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Large animals such as deer that make it onto the roadway can cause severe injuries, fatalities and property damage when they’re struck by a vehicle.

To identify the factors that can lead to wildlife-vehicle crashes and strategies that can reduce the risks to drivers and animals, the Tennessee Department of Transportation conducted a research study that identified high-risk locations across the state and recommendations to raise awareness and mitigate the potential for crashes.

Read the research brief: Countermeasures for High-Risk Locations for Wildlife Related Crashes in Tennessee, July 2025

Image source: Tennessee Department of Transportation

Truck-mounted attenuators (TMAs) are designed to protect workers in highway work zones, but warning workers when a vehicle breaches the area requires the TMA drivers to issue an alert manually.  

To remove the burden on TMA drivers, Missouri DOT developed an automated warning system that can detect an imminent work zone crash and issue timely, context-sensitive warnings to workers.

Read the final report: Audible Alert and TMA Lighting, June 2025

Image source: Missouri DOT

Real-time road surface condition information can help state maintenance crews allocate their time and resources effectively.

To help states quickly determine where maintenance is needed most, the Aurora Pooled Fund, a 19-state collaborative research effort led by Iowa DOT, developed tools that leverage images collected automatically from road weather information system stations to provide an up-to-date maintenance priority ranking.

Read the research brief: Using Road Images to Estimate Real-Time Road Surface Conditions, June 2025.

Image source: Aurora Pooled Fund

Without proper management, traffic signs that have been vandalized or damaged through natural processes can be less effective, reducing the safety and well-being of the traveling public.

To improve how well it monitors and manages its road sign inventory, the Washington State Department of Transportation developed an automated system that uses artificial intelligence and street images to recognize when signs are in need of maintenance or replacement.

Read the research brief: Automated Traffic Sign Recognition Using Computer Vision and Deep Learning, March 2025

Image source: Washington State Department of Transportation

Surface grinding and grooving are techniques states often use to improve safety, ride quality, and performance of their concrete pavements. These activities require specialized equipment and skills, and there are a wide variety of issues to consider before work begins.

To help states share their experiences and best practices when it comes to concrete surface grinding and grooving, the Midwestern Pavement Preservation Partnership (MPPP) will host a webinar on August 19 from 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Central.

Learn more and register.

Image source: Minnesota Department of Transportation

Highway maintenance crews can increase a road’s performance and long-term durability with various surface treatments such as chip seals, microsurfacing, and fog seals.

A previous research collaboration between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and National Cooperative Highway Research Program developed specifications for applying such treatments to Virginia’s state-owned roads. To validate the findings, VDOT evaluated test sections of roadways treated with three different surfacing strategies and evaluated the effectiveness of each type.

Read the final report: Pavement Preservation Demonstration Projects for Chip Seal and Microsurfacing Treatments, July 2025

Image source: Virginia Department of Transportation