Accidents on Interstate Highways Caused by Blowing Dust

Abstract

Dust storms on interstate highways contribute to accidents because of two factors: sudden loss of visibility, and loss of traction due to soil particles on the road surface. The five factors that govern the development of dust storms are wind, soil type, vegetation, soil moisture, and soil density. Of the different soil types, silt becomes the primary suspended particles in dust storms because the particles are not too heavy, like gravel, nor too small, like clays, which have cohesion. Laboratory tests indicate that below a moisture content of 10%, the silt becomes easily eroded. In terms of solutions to the loss of traction from soil particles on the road surface, certain pavement types (perhaps grooved) may provide more traction. Construction of barriers, such as elevated curbs, may reduce bed‐load transport of soil particles across the highway surface.