Continuous Friction Testing Continues on KYTC District Two Roadways

Motorists on state primary and secondary routes in the eleven counties of Kentucky Highway District 2 may see unique survey vehicles on the roadway over the next few weeks.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 2 spokeswoman Keirsten Jaggers says the vehicles are called SCRIM® trucks, or Sideway-force Coefficient Routine Investigation Machines, and will be collecting data to be used in analyzing the connection between highway crashes and degree of pavement friction. She adds SCRIM® trucks provide data to prioritize road repairs and treatments, which helps to reduce fatal and serious injury collisions by incorporating the friction data into the selection process for resurfacing and other pavement treatments. By enhancing pavement management practices in this way, state officials will take a more proactive approach to making roadways safer for motorists throughout the Commonwealth.

Jaggers states the SCRIM® vehicles, which travel at or slightly below the speed limit, apply water to the road surface under the friction measurement mechanism and leaves a 3- to 4-inch-wide water trail in the left wheel path of the road. The water is not harmful and evaporates after about 10 minutes.

She notes weather permitting, continuous friction testing will be conducted across Kentucky through November and will include more than 15,000 miles of the interstate, parkway, state primary and state secondary road networks. Data collection will resume next spring for any mileage not surveyed in 2020.

Jaggers is encouraging motorists to be alert and to slow down when they encounter the SCRIM® vehicles, which are orange and white and are equipped with flashing beacons and high-visibility warning signs.