Horizontal curves made up only 5 percent of our Nation's highway miles in 2008.  Yet, more than 25 percent of highway fatalities in the United States occur at or near horizontal curves each year. Some of the factors contributing to these crashes include excessive vehicle speed, distracted driving, driver error, and the deterioration of pavement surface friction. 

As part of the safety focus area of the Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is promoting High Friction Surface Treatments (HFST). HFST are the site-specific application of high-quality, durable aggregates using a polymer binder that restores and maintains pavement friction where the need for a safer pavement surface is the greatest. Transportation agencies that apply HFST to spot treat their problem locations can reduce a high percentage of the Roadway Departure crashes and wet crashes on their roadways.