A study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of reduced visibility guidance systems and operating strategies; and determine, if possible, which factors of system design contributed to system effectiveness and which approach is economically feasible for a specific highway condition. Data were assembled and analyzed from seven existing reduced visibility systems. A utility/cost model was generated which permits quantitative comparisons to be made between systems. A "measure of need" index was generated to make comparisons between the seriousness of the hazard at different locations. The study resulted in a methodology which allows a reduced visibility problem to be quantified and permits resources to be allocated in a systematic way in proportion to the seriousness of the hazard.