Utility Pole Hazards

Utility poles account for 12 percent of all fixed object fatal crashes annually. The transportation design process should include coordination with utility companies to provide pole installation that promotes the forgiving roadside concept.

Measures to alleviate utility pole hazards include: increasing the lateral offset of utility poles from the roadway edge; reducing the number of utility poles; installing breakaway utility poles; and burying utility lines. Burying utility lines is the most desirable treatment; however, this treatment is expensive.