(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is installing new “Headlights On At All Times” signs in seven southeast Alaska communities this summer.

The signs will inform motorists to use their headlights while driving in specific areas, regardless of conditions or the time of day. The purpose of the new signs is to make Alaska’s roads safer by reducing crashes.

According to the Alaska Department of Transportation, approximately 15 Alaskans die annually in head-on crashes. Research indicates that signage and compliance could eliminate 7-15 percent of these crashes. The "Headlights On At All Times" signs aim to reduce the risk of daytime collisions by making vehicles more noticeable to oncoming traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists.

Daytime running headlight signs have been instrumental in a statewide effort to decrease daytime crashes since 2011, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation.

The Alaska Department of Transportation selected specific highway corridors for Southeast Alaska based on proximity to Alaska Marine Highway System terminals and border crossings, remoteness, crash history and traffic volume. The black and white signs will designate "Headlights On At All Times" at the following locations:

Ketchikan: North Tongass Hwy – MP 1 (400ft north of 50mph speed zone) to Pandora’s Lane intersection (MP 13.2), South Tongass Hwy - Cemetery Rd intersection (MP 3.1) to 1.8 miles south of Whitman Creek Bridge (MP 13)

Prince of Wales Island: Klawock Hollis Hwy - Port St Nicholas Rd intersection (MP 0.9) to Hollis Ferry Terminal (MP 30.4)

Petersburg: Mitkof Hwy – Kings Row intersection (MP 0.7) to 2.2 miles south of South Mitkof Ferry Terminal access road (MP 26)

Sitka: Halibut Point Rd - Ferry access road (MP 6.6) to Katlian Street/Moller Dr intersection, Sawmill Creek Rd - Indian River Rd intersection (MP 0.5) to Blue Lake Rd intersection (MP 4.9)

Wrangell: Zimovia Hwy - Case Ave intersection (MP 0.9) to Nemo Point Rd intersection (MP 13.2)

Haines: Haines Highway - U.S. Customs station (MP 39.5) to the Jones Point Rd intersection (MP 0.8)

Juneau: Glacier Hwy – MP 14 (south junction of Auke Rec Rd) to Echo Cove, Thane - end of road to Old AJ Mine access road (MP 0.8), North Douglas Hwy - Kowee Creek Bridge to end of road (N. Douglas)

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities oversees 254 airports, 11 ferries serving 35 communities, 5,619 miles of highway and 720 public facilities throughout the state of Alaska.


Edited by Mary Kauffman

On the Web:

Headlight safety in Alaska
http://www.dot.alaska.gov/stwdplng/hwysafety/headlights.shtml

Source of News: 

Alaska Department of Transportation
www.dot.state.ak.us

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Ketchikan, Alaska

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