Skip to main content
Official State of Iowa Website
Agencies A-Z Programs & Services
Back to home page
Department of Transportation

Main navigation

  • Driver’s Licenses & IDs
    • Schedule an Appointment
    • Find a DMV Location
    • Get or Renew Driver's Licenses, IDs & Permits
    • Find, Cancel or Reschedule an Appointment
    • Driver Education
    • Other Services
    • New to Iowa
    • Commercial Drivers
    • Suspensions & Revocations
    • Mobile ID
    • Military Services
    • Investigation & Identity Protection
    • Forms
  • Registration & Plates
    • Schedule an Appointment
    • Vehicle Registration & Titles
    • Disability Parking & Services
    • License Plates
    • Buy & Sell Vehicles
    • For Dealerships
    • Other Vehicle Services
    • Investigation & Identity Protection
    • Forms
  • Modes of Travel
    • Roads & Highways
    • Public Transit
    • Rail
    • Aviation
    • Bikes
    • Personalized Travel
    • Trails
  • Motor Carriers
    • Get Oversize & Overweight Permits
    • IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement)
    • IRP (International Registration Plan)
    • UCR (Unified Carrier Registration)
    • Forms
    • Maps
    • Manuals
    • Safety Seminar
    • Proclamations
    • Taxicab Services
    • Paid Rideshare
  • Travel Tools
    • Iowa 511
    • Major Construction Projects
    • Maps
    • Traffic Cameras
    • Highway Helper
    • Report an Issue on the Roadway
Agencies A-Z Online Services

Breadcrumbs

  1. Home
  2. Design Manual

Chapter 8 - Roadside Safety

Table of Contents

Content Information

This chapter discusses roadside objects encountered during the design process, and provides guidelines for how to treat them.

Book navigation for Chapter 8 - Roadside Safety

  • 8A-1: Introduction to Roadside Safety
  • 8A-2: Clear Zones
  • 8A-3: Treatment Options for Objects within the Clear Zone
  • 8A-4: Warrants for Specific Objects
  • 8A-5: Roadside Safety Hardware Assessment
  • 8A-6: Zone of Intrusion
  • 8A-7: Introduction to MASH Crash Testing
  • 8A-8: Evaluating Roadside Safety Hardware
  • 8B-2: Culvert Opening Safety Treatments
  • 8B-5: Choosing a Barrier
  • 8B-6: Locating a Barrier

Book links for Chapter 8 - Roadside Safety

  • Chapter 7 - Pavement

  • Up

  • 8A-1: Introduction to Roadside Safety

Book Navigation Menu

  • Table of Contents
    • Chapter 1 - General Information
      • 1A-1: About This Manual
      • 1B-1: Glossary and Abbreviations
      • 1B-2: Contact Information
      • 1B-4: Densities for Use in Estimating Quantities
      • 1B-5: Pipe Thickness Tables
      • 1B-6: Project Cost Estimates
      • 1B-7: Managing Changes in Project Concepts
      • 1C-7: Public Interest Findings
      • 1C-8: Documenting Design Decisions
      • 1D-1: Project Flow Chart
      • 1D-3: Preliminary Survey Procedure
      • 1D-4: Pavement Determination Process
      • 1D-7: Interchange Review
      • 1D-8: Access Review Submittal
      • 1D-9: Field Examination Checklist (New and Reconstructed Highways)
      • 1D-10: Field Examination Checklist (3R and 4R Projects)
      • 1D-20: Reviewing Railroad Crossings at Side Roads
      • 1D-21: Flood Debris Removal Plans
      • 1E-1: Certification of Plans
      • 1E-6: Designer Information for Standard Road Plans
      • 1E-7: Designer Information for Road Design Details
      • 1F-3: B Sheets
    • Chapter 2 - Alignments
      • 2A: Horizontal Alignment
      • 2B: Superelevation
      • 2C: Vertical Alignment
    • Chapter 3 - Cross Sections
    • Chapter 4 - Drainage
      • 4A-1:Introduction to Stormwater Drainage System Design
      • 4A-2:Stormwater Drainage System Information Sources, Documentation, and Permitting
      • 4A-3:Effects of Roadway Geometrics on Pavement Drainage
      • 4A-4: Concept Plan
    • Chapter 5 - Earthwork
    • Chapter 6 - Geometric Design
    • Chapter 7 - Pavement
    • Chapter 8 - Roadside Safety
      • 8A-1: Introduction to Roadside Safety
      • 8A-2: Clear Zones
      • 8A-3: Treatment Options for Objects within the Clear Zone
      • 8A-4: Warrants for Specific Objects
      • 8A-5: Roadside Safety Hardware Assessment
      • 8A-6: Zone of Intrusion
      • 8A-7: Introduction to MASH Crash Testing
      • 8A-8: Evaluating Roadside Safety Hardware
      • 8B-2: Culvert Opening Safety Treatments
      • 8B-5: Choosing a Barrier
      • 8B-6: Locating a Barrier
    • Chapter 9 - Traffic Control
      • 9A-1: Fundamental Principles of Traffic Control in Work Zones
      • 9A-2: Traffic Control Zones
      • 9A-3: Tapers
      • 9A-4: Regulatory Speed Limit Changes
      • 9A-5: Traffic Control Plans
      • 9B-1: Basic Requirements of Traffic Control Devices
      • 9B-2: Signs
      • 9B-3: Channelizing Devices
      • 9B-4: Temporary Markings
      • 9B-5: Warning Lights
      • 9B-6: Floodlights
      • 9B-7: Arrow Displays
      • 9B-8: Changeable Message Sign
      • 9B-9: Positive Protection
      • 9B-10: Road Closures
      • 9B-11: Speed Feedback Trailer Signs
      • 9C-1: Introduction to Work Zone Activities
      • 9C-2: Work Located off the Traveled Way
      • 9C-3: Work on Two-Lane Roadways
      • 9C-4: Work on Multi-Lane Roadways
      • 9C-5: Control of Traffic Through Incident Areas
      • 9C-6: On-site Paved Detours (Rural Two Lane Roadways)
      • 9C-7: Haul Road Crossings
      • 9C-8: Emergency Pull-offs During Construction
      • 9E-1: Traffic Critical Projects Program
      • 9F-1: Introduction to Traffic Mobility and Safety Mitigations
      • 9F-2: Mobility and Safety Mitigations by Work Type
      • 9F-3: Proposal Mitigations
      • 9F-4: Design Mitigations
      • 9F-6: Traffic Operations
      • 9F-7: Intelligent Work Zone Applications
      • 9F-8: Traffic Incident Management Plan
      • 9F-9: Public Information
    • Chapter 10 - Roadside Development and Erosion Control
      • 10A-1: Topsoil Replacement
      • 10B-1: Seeding, Fertilizing, and Mulching
      • 10C-2: Storm Water Detention
      • 10C-3: Vegetated Buffers
      • 10C-4: Temporary Sediment Control Devices for Intakes and Manholes
      • 10C-5: Temporary Sediment Control in Urban Areas
      • 10D-2: Storm Water Discharge Permits for Maintenance Projects
    • Chapter 11 - Other Design Topics
      • 11D-4: No Excuse Bonus – District Driven Incentive
    • Chapter 12 - Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities
      • 12A-1: General Sidewalk Requirements
      • 12A-2: Accessible Sidewalk Requirements
      • 12A-3: Protruding Objects
      • 12A-4 : Pedestrian Facilities During Construction
      • 12A-5: Pedestrian Safety Measures at Crossings
      • 12B-1: Selecting Bicycle Facilities
      • 12B-2: Shared Use Path Design
      • 12B-3: On-Street Bicycle Facilities
      • 12B-10: Pedestrian Path Guidelines: Safety Rail
      • 12C-1: Check for ADA Compliance
    • Chapter 22 - Microstation ORD Connect
    • Chapter 40 - Design Survey Specifications
    • Chapter 120 - Specifications
    • Chapter 200 - Geotechnical Design
    • Design Manual Video Index

Department of Transportation

Footer Social Media Menu

  • Opens in a new window.
  • Opens in a new window.
  • Opens in a new window.
  • Opens in a new window.

Iowa Department of Transportation Central Office

800 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA 50010

Phone

515-239-1101

How can we help?

Share feedback with us

Footer Menu

Footer

  • Iowa DOT
    • Social Media
    • About
    • Contact
    • Districts
    • Divisions & Bureaus
    • Transportation Matters
    • News
    • Careers
    • Topic Index
  • Vendors & Partners
    • Consultants & Contractors
    • General Procurement & Auctions
    • Transportation Development
  • Online Services
    • DMV Services
    • Schedule an Appointment
    • Take a Practice Test
    • Apps
    • Forms
    • My MVD
    • 511 IA
    • Major Projects
    • Intranet Login
    • Electronic Reference Library
    • Accessibility Assistance
  • Data
    • Analytics
    • Research
    • Transportation Facts
    • Traffic & Safety
    • Iowa Regional Coordinate System (IARCS)
    • Request Crash Data
    • Open Records
    • Digital Delivery
    • Geospatial
    • DMV Statistics & Research
    • Iowa Crash Analysis Tool (ICAT)
    • TraCS & MACH
    • Policies & Statements
    • Maps
  • Archived Documents
Back to home page

Contact Menu

  • Send Feedback

© 2026 State of Iowa - Read our accessibility, data, and privacy policies.