The objectives of this project are to assess the existing single vehicle run- off-the road (ROR) accident problem on rural highways in New Mexico, and to explore alternative techniques for its correction. These accidents account for nearly 45% of the state's highway fatalities. Application of the critical rate technique found that 26% of the New Mexico's rural interstate highway system and 22% of the rural Federal-Aid Primary mileage had actual ROR accident rates in excess of the critical values; the rates on the Federal-Aid Secondary system were even higher: traditional countermeasures have been employed with varying degrees of effectiveness at spot locations, but short of roadway reconstruction, little has been done for extended roadway sections. The placement of indented strips on roadway shoulders appears to be the most promising treatment for these sections. Reductions of up to 50% of ROR accidents have been achieved with this relatively inexpensive measure. New Mexico began installing this countermeasure in 1990, and evaluations will be conducted following a suitable after-period.