal
curves or intersections to influence motorists to drive slower in these locations. Consider
maintenance issues and noise that these may cause.
5. Consider the safety benefits of identifying safe passing zones along the corridor, and
reconsider existing passing zones. Place “No Passing” signage in locations where passing is
deemed unsafe. Section 3B.02 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
outlines where passing zones may be placed in relation to vertical and horizontal curves.
6. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, identify and provide locations where police can
park and conduct traffic enforcement, including speed and passing violations, to help reduce
the occurrence of speeding and reckless driving on the corridor.
7. Provide intersection warning signage on Route 31 with supplemental street name signs and
“Stop Ahead” signage on stop-controlled intersecting roadways to alert motorists to the
presence of the intersection.
8. Consider providing a paved shoulder to provide motorists with a recovery zone in case they
depart the roadway. Mark the shoulder with a solid white edge line (SWEL) to guide
motorists along the roadway and to help keep vehicles away from the guardrails. Consider
using a 30-degree shoulder slope, or Safety Edge, as outlined by the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) to reduce the occurrence of tire scrubbing, which often causes
motorists to lose control of their vehicle. According to the FHWA, the Safety Edge may
reduce the occurrence of crashes on two-lane highways by 6%.
9. Clear the edge of the roadway as much as possible to ease the hazard of fixed object crashes
and to give motorists additional recovery room.
10. Replace unsafe fixed-end or buried guardrail end treatments with impact attenuators to reduce
the chance of severe collisions with guardrails.
Page 13
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
11. Consider altering the geometry of the East Charlton Road northwest-bound approach to
Route 31 to create a right-angle intersection, which would improve motorists’ sight lines to
the south and force motorists entering or exiting East Charlton Street to do so at slower
speeds.
12. Resurface the roadway with a defined crown to facilitate drainage and reduce the number of
crashes that occur on wet, snowy, icy, or slushy pavement conditions.
13. Better define, construct, and maintain swales and closed drainage systems to increase the
efficiency of the drainage system.
14. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider identifying locations to add additional
drainage structures. Install subdrain in areas where appropriate. Consider impacts that
roadway runoff may have on wetlands.
15. Provide delineation throughout the corridor. Thermoplastic and retroreflective pavement
markings should be used in addition to recessed pavement markers along the DYCL. More
delineation techniques may also be explored, including guardrail reflectors and yellow and
white object markers (depending on which side of the road they are used). Object markers
may be used according to Section 2C.65 of the MUTCD along stretches of roadway where it
is particularly undesirable to leave the roadway edge.
16. Provide larger street name signage at intersections and provide street name placards on
intersection warning signage so that motorists may prepare to make their turns in advance of
the intersection.
17. Identify locations where additional lighting is needed and provide it as part of long-term
reconstruction efforts.
18. Consider the safety benefits of providing additional lighting at intersections to draw motorist
attention to the intersections.
19. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider providing a sidewalk on at least one side
of the roadway to provide pedestrians with a safe location to walk along Route 31.
20. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider providing a shoulder of at least 4 feet on
each side of the roadway to provide bicyclists with a safe location to ride their bicycle along
the corridor and to provide motorists with a recovery zone in the event that they depart the
roadway.
Page 14
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Location 1: Route 31 at Howe Road
The RSA team identified the following issues with regard to intersection geometry and sight lines at
the intersection of Route 31 at Howe Road:
Observations:
Intersection Geometry
Howe Road intersects Route 31 from the southwest at a
skewed angle, and as a result, motorists turning left from
Howe Road onto Route 31 northbound must look over
their right shoulder for oncoming Route 31 northbound
traffic while also watching for oncoming Route 31
southbound traffic.
In addition to the skewed
intersection angle, Route 31 northbound approaches the
intersection at a significant downgrade. The vertical
curve makes it more difficult for vehicles exiting Howe
Road to see Route 31 northbound traffic. This issue is
Howe Road approaches from the
exacerbated by the upgrade on Howe Road approaching
southwest at an acute angle.
the intersection. The downgrade also makes it more
difficult for Route 31 northbound vehicles to see Howe Road; of the eight crashes that occurred at
the intersection, two were rear-end crashes between Route 31 northbound vehicles, and two were
single-vehicle crashes involving Route 31 northbound left-turning vehicles that slid off the road
due to an icy roadway surface. Each of these crashes indicate that motorists on the Route 31
northbound approach may not anticipate Howe Road as they approach the intersection.
RSA participants also noted that the skewed intersection may cause Route 31 southbound
vehicles to turn onto Howe Road at an excessive rate of speed. This may have contributed to two
single-vehicle crashes involving Route 31 southbound vehicles approaching Howe Road.
Motorists may maintain high speeds because they are not aware that they are approaching the
intersection.
Sight Lines
Sight lines to the south of Howe
Road are obscured by signs,
trees, and a guardrail.
RSA team members noted that trees, signs, and a guard
rail in the southwest corner of the intersection may
obscure sight lines to the south of the intersection,
making it more difficult for Howe Road northwest-bound
vehicles to turn left onto Route 31 northbound. This
forces motorists to advance beyond the stop bar in order
to get an adequate view of approaching Route 31
northbound traffic. The stop bar itself is set back in a
location that also makes it difficult to see Route 31
southbound vehicles approaching the intersection.
Page 15
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Potential Enhancements:
1. Provide intersection warning signage along the Route 31 northbound and southbound approaches,
equipped with street name placards for Howe Road, to help motorists anticipate the intersection
as they approach Howe Road.
2. Move the location of the Howe Road street sign so it is more visible to Route 31 northbound
vehicles. Consider using a larger street name sign.
3. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider realigning the Howe Road northeast-bound
approach to form a right-angle intersection to improve sight lines for both Howe Road northeastbound vehicles and Route 31 northbound and southbound vehicles.
4. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider altering the profile of the intersection so that
Howe Road intersects Route 31 on a flatter grade, and thus improving visibility for all motorists.
5. Consider clearing trees and unnecessary signage from the sight triangles on the Howe Road
northeast-bound approach to improve sight lines to the south of Howe Road.
6. If possible, move the Howe Road northeast-bound stop bar and stop sign closer to the intersection
so that motorists stop in the appropriate location to be able to see oncoming traffic and so that
Howe Road northeast-bound vehicles are more visible to Route 31 northbound and southbound
motorists.
Page 16
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Location 2: Route 31 at Cranberry Meadow Road/Bacon Hill
Road
The RSA team had the following observations with regard to intersection control, intersection
geometry, and sight lines at the intersection of Route 31 at Cranberry Meadow Road/Bacon Hill
Road.
Observations:
Intersection Control
The Cranberry Meadow Road eastbound approach and
the Bacon Hill Road westbound approach are each stop-
controlled approaches, while Route 31 traffic flows
freely through the intersection. Team members stated
that vehicles often do not stop at the Cranberry Meadow
Road eastbound stop sign, either because the motorist did
not see the stop sign or because the motorist attempted to
continue onto Bacon Hill Road without stopping. Four
crashes, including two resulting in personal injury and
one fatality, occurred where a Cranberry Meadow Road
eastbound vehicle failed to stop at the stop sign.
The stop sign on the Cranberry
Meadow Road eastbound
approach is obstructed by a utility
pole.
The Cranberry Meadow Road eastbound stop sign is
obscured by a utility pole as motorists approach the
intersection. Cranberry Meadow Road eastbound motorists may not see the stop sign due to the
utility pole, which may contribute to the four crashes involving Cranberry Meadow Road
eastbound vehicles. The stop line is located closer to the intersection than the stop sign, which
may cause confusion as to the appropriate place to stop.
Intersection Geometry
Cranberry Meadow Road eastbound approaches the intersection at an upgrade, while Bacon Hill
Road westbound approaches the intersection at a downgrade. The upgrade on Cranberry Meadow
Road eastbound may make the intersection more difficult to see for motorists approaching Route
31. Additionally, Cranberry Meadow Road eastbound motorists can clearly see Bacon Hill Road
to the east due to the downgrade on Bacon Hill Road as it approaches Route 31. This may result
in vehicles crossing Route 31 without stopping, causing severe angle crashes.
The downgrade on Bacon Hill Road westbound was cited as a safety issue on wet, snow- or icecovered roadway surfaces, since it may cause stopping vehicles to slide down the hill into the
intersection. One crash occurred due to a snow-covered roadway surface on Bacon Hill Road.
Page 17
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Sight Lines
A rock wall and trees obstruct
sight lines to the north of Bacon
Hill Road
RSA team members observed that, due to obstacles such
as rock walls and trees in the northeast corner of the
intersection, sight lines to the north and east of the
intersection are obstructed. This may cause Bacon Hill
Road westbound vehicles to proceed past the stop bar in
order to see Route 31 southbound vehicles. If a vehicle
proceeds too far, it may conflict with Route 31
northbound through traffic. One angle crash resulting in
personal injury involved a Bacon Hill Road westbound
vehicle and a Route 31 northbound vehicle. RSA team
members stated that the obstructions are located within
the roadway right-of-way.
Page 18
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Potential Enhancements:
1. Determine the ideal position for the Cranberry Meadow Road eastbound stop line, and place the
stop sign closer to the stop bar to improve clarity on the approach. Ensure that the stop sign is not
obstructed by trees or utility poles.
2. Consider placing a second stop sign opposite the existing stop signs on the Cranberry Meadow
Road eastbound approach and the Bacon Hill Road westbound approach to improve visibility of
the stop sign. Consider using oversized signs or retroreflective tape on the sign posts to further
improve awareness of the stop signs on each approach. If this recommendation is implemented, a
DYCL must be provided and maintained on each roadway so that these roadways are not
perceived to be one-way roadways.
3. Upgrade text “Stop Ahead” signage on the Cranberry Meadow Road eastbound approach and the
Bacon Hill Road westbound approach to diagrammatic “Stop Ahead” signage on both sides of the
roadway.
4. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider the safety benefits of providing an overhead
flashing signal at the intersection that would flash red for the Cranberry Meadow Road eastbound
approach and the Bacon Hill Road westbound approach, and would flash yellow for the Route 31
northbound and southbound approaches. The overhead signal would improve visibility of the
stop restriction on both stop-controlled approaches, particularly Cranberry Meadow Road
eastbound approach, due to the upgrade on the approach. The signal would also alert Route 31
northbound and southbound motorists to use caution when approaching the intersection.
5. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider altering the profile of the intersection so that
Cranberry Meadow Road and Bacon Hill Road intersect Route 31 on flatter grades, and thus
improving visibility for all motorists and makes it easier to stop on Bacon Hill Road westbound
due to the fact that these vehicles would not have to stop on a down grade.
6. Consider removing the obstructions in the right-of-way on the northeast corner of the intersection
to improve sight lines to the north and east of the intersection.
Page 19
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Potential Safety Enhancements
Short-term enhancements include:
�
Provide intersection warning signage and “Stop Ahead” signage;
�
Improve street name signage;
�
Remove trees and other obstructions from sight lines; and
�
Increase speed enforcement.
To enhance the safety of the intersection, the long-term enhancements are to:
�
Provide longitudinal rumble strips in high-speed areas;
�
Realign intersections;
�
Equip guardrails with safe end treatments;
�
Level the profile of the intersection of Route 31 at Cranberry Meadow Road/Bacon Hill Road;
�
Improve drainage;
�
Improve lighting; and
�
Provide pedestrian and bicycle accommodations.
Table 2 summarizes these safety issues, possible enhancements, estimated safety payoff, time frame, cost,
and responsibility. Safety payoff estimates are based on engineering judgment and are categorized as
low, medium, and high. The time frame is categorized as short-term (<1 year), mid-term (1 to 3 years), or
long-term (typically >3 years).
Long-term improvements are typically considered to be substantial improvements with an expected time
frame for implementation greater than 3 years; however, the Route 31 corridor will be resurfaced before
the full project is funded and begins construction. Some of these improvements may be implemented as
part of roadway resurfacing.
Therefore, the improvements categorized as long-term may be implemented in less than 3 years. The
costs are categorized as low (<$10,000), medium ($10,000 to $50,000), or high (>$50,000). It is the
responsibility of MassDOT to ensure that the designer incorporates the relevant safety enhancements
identified as part of this RSA. The RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be
evaluated and included as part of the design process for the resurfacing. The short-term low-cost
potential improvements could be considered by the responsible agency for implementation prior to
resurfacing.
Page 20
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements
Location
Corridor-wide
Observations
Safety Enhancement
In the short-term, consider reinforcing the speed limit with new
retroreflective speed limit signage. Consider placing signage at
the bottom of vertical curves, and consider using oversize signage.
Consider using a speed display sign in areas where speeding is
especially prominent. Radar speed signage should display the
posted speed limit and the vehicle speed. If the vehicle speed
exceeds the posted speed limit, the display should read “SLOW
DOWN” to reinforce to motorists that they are exceeding the
posted speed limit.
Consider the use of advanced curve warning signs with advisory
speed signage in advance of horizontal curves. While not
enforceable, advisory speed signage may alert motorists to a
change in the roadway, causing them to drive more cautiously,
while the advanced curve warning sign gives the motorist
advanced notice on what to expect of the roadway ahead.
Consider the use of longitudinal rumble strips on Route 31
approaching hazardous horizontal curves or intersections to
influence motorists to drive slower in these locations. Consider
maintenance issues and noise that these may cause.
Consider the safety benefits of identifying safe passing zones
along the corridor, and reconsider existing passing zones. Place
“No Passing” signage in locations where passing is deemed
unsafe. Section 3B.02 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices (MUTCD) outlines where passing zones may be placed in
relation to vertical and horizontal curves.
As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, identify and provide
locations where police can park and conduct traffic enforcement,
including speed and passing violations, to help reduce the
occurrence of speeding and reckless driving on the corridor.
Provide intersection warning signage on Route 31 with
supplemental street name signs and “Stop Ahead” signage on
stop-controlled intersecting roadways to alert motorists to the
presence of the intersection.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Medium
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Low
Mid-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Medium
Long-term
Medium
Town of Spencer
Medium
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Page 21
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements (continued)
Safety Issue
Corridor-wide
Observations
Safety Enhancement
Consider providing a paved shoulder to provide motorists with a
recovery zone in case they depart the roadway. Mark the
shoulder with a solid white edge line (SWEL) to guide motorists
along the roadway and to help keep vehicles away from the
guardrails. Consider using a 30-degree shoulder slope, or
Safety Edge, as outlined by the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) to reduce the occurrence of tire scrubbing, which often
causes motorists to lose control of their vehicle. According to the
FHWA, the Safety Edge may reduce the occurrence of crashes
on two-lane highways by 6%.
Clear the edge of the roadway as much as possible to ease the
hazard of fixed object crashes and to give motorists additional
recovery room.
Replace unsafe fixed-end or buried guardrail end treatments
with impact attenuators to reduce the chance of severe collisions
with guardrails.
Consider altering the geometry of the East Charlton Road
northwest-bound approach to Route 31 to create a right-angle
intersection, which would improve motorists’ sight lines to the
south and force motorists entering or exiting East Charlton
Street to do so at slower speeds.
Resurface the roadway with a defined crown to facilitate
drainage and reduce the number of crashes that occur on wet,
snowy, icy, or slushy pavement conditions.
Better define, construct, and maintain swales and closed
drainage systems to increase the efficiency of the drainage
system.
As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider identifying
locations to add additional drainage structures. Install subdrain
in areas where appropriate. Consider impacts that roadway
runoff may have on wetlands.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Medium
Long-term
High
Town of Spencer
Medium
Mid-term
High
Town of Spencer
High
Long-term
High
Town of Spencer
High
Mid-term
Medium
Town of Spencer
High
Mid-term
High
Town of Spencer
Medium
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
High
Long-term
High
Town of Spencer
Page 22
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements (continued)
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Provide delineation throughout the corridor. Thermoplastic and
retroreflective pavement markings should be used in addition to
recessed pavement markers along the DYCL. More delineation
techniques may also be explored, including guardrail reflectors
and yellow and white object markers (depending on which side
of the road they are used). Object markers may be used
according to Section 2C.65 of the MUTCD along stretches of
roadway where it is particularly undesirable to leave the roadway
edge.
Provide larger street name signage at intersections and provide
street name placards on intersection warning signage so that
motorists may prepare to make their turns in advance of the
Corridor-wide
intersection.
Observations
Identify locations where additional lighting is needed and provide
it as part of long-term reconstruction efforts.
Consider the safety benefits of providing additional lighting at
intersections to draw motorist attention to the intersections.
As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider providing a
sidewalk on at least one side of the roadway to provide
pedestrians with a safe location to walk along Route 31.
As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider providing a
shoulder of at least 4 feet on each side of the roadway to
provide bicyclists with a safe location to ride their bicycle along
the corridor and to provide motorists with a recovery zone in the
event that they depart the roadway.
Provide intersection warning signage along the Route 31
northbound and southbound approaches, equipped with street
name placards for Howe Road, to help motorists anticipate the
Location 1: Route intersection as they approach Howe Road.
31 at Howe Road
Move the location of the Howe Road street sign so it is more
visible to Route 31 northbound vehicles. Consider using a larger
street name sign.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Medium
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Medium
Long-term
High
Town of Spencer
Low
Long-term
High
Town of Spencer
High
Long-term
High
Town of Spencer
Medium
Long-term
High
Town of Spencer
Medium
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Page 23
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements (continued)
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider realigning
the Howe Road northeast-bound approach to form a right-angle
intersection to improve sight lines for both Howe Road
northeast-bound vehicles and Route 31 northbound and
southbound vehicles.
As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider altering the
profile of the intersection so that Howe Road intersects Route 31
Location 1: Route on a flatter grade, and thus improving visibility for all motorists.
31 at Howe Road Consider clearing trees and unnecessary signage from the sight
triangles on the Howe Road northeast-bound approach to
improve sight lines to the south of Howe Road.
If possible, move the Howe Road northeast-bound stop bar and
stop sign closer to the intersection so that motorists stop in the
appropriate location to be able to see oncoming traffic and so
that Howe Road northeast-bound vehicles are more visible to
Route 31 northbound and southbound motorists.
Determine the ideal position for the Cranberry Meadow Road
eastbound stop line, and place the stop sign closer to the stop
bar to improve clarity on the approach. Ensure that the stop
sign is not obstructed by trees or utility poles.
Consider placing a second stop sign opposite the existing stop
Location 2: Route signs on the Cranberry Meadow Road eastbound approach and
31 at Cranberry
the Bacon Hill Road westbound approach to improve visibility of
Meadow Road/
the stop sign. Consider using oversized signs or retroreflective
tape on the sign posts to further improve awareness of the stop
signs on each approach. If this recommendation is
implemented, a DYCL must be provided and maintained on
each roadway so that these roadways are not perceived to be
one-way roadways.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
High
Long-term
Medium
Town of Spencer
Medium
Long-term
High
Town of Spencer
Medium
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Medium
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Page 24
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements (continued)
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Upgrade text “Stop Ahead” signage on the Cranberry Meadow
Road eastbound approach and the Bacon Hill Road westbound
approach to diagrammatic “Stop Ahead” signage on both sides
of the roadway.
As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider the safety
benefits of providing an overhead flashing signal at the
intersection that would flash red for the Cranberry Meadow Road
eastbound approach and the Bacon Hill Road westbound
approach, and would flash yellow for the Route 31 northbound
and southbound approaches. The overhead signal would
improve visibility of the stop restriction on both stop-controlled
Location 2: Route approaches, particularly Cranberry Meadow Road eastbound
31 at Cranberry
approach, due to the upgrade on the approach. The signal
Meadow Road/
would also alert Route 31 northbound and southbound motorists
to use caution when approaching the intersection.
As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider altering the
profile of the intersection so that Cranberry Meadow Road and
Bacon Hill Road intersect Route 31 on flatter grades, and thus
improving visibility for all motorists and makes it easier to stop
on Bacon Hill Road westbound due to the fact that these
vehicles would not have to stop on a down grade..
Consider removing the obstructions in the right-of-way on the
northeast corner of the intersection to improve sight lines to the
north and east of the intersection.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Medium
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
High
Long-term
High
Town of Spencer
Medium
Long-term
High
Town of Spencer
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Spencer
Page 25
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda
Road Safety Audit
Spencer, MA
Route 31 from Vista Ln to Charlton T.L.
Meeting Location: Spencer Town Hall
157 Main St, Spencer, MA
Thursday, April 10, 2014
10:00 AM – 12:00 noon
Type of meeting:
High Crash Location – Road Safety Audit
Attendees:
Invited Participants to Comprise a Multidisciplinary Team
Please bring:
Thoughts and Enthusiasm!!
10:00 AM
Welcome and Introductions
10:15 AM
Discussion of Safety Issues
• Crash history, Speed Regulations – provided in advance
• Existing Geometries and Conditions
11:00 AM
Review Video of Corridor and Site Visit, if necessary
• Review video of corridor
• If necessary, drive to a specific location along Rt 31
• As a group, identify areas for improvement
11:30 AM
Discussion of Potential Improvements
• Discuss observations and finalize safety issue areas
• Discuss potential improvements and finalize recommendations
12:00 noon
Adjourn for the Day – but the RSA has not ended
Instructions for Participants:
• Before attending the RSA on April 10th, participants are encouraged to drive/walk
through the intersection and complete/consider elements on the RSA Prompt List
with a focus on safety.
• All participants will be actively involved in the process throughout. Participants
are encouraged to come with thoughts and ideas, but are reminded that the
synergy that develops and respect for others’ opinions are key elements to the
success of the overall RSA process.
• After the RSA meeting, participants will be asked to comment and respond to the
document materials to assure it is reflective of the RSA completed by the
multidisciplinary team.
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix B. RSA Audit Team
Contact List
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Participating Audit Team Members
Date:
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Location: Spencer Town Hall 157 Main Street, Spencer, MA
Audit Team Members Agency/Affiliation
E-mail Address
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
Kevin Krasnecky
kkrasnecky@cmrpc.org
(CMRPC)
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
Dan Daniska
ddaniska@cmrpc.org
(CMRPC)
Dave Darrin
Town of Spencer Police Department
ddarrin@spencerma.gov
Bob Parsons
Town of Spencer Fire Department
rparsons@spencerma.gov
Michelle Buck
Town of Spencer Town Planner
mbuck@spencerma.gov
Eben Butler
Town of Spencer Highway Department
ebutler@spencerma.gov
Steven Tyler
Town of Spencer Highway Department/DPW
styler@spencerma.gov
Thuong Phan
MassDOT District 3
thuong.phan@state.ma.us
Lola Campbell
MassDOT District 3 Traffic
alolade.campbell@state.ma.us
Rick Handfield
MassDOT Highway Division
richard.handfield@state.ma.us
Craig Roberts
MassDOT Highway Division Safety Section
craig.roberts@state.ma.us
Corey O’Connor
MassDOT Highway Division Safety Section
corey.oconnor@state.ma.us
Ted Brovitz
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
tbrovitz@hshassoc.com
Mike Tremblay
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
mtremblay@hshassoc.com
Phone Number
508-459-3314
508-459-3331
508-885-6333
508-885-3555
508-885-7500 x180
508-885-7506
508-885-7525
508-929-3937
508-929-3887
508-929-3864
857-368-9638
617-348-3308
617-348-3347
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data
SYMBOLS
•
TYPES OF CRASH
~
COLLISION DIAGRAM
Non-Involved Vehicle
Pedestrian
___/
Angle
Turning Movement
Bicycle
l--
~
Animal
~
Parked Ve~icle
0
Fixed Object
0
Rear End
~
~!iii~
Spencer, MA
Head on
Moving Vehicle
~ Backing Vehicle
----IIi'
SEVERITY
~
Injury
Sideswipe
0
Fatal
Route 31 (Maple St/Chorlton Rd) from Vista Ln to E. Charlton Rd
REGION: CMRPC
TIME PERIOD ANAI..YlED: 1999 -
2004 lie 2008 -
2013
SOURCE OF CRASH REPORTS: Spencer Police Department
Out of Control
SHEET 1 OF 4
DATE PREPARED: March 10, 2014
PREPARED BY: CO
*NOT TO SCALE
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-
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6
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Maple Street (Route 31)
SYMBOLS
•
TYPES OF CRASH
~
COLLISION DIAGRAM
Non-Involved Vehicle
Pedestrian
Rear End
___/
Angle
Turning Movement
~
Bicycle
l--
~
Animal
~
~!iii~
Parked Ve~icle
0
Fixed Object
Spencer, MA
Head on
Moving Vehicle
~ Backing Vehicle
----IIi'
SEVERITY
~
Sideswipe
Out af Control
0
Injury
Route 31 (Charlton Rd) from I Capen Rd to Crestwood Ave
REGION: CMRPC
0
Fatal
TIME PERIOD ANALVZED: 1999 -
2004 &: 2008 -
2013
SOURCE OF CRASH REPORTS: Spencer Police Department
SHEET 2 OF 4
DATE PREPARED: March 1O. 2014
PREPARED BY: CO
*NOT TO SCALE
+--z
1170 Charlton Rd
1176 Charlton Rd
1196 Charlton Rd
I
I
\Route 3\)
cnori'I.Of' Rood
1
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8 10
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SYMBOLS
•
TYPES OF CRASH
~
COLLISION DIAGRAM
Non-Involved Vehicle
Pedestrian
Rear End
___/
Angle
Turning Movement
~
Bicycle
l--
~
Animal
~
~!iii~
Parked Ve~icle
0
Fixed Object
Spencer, MA
Head on
Moving Vehicle
~ Backing Vehicle
----IIi'
SEVERITY
~
Sideswipe
Out of Control
0
Injury
0
Fatal
Route 31 (Charlton Rd) from Sunberg Rd to Gauthier Rd
REGION: CMRPC
2004 lie 2008 -
TIME PERIOD ANALYlED: 1999 -
2013
SOURCE OF CRASH REPORTS: Spencer Police Department
SHEET 3 OF 4
DATE PREPARED: March 10, 2014
PREPARED BY: CO
*NOT TO SCALE
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1238 Charlton Rd
I
Charlton Rd
~-~ -------1207 Charlton Rd
Jt)
1231 Charlton Rd
I
1219 Charlton Rd
I
I
SYMBOLS
•
TYPES OF CRASH
~
COLLISION DIAGRAM
Spencer, MA
Head on
Moving Vehicle
~ Backing Vehicle
----IIi'
SEVERITY
Non-Involved Vehicle
Pedestrian
___/
Angle
Turning Movement
~
Bicycle
l--
~
Animal
~
~!iii~
Parked
0
Fixed Object
~
Ve~icle
0
Rear End
Injury
Sideswipe
0
Fatal
Route 31 (Charlton Rd) from Bacon Hill Rd to Charlton T.L.
REGION: CMRPC
TIME PERIOD ANALVZED: 1999 - 2004 Be 2008 - 2013
SOURCE OF CRASH REPORTS: Spencer Police Department
Out of Control
SHEET 4 OF 4
DATE PREPARED: March 10, 2014
PREPARED BY: CO
*NOT TO SCALE
.._z
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1264 Charlton Rd
CD
~
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1300 Charlton Rd
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1261 Charlton Rd
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Crash Data Summary Table
Route 31 Corridor, Spencer, MA
1999 - 2004 & 2008 - 2013
Route 31 (Maple St/Charlton Rd) from Vista Ln to E. Charlton Rd (1 of 4)
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
1
Crash
Crash Day
Date
m/d/y
6/24/00 Saturday
2
12/1/00
3
3/20/02
4
3/15/04
Friday
Wednesday
Time of Day
1:00 PM
12:00 AM
9:00 PM
3/4/08
6
2/24/10
7
8
6/13/11
2/29/12
9
8/14/13
Light Condition
Weather Condition
Road Surface
Driver Contributing Code
Type
Type
Type
Type
Type
Rear-end
Single Vehicle Crash
Single Vehicle Crash
Daylight
Dark - roadway not
lighted
Dark - lighted
roadway
6:57 AM
Monday
5
Manner of Collision
Tuesday
Wednesday
Monday
Wednesday
Angle
7:30 PM
4:25 PM
9:09 AM
2:57 PM
Clear
47
Dry
D2
32
41
V1 slid in snow and went off road.
Sleet, Hail, Freezing
Rain
Wet
No Improper Driving
Swerving or avoiding due to wind,
slippery surface, vehicle, object, nonmotorist in roadway, etc.
Snow
Ice
No Improper Driving
29
No Improper Driving
Inattention
Driving too fast for conditions
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless,
careless, negligent, or aggressive
manner
16
48
19
20
48
81
Single Vehicle Crash
Single Vehicle Crash
Rear-end
Single Vehicle Crash
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Rain
Clear
Snow
Slush
Dry
Snow
Angle
Daylight
Clear
Dry
V1 stopped abruptly causing V2 to rear-end it.
Crash info missing. V1 drove off road & hit guardrail.
Snow
Daylight
Dark - roadway not
lighted
Comments
D3
19
Fog, Smog, Smoke
2:40 PM
Wednesday
Ages
D1
17
Operator of V1 lost control of vehicle on slippery road and spun into V2.
37
V1 slid on slippery road into trees
Operator was an inexperienced permit holder. While turning left, V1 ran into
slush and operator lost control and struck rocks on side of road.
V1 stopped to turn left onto Howe Rd, V2 rear-ended it.
V1 lost control and struck a utility pole.
V2 did not stop at stop sign. V2 states that she stepped on accelerator
instead of the brakes.
Route 31 (Charlton Rd) from I Capen Rd to Crestwood Ave (2 of 4)
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
1
2
Crash
Crash Day
Date
m/d/y
4/25/02 Thursday
10/5/03 Sunday
Time of Day
10:12 PM
6:55 AM
3
1/9/04
4
5
6
Friday
1/9/04
Monday
3/8/04
11/28/09 Saturday
12:01 PM
8:15 PM
9:38 AM
7
12/21/09
11:12 AM
8
7/23/11
9
11/5/11
10
7/30/12
Friday
Monday
Saturday
Saturday
Monday
1:39 AM
1:24 AM
8:48 AM
4:45 AM
Manner of Collision
Type
Single Vehicle Crash
Single Vehicle Crash
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Single Vehicle Crash
Head on
Sideswipe, same direction
Single Vehicle Crash
Single Vehicle Crash
Single Vehicle Crash
Light Condition
Weather Condition
Road Surface
Type
Type
Type
Daylight
Dark - roadway not
lighted
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Daylight
Cloudy
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
Driver Contributing Code
Type
Driving too fast for conditions
Exceeded authorized speed limit
Ages
D1
D2
22
19
Dry
Exceeded authorized speed limit
Made an improper turn
Driving too fast for conditions
No Improper Driving
23
21
28
31
Clear
Snow
No Improper Driving
73
Clear
Dry
Fatigued/asleep
20
Cloudy
Wet
No Improper Driving
36
Fog, Smog, Smoke
Dry
No Improper Driving
22
51
44
Comments
D3
Roads were snow covered.
Operator lost control of vehicle and hit rocks, trees and debris.
Fatal crash. V1 was traveling at an estimated speed of 79 mph, reportedly
clipped guardrail, spun across the road and hit tree.
V1 executed a U-turn, V2 could not avoid collision.
V1 lost control on snow and ice and hit rocks in front of 170 Charlton Rd.
Windy conditions, tree fell into roadway and hit V1 at 194 Charlton Rd.
V1 (service truck making delivery to 196 Charlton Rd) was parked partially in
road and V1 side-swiped it.
Operator fell asleep and hit utility pole #74.
Operator claims to have hit a patch of black ice, lost control and hit utility
pole #68 and the wall of 176 Charlton Rd.
Due to dense fog, V1 left the roadway and hit utility pole #74 and the mailbox
of 193 Charlton Rd.
Crash Data Summary Table
Route 31 Corridor, Spencer, MA
1999 - 2004 & 2008 - 2013
Route 31 (Charlton Rd) from Sunberg Rd to Gauthier Rd (3 of 4)
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
1
Crash
Crash Day
Date
m/d/y
12/22/00 Friday
2
12/14/02
3
3/8/04
4
5
6/23/04
3/17/10
6
5/5/10
7
7/3/10
8
10/9/10
9
2/9/11
10
12/25/11
11
6/27/13
Manner of Collision
Time of Day
Light Condition
Weather Condition
Type
Type
Road Surface
Driver Contributing Code
11:00 AM
Daylight
Snow
Type
Snow
Saturday
3:13 PM
Rear-end
Daylight
Rain
Wet
Distracted
Monday
Wednesday
Wednesday
10:08 AM
8:05 PM
8:01 AM
Single Vehicle Crash
Rear-end
Single Vehicle Crash
Daylight
Dusk
Daylight
Snow
Clear
Clear
Snow
Dry
Ice
Driving too fast for conditions
No Improper Driving
No Improper Driving
Clear
Dry
Fatigued/asleep
19
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Exceeded authorized speed limit
Inattention
19
61
Clear
Dry
No Improper Driving
64
Clear
Dry
17
Fog, Smog, Smoke
Dry
Other improper action
Failure to keep in proper lane or
running off road
Wednesday
3:54 AM
Sideswipe, opposite direction
Saturday
Saturday
1:56 AM
4:28 PM
Single Vehicle Crash
Rear-end
Wednesday
4:37 AM
Single Vehicle Crash
Sunday
3:45 PM
Sideswipe, same direction
Thursday
11:30 PM
Angle
Dark - lighted
roadway
Dark - roadway not
lighted
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
Type
Ages
Type
Single Vehicle Crash
D1
D2
18
43
60
34
unk
19
40
44
Comments
D3
Operator lost control of vehicle and hit tree across from 219 Charlton Rd.
V1 slowing for delivery truck sticking out of 238 Charlton Rd. V2 did not
observe V1 slowing.
Operator claims that a vehicle traveling on the opposite side of the road ran
her off the road.
50 Narrative and Diagram missing. Occurred in front of 238 Charlton Rd.
V1 hit a patch of ice, rolled over and hit a tree.
Operator 1 fell asleep and side-swiped V2 which was parked in driveway of
230 Charlton Rd.
Operator was traveling too fast, failed to negotiate curve and hit a tree at 222
Charlton Rd.
36 V1 slowing to turn into Oscars Road. V3 hit V2 into V1.
Occurred in front of 207 Charlton Rd.
V1 was slowing to enter driveway of 231 Charlton Rd. V2 attempted to pass
V1 on left.
V1 was texting while driving and hit 2 parked vehicles in driveway of 230
Charlton Rd.
28
Route 31 (Charlton Rd) from Bacon Hill Rd to Charlton T.L. (4 of 4)
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
1
2
3
4
5
Crash
Crash Day
Date
m/d/y
Time of Day
3/27/99
10/31/99
11/24/99
6/23/00
8/29/00
Saturday
Sunday
Wednesday
Friday
Tuesday
5:00 AM
11:00 AM
1:00 AM
8:00 AM
7:00 AM
9/7/00
1/27/02
Thursday
Sunday
2:00 PM
8:30 AM
Manner of Collision
Light Condition
Weather Condition
Road Surface
Driver Contributing Code
Type
Type
Type
Type
Type
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Dawn
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Ages
D1
D2
Fatal crash. V1 departed road at approximately 40-50 mph and hit a tree.
18
21
17
27
18
22
34
37
34
17
28
45
18
31
31
6
7
Head on
Daylight
Clear
Slush
Over-correcting/over-steering
Sleet, Hail, Freezing
Rain
Clear
Clear
Ice
Dry
Dry
No Improper Driving
Inattention
Inattention
Failure to keep in proper lane or
running off road
No Improper Driving
Failure to keep in proper lane or
running off road
Unknown
18
47
26
4/9/03
6/29/03
7/25/03
Wednesday
Sunday
Friday
1:01 AM
12:25 PM
7:15 AM
Single Vehicle Crash
Rear-end
Rear-end
Dark, unknown
roadway lighting
Daylight
Daylight
2/7/04
3/8/04
Saturday
Monday
6:23 AM
10:54 AM
Single Vehicle Crash
Single Vehicle Crash
Dawn
Daylight
Rain
Snow
Ice
Snow
3/19/04
4/5/04
Friday
Monday
3:46 PM
6:48 PM
Angle
Rear-end
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Dry
14
15
1/19/09
Single Vehicle Crash
Cloudy
Snow
No Improper Driving
69
16
12/20/09
17
18
6/13/10
2/19/11
Rear-end
Angle
Rear-end
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Blowing Sand, Snow
Clear
Cloudy
Snow
Dry
Wet
45
69
67
19
9/23/12
Single Vehicle Crash
Dawn
Clear
Wet
Physical Impairment
Failed to yield right of way
Inattention
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless,
careless, negligent, or aggressive
manner
8
9
10
11
12
13
Monday
Sunday
Sunday
Saturday
10:38 AM
6:13 AM
5:18 PM
2:41 PM
6:00 AM
Sunday
15
*Courtesy Crash - A term used to describe a crash that occurs subsequent to a non-involved mainline driver who gives the right of way, contrary to the rules of the road, to another driver.
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the Spencer Police Department
Crash data and narrative missing. Crash appears to be an angle crash.
Crash data and narrative missing. Crash appears to be an angle crash.
Fatal Crash. V2 failed to stop at stop sign.
Crash data and narrative missing. Crash appears to be an angle crash.
Crash data and narrative missing. Seems that V1 attempted to pass V2
(John Deere tractor) on left as V2 was turning left into 300 Charlton Rd
47 Narrative and Diagram missing. Occurred in front of 261 Charlton Rd.
While braking behind another vehicle near utility pole #108, V1 lost control on
ice, crossed over the southbound lane and hit guardrail.
V1 missed entrance to cell tower access road and backed into V2.
V1 backed into V2.
V1 departed road into catch basin marker due to snow and ice.
38
34
57
18
Comments
D3
40
17
23
29
52
V1 lost control on snow and ice and hit guardrail near utility pole #107
V2 (OUI) swerved into path of V1 causing V1 to run off road. No contact
between vehicles.
V1 got caught in soft snow in shoulder, left the road and slid down
embankment near utility pole 96.
V2 (OUI) did not stop at stop sign and slid into intersection due to snowy
conditions and was rear-ended by V1.
V2 failed to stop at stop sign.
V1 turning onto Bacon Hill Rd when V2 hit it.
V1 attempted to turn onto Bacon Hill Road but misjudged speed and went
off road into mud. Age as noted in report and OUI.
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
Route 31 Corridor, Spencer, MA
CRASH MONTH
18%
20%
14%
15%
12%
10%
10%
8%
8%
6%
5%
4%
4%
A
S
6%
6%
O
N
2%
0%
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
D
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
25%
20%
20%
20%
18%
15%
10%
6%
4%
5%
0%
Monday
Tuesday
15% 14% 12%12%
10%
Wednesday
Thursday
8AM­
10AM
10AM­
12PM
Saturday
14%
6%
6AM­
8AM
Friday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
12%
6%
5%
0%
16%
14%
12PM­
2PM
2PM­
4PM
4PM­
6PM
4%
6PM­
8PM
6%
8PM­
10PM
6%
4%
10PM­
12AM
2%
12AM­
2AM
2AM­
4AM
4AM­
6AM
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
51%
22%
16%
4%
Single
Vehicle
Crash
Crash Data Spreadsheet.xlsx
Rear-end
Angle
2%
Sideswipe, Sideswipe,
same
opposite
direction
direction
1 of 4
4%
Head on
0%
0%
Rear to
Rear
Unknown
3/10/2014
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
Route 31 Corridor, Spencer, MA
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
80%
63%
60%
40%
20%
9%
2%
Dawn
Dusk
Dark ­
Lighted
Roadway
Dark ­
Roadway
not lighted
2%
0%
0%
Dark ­
unknown
roadway
lighting
Other
Unknown
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
0%
Unknown
0%
Other
2%
0%
Blowing
sand, snow
Snow
Rain
7%
5%
Severe
Crosswinds
12%
7%
Fog, Smog,
Smoke
10%
Sleet, Hail,
Freezing
Rain
57%
Cloudy
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Daylight
Clear
0%
16%
7%
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
60%
54%
40%
20%
0%
12%
20%
10%
0%
Dry
Wet
Snow
Ice
0%
Sand, mud, Water
dirt, oil, (standing,
gravel
moving)
5%
Slush
0%
0%
Other
Unknown
CRASH DRIVER AGES
30%
26%
22%
20%
18%
18%
10%
0%
5%
15-20
Crash Data Spreadsheet.xlsx
21-29
30-39
40-49
2 of 4
50-59
8%
60-69
1%
1%
70-79
80+
3/10/2014
Road Safety Audit
Route 31 (Charlton Road/Maple Street) Corridor, Spencer
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix D. Additional Information
"
No. 10'69
-2-
Operation of a motor vehicle at a rate of speed in excess of
these limits shall be prima fa.cie evidence that such speed is greRter
than is reasonable and proper.
The provisions of this regulc.tion shall not , however, abr:::>ga te
1n any sense Chapter 90, Section 14, of the General Laws ~ T~r. Ed).
Date of
Passa~e
-'t~-:ur!zLr/(~-~-
March 23, 1981
-h.~..ct;f:, {;;. ~
Attest
. ~To"m Clerk
COM:10NiVEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
DEPART!~NT OF PUBLIC \'fORKS
· SPECIAL SPEED REGULATION NO. 7069
The Department of Public Worlcs and the Registrar of '1otor
Vehicles, acting jointly, do hereby certify that this regulation
is ·c onsistent with the public interests.
StandGrd signs must be erected at the beginning of each zone.
DA'l'E:
"
No. 10'69
-2-
Operation of a motor vehicle at a rate of speed in excess of
these limits shall be prima fa.cie evidence that such speed is greRter
than is reasonable and proper.
The provisions of this regulc.tion shall not , however, abr:::>ga te
1n any sense Chapter 90, Section 14, of the General Laws ~ T~r. Ed).
Date of
Passa~e
-'t~-:ur!zLr/(~-~-
March 23, 1981
-h.~..ct;f:, {;;. ~
Attest
. ~To"m Clerk
COM:10NiVEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
DEPART!~NT OF PUBLIC \'fORKS
· SPECIAL SPEED REGULATION NO. 7069
The Department of Public Worlcs and the Registrar of '1otor
Vehicles, acting jointly, do hereby certify that this regulation
is ·c onsistent with the public interests.
StandGrd signs must be erected at the beginning of each zone.
DA'l'E: