Engineering - Traffic Division

The Traffic Division of the Engineering Department is responsible for the engineering, design, installation, and maintenance of all traffic control devices, including signals, signage, and lane markings. Speed limits are also established by this group, which conducts speed studies in some cases to determine if a speed limit should be changed. Various traffic studies are performed in the planning of future roadway projects utilizing data that is collected and maintained by the Department, including traffic counts and accident data.

Traffic Resources and Information

Below you will find links to many resources, including brochures, traffic counts, and outside web sites with helpful and oft-requested information. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Traffic Division at 513-785-4109 or email us at info@bceo.org.

CHECKLIST & TIPS FOR SAFE WINTER DRIVING Ohio has been very fortunate so far this winter, but we are starting to get extreme temperatures along with snow and ice. As a reminder, and it’s never too late to start, here is the Checklist and Tips for Safe Winter Driving from Safercar.gov and NHTSA. 1. Get your car serviced now. 2. Check your battery. 3. Check your cooling system. 4. Fill your windshield washer reservoir. 5. Check your windshield wipers and defrosters. 6. Inspect your tires. 7. Know your car. 8. Plan your travel and route. 9. Stock your vehicle. 10. Learn what to do in a winter emergency. 11. Protect yourself and your loved ones. Click on the following link to see the complete checklist and tips: http://www.safercar.gov/wintertips

NEW CAR SEAT RECOMMENDATIONS From our partners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration comes the latest Car Seat recommendations: NHTSA has released a new guideline on child restraints categorizing by age rather than by type of child seats in order to keep pace with the latest scientific and medical research and the development of new child restraint technologies. Under the new guidelines, NHTSA is advising parents and caregivers to keep children in each restraint type, including rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats, for as long as possible before moving them up to the next type of seat. Please go to the NHTSA website for a copy of the complete guidelines. * New car seat recommendations for children (PDF) * Growth chart with car seat recommendations (PDF) OHIO'S CHILD BOOSTER SEAT LAW CHANGES * Ohio's Child Passenger Safety Law was modified effective October 7, 2009. Get the details here.

DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS Research on distracted driving reveals some surprising facts: 20 percent of injury crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving. (NHTSA). Of those killed in distracted-driving-related crashed, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction (18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes). (NHTSA) In 2009, 5,474 people were killed in U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving. (FARS and GES) The age group with the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group - 16 percent of all drivers younger than 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported to have been distracted while driving. (NHTSA) Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah) Please check out the National Highway Traffic web site on Distracted Driving at: www.distraction.gov. Additional resources and links: * Distraction.gov - U.S. Department of Transportation launches web site to address the growing problem of distracted driving. * Distrcted driving brochure - Six steps to prevent distracted driving for your teen. * Distracted driving flyer - strong visual impact. Can be printed out and placed on the fridge as a reminder to your teen. * Hazards of texting while driving - Public Service Announcement video.

BICYCLE SAFETY As spring gets closer, many of you are looking forward to getting your bike out of the garage. Biking is a great activity to enjoy with the family, an eco-friendly option for commuting or going to the corner store, and has many health benefits. But before you dust off the bike and take off down the road, check out the links below for bike safety reminders. Some estimates show that 500,000 people go to the hospital each year due to bicycle accidents and another million people each year go to their physician's office. That's why the tips contained in the following links are a great way to keep you AND your family safe this summer. Some information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety ADministration: * Kids and bicycle safety * Easy steps to properly fit a bicycle helmet * NHTSA also has great videos on fitting a helmet, kid bike safety, and adult bike safety. Simply go to www.nhtsa.gov/Bicycles and then under "Useful Information," click on "Videos and Clips" to see the videos available. * Share the Road Tip Card - Safety tips for motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL * Shared Space - Rules of the road for pedestrian travel. This pamphlet covers the rights and responsibilities of pedestrians in the public right of way. * Share the Road Tip Card - Safety tips for motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

SUPERSTREET INTERSECTION Construction of three new Superstreet intersections along Bypass 4 have generated numerous inquiries to the BCEO from curious motorists. The Superstreets are being built in conjunction with the Bypass 4 widening, a project that started in 2010 and is expected to last through 2011 and 2012. While the BCEO has been heavily involved in the planning and coordination of this project, the Superstreets were mandated by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). For the benefit of our Butler County citizens, we have prepared a brief explanation of the Superstreet concept as well as a Superstreet video demo. If after reviewing these you still have questions, please direct all inquiries to ODOT District 8. * Superstreet Intersection overview (PDF) * Superstreet video demo

ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS Traffic roundabouts made their first appearances on major Butler County roads in 2008. Roundabouts were built at the Hamilton Mason Road / Liberty Fairfield Road / Vinnedge Road intersection as well as at the Lakota Drive West and Eagleridge Drive intersection. This alternative to typical at-grade intersections offers improved safety while keeping traffic flowing at slower speeds through the intersection. Some motorists may require a little tutoring on just how roundabouts function and how to best use them. So we've assembled a brochure that explains the benefits of a roundabout and how to approach, yield, enter, and exit a roundabout.   * Guide to Single-Lane Roundabouts * Roundabout Instructional Video - Link to a short, excellent video depicting how roundabouts work and why they have so many advantages over typical at-grade intersections. * BCEO Roundabout Experience - Follow-up and overview of our roundabouts. PDF version of a PowerPoint presentation to the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI). * Some feedback from local motorists on our new roundabouts: On the Hamilton Mason/Vinnedge/Liberty Fairfield Road roundabout....."It is SO cool. Good job (Mr. Wilkens)! Only other place I have experienced this wonder of roadwork is in Sarasota FL at St. Armands Circle. Agan, So Cool! Thank you for making my morning and evening commute easier." - Marty S. "Very innovative! I like the roundabouts." - Ann M. "I first had the privilege of using roundabouts in Hilton Head and I love them. Thanks for constructing a few of them here. I have used both the Hamilton Mason and the Lakota West roundabouts and they are very smooth. The landscaping is coming along and should look great next spring. I think these will be great experimental areas to try these and I look forward to seeing more throughout the county. Thanks again." - Paul S. * CNN report on Carmel, Indiana's 65 roundabouts - This community of 80,000 people is replacing nearly all of its signalized intersections with roundabouts. * A bird's eye view of Butler County's new roundabouts: Click on images to enlarge. Lakota Drive West roundabout nears completion (fall 08) Lakota Drive West roundabout nears completion (fall 08) Hamilton Mason / Vinnedge / Liberty Fairfield Rd roundabout under construction (fall 08) Hamilton Mason / Vinnedge / Liberty Fairfield Rd roundabout under construction (fall 08)..

WINTER DRIVING TIPS * Winter Driving Tips by the Ohio Department of Public Safety * Ice & Snow...Take It Slow link to the Ohio Department of Transportation SUMMER ROAD SAFETY TIPS * Summer Road Safety Tips by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety

TRAFFIC COUNTS * Traffic counts by township and road * Traffic count map

TRAFFIC SIGNALS The BCEO maintains 74 traffic signals. The timing and operation of these signals are carefully observed by the Traffic Division. * BCEO traffic signal inventory list - As of Jan 19, 2012 * BCEO school flashers inventory list - As of Jan 10, 2012 * Traffic Signals 101 - A primer for the geek in all of us. Answers questions such as 'What are the parts of a traffic signal?' and 'What is signal timing?' We are often asked why we can't install signals at a dangerous intersection to make it safer. It isn't that simple. Like speed limits, which you'll read about below, there are strict guidelines set forth by the State of Ohio that govern the use of traffic signals. For an in-depth explanation, please see Question 10 on the FAQs page: * FAQ Q10: Why can't you install traffic signals at an intersection or turn it into a four-way stop?

OHIO MANUAL OF UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES and TRAFFIC ENGINEERING MANUAL All signing, speed limits, and traffic control devices are regulated by the State of Ohio. The State has implemented these rules to provide uniformity throughout Ohio which makes driving safer for all motorists. These regulations are set forth in a 900-plus page guidebook called the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (OMUTCD). The Traffic Engineering Manual (TEM) has been developed to assure uniformity in application of ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation) traffic engineering policies, guidelines, standards, and practices. The OMUTCD establishes the basic, minimum traffic control standards for all public roadways in Ohio, and all supplemental ODOT traffic engineering design, construction, and operations related information is either contained in the TEM or referenced from it. * Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices - 2005 (Large PDF. File may take some time to download.) * Traffic Engineering Manual - 2008 (Large PDF. File may take some time to download.)

SPEED LIMITS Speed limits are not randomly set. They are strictly determined by the State of Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, per the Ohio Revised Code. Every speed limit change must be approved by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). A speed study must be performed and submitted to ODOT for approval. There are many variables that are looked at as part of the study. * Speed limit study process * Butler County speed zone map For a more in-depth explanation of speed limits and how they are determined, please see Question 9 on the FAQs page: * FAQ Q9: Why can't you lower the speed limit on my road? How are speed limits determined? * Link to ODOT web site for overview of speed zones and Ohio speed limits.

WARNING SIGNS OF INTEREST * Children At Play signs - ODOT guidelines * Hidden Drive signs - ODOT guidelines * Trucks - No Engine Braking - ODOT sign guidelines

NO PARKING REGULATIONS * Regulations for Vehicle Parking - Ohio Revised Code

TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY * BCEO Traffic Impact Study Guidelines, eff. February 2006

ACCESS MANAGEMENT Access Management is the process by which government agencies regulate the location and spacing of driveways, street connections, median openings, and traffic signals. * Why Access Management / safe access is important and good for business * BCEO Access Management Regulations Manual, eff. January 1, 2005

SAFETY Safe and efficient motoring for the transport of goods and people is what the Butler County Engineer's Office is all about -- making our roads, bridges, and intersections safer by easing congestion, upgrading to modern design standards, and eliminating dangerous situations. You the motorist can help too by practicing safe driving at all times. Take our quiz below and also check out our list of safe driving tips. * Driver safety quiz * Safe driving tips

LINKS * Ohio State Highway Patrol Statewide Fatal Crash Maps - by county * Ohio State Highway Patrol - LifeStat: The 24/7 Initiative