When
June 25, 2026
Time
8:00am - 12:00pm EST
Contact Hours
4
Location Online - Course
This hybrid online class will combine both live instruction and independent online work that you will complete during the day. Independent work will include quizzes, readings, videos and short assignments. Access to a computer with a webcam (either a camera that is built into your laptop or one that connects via USB), a reliable internet connection and a workspace that is free from distraction and noise will set you up for success.
Description
Roadway departure crashes remain one of the leading causes of fatalities and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. This course provides a comprehensive, data-driven overview of strategies to reduce these incidents through proven engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency response approaches.
Participants will explore the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Roadway Departure Strategic Plan, including its mission to reduce fatalities and serious injuries through systemic, evidence-based countermeasures. The course also examines the Virginia Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), highlighting how statewide emphasis areas and the Safe System approach guide coordinated safety efforts.
Through real-world data and case-based discussion, attendees will learn how roadway departure crashes occur—focusing on key risk areas such as head-on collisions, rollovers, and fixed-object impacts (including trees). The course emphasizes the importance of speed, roadway geometry, and roadside conditions, supported by crash data trends (e.g., higher severity on rural roads and speed limits above 50 mph, as shown in the course charts and figures).
Participants will be introduced to multiple implementation strategies—including spot, systemic, systematic, and comprehensive approaches—and will gain practical insight into when and how each method should be applied to maximize safety impact across a roadway network.
The course concludes with a detailed review of FHWA-proven safety countermeasures, including:
- Rumble strips and stripes
- SafetyEdge℠
- Enhanced curve delineation and friction treatments
- Roadside design improvements and clear zone management
- Median barriers and centerline buffers
- Wider edge line markings
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to identify high-risk roadway conditions, apply data-driven safety strategies, and implement cost-effective countermeasures to reduce roadway departure crashes and improve overall transportation safety.
Instructor
Walter C. Catlett
Walt Catlett possesses over 25 years of experience in urban drainage and stormwater management, combined with over 30 years of safety experience from the concrete pipe industry, military, and consulting engineering. He is an effective trainer and educator responsible for the training of military personnel and public works professionals. He serves on Virginia’s Local Transportation Assistance Program (LTAP) Advisory Board. He also serves on the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s Research Advisory Council. He has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, PA. Mr. Catlett served in the United States Marine Corps and United States Army Reserves for a combined 30 years.
Who Should Attend
-Transportation engineers
-Public works and highway professionals
-Inspectors and construction personnel
-Local agency staff and decision-makers
-Safety professionals and planners
Registration and Payment
The following registration fees cover the session, all course materials and meals:
Local Government: $15.00
State/Federal: $15.00
Private Industry: $15.00
Click here for UVA TTA's general registration information, cancellation policy, and refund policy. UVA TTA accepts the following credit cards: American Express, VISA, MasterCard, and Discover. Credit card information cannot be taken over the phone. Alternatively, after registering you can print out a voucher to send in with your payment. After you have completed the transaction you will receive an automatically generated email confirming registration and payment if applicable. Final confirmation and instructions will be sent out during the week prior to the class date.
Special Registration Instructions for Employees of the Virginia Department of Transportation
VDOT employees must register through the VDOT Virtual Campus. Registration fees and related expenses for all VDOT employees will be paid from the VDOT Learning Services Center budget. Registrants should contact their District Training Coordinator or the VDOT Learning Services Center (Central Office employees) for instructions on how to seek reimbursement for travel expenses.
Due to current travel restrictions, VDOT employees are strongly encouraged to attend U. Va. TTA workshops on a day trip basis. Overnight travel requires permission from your District Administrator or Chief -- and in some cases higher levels of authority. If you require overnight lodging to attend a U. Va. TTA workshop, consult with your supervisor, District Training Coordinator, or VDOT Learning Services Center on travel approval procedures.