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Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH)

A USDOT University Transportation Center

High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST)

High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST) is a unique approach to applying special coatings on the road surfaces to make them easier to grip. The ability to keep the friction between the tires and the road surface, even when wet or dry, is essential for safe driving in places where traction conditions change, like sharp corners, intersections, bridges, and highway off-ramps. This results in a significant improvement in transportation safety.1

Considering this strategy will help achieve the goal of the following objectives

  • Less Contamination
  • Less Emissions
  • Less Traffic Noise
  • Connectivity and Inclusion
  • Healthy Destinations
  • Less Traffic Violence
  • Active Transportation
  • Green Space

Transportation lifecycle phases

This strategy is associated with the following transportation lifecycle phases:

  • Construction
  • End of Life
  • Maintenance
  • Material Selection
  • Operations
  • Policy and Planning
  • Project Development

Who's involved

  • Local governments
  • Policymakers
  • Private developers
  • State governments
  • Transit agencies
High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST) is a unique approach to applying special coatings on the road surfaces to make them easier to grip. The ability to keep the friction between the tires and the road surface, even when wet or dry, is essential for safe driving in places where traction conditions change, like sharp corners, intersections, bridges, and highway off-ramps. This results in a significant improvement in transportation safety.1

How it Helps

HFST delivers continuous, long-lasting, high friction levels that have been shown to minimize injuries and accidents and improve roadway safety while being a cost-effective technique.1

Implementing

Installation Process:

It is thought that completely automated mechanized installation produces better outcomes with more production. These purpose-built application devices limit the possibility of human mistakes or inaccuracy, which might lead to less uniform friction or durability throughout the treated area.2

HFST Programs:

HFST programs should be developed to address crashes on horizontal curves. These programs will boost systematic efficiency by offering explicit safety instructions for road users. It will also warn drivers to take extra precautions while traversing horizontal road curves.3

Challenges:

Unfortunately, the cost of application for HFST is very expensive. A 26-foot-wide HFST treatment on a 400-foot length may be executed for about $35,000.3

Monitoring and Evaluation:

Surface friction is the most often used parameter for assessing the effectiveness of HFST. Friction test techniques, such as the locked wheel skid tester (LWST), often offer a spot measurement.

Examples

1) High Friction Surface Treatment Association (HFTSA)

High Friction Surface Treatment Association (HFSTA) is a pioneer organization involved in the marketing and implementation of high-quality, long-lasting High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST). HFTSA believes that increasing highway friction at certain spots is one method of improving traffic safety.

https://hfsta.org/about-us.html

2) Skidabrader Group LLC

Skidabrader Group LLC is a technologically advanced firm dedicated to saving lives and maintaining the safety of all road users. Skidabrader employs High Friction Surface Treatment, Shot-blasting, and Cyclone Technologies to increase friction and texture for safety on highways and runways.

https://www.skidabrader.com/about

1. Skidabrader. High Friction Surface Treatment. [cited 2022 Jun 27]. Available from: https://www.skidabrader.com/highfrictionsurfacetreatment
2. High Friction Surface Treatment Association. About HFSTA. [cited 2022 Jun 27]. Available from: https://hfsta.org/about-us.html
3. Brimley, B., et al. (2012). Using High Friction Surface Treatments to Improve Safety at Horizontal Curves. Texas A&M Transportation Institute. [cited 2022 Jun 27]. Available from: https://static.tti.tamu.edu/tti.tamu.edu/documents/TTI-2012-8.pdf