U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
A "Road Diet," or roadway reconfiguration, can improve safety, calm traffic, provide better mobility and access for all road users, and enhance overall quality of life.
SAFETY BENEFIT:
4-Lane → 3-Lane
Road Diet Conversions
19-47%
Reduction in total crashes
Source: Evaluation of Lane Reduction "Road Diet" Measures on Crashes, FHWA-HRT-10-053.
A Road Diet typically involves converting an existing four-lane undivided roadway to a three-lane roadway consisting of two through lanes and a center two-way left-turn lane (TWLTL).
Benefits of Road Diet installations may include:
A Road Diet can be a low-cost safety solution when planned in conjunction with a simple pavement overlay, and the reconfiguration can be accomplished at no additional cost.