scholarly journals Impact of Roadside Design Compliance and Hazard Offset on the Risk of Single-Vehicle, Run-Off-Road Crash Fatalities

Author(s):  
Dina Mustafa Awadalla ◽  
Francisco Daniel Benicio Albuquerque
Keyword(s):  
Run Off ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Himes ◽  
Eric Donnell

Recent advancements in analytical processes have used probabilistic approaches to examine the efficacy of the point mass model (and other Green Book models) to develop reliability-based approaches for geometric design. However, there has been minimal research establishing the link between reliability measures and substantive safety (expressed through crash frequency). The objective of this paper is to use empirical data supporting the calculation of reliability index for existing horizontal curves and to estimate the relationship between reliability index and crash frequency. Other horizontal curve-related characteristics that may have an impact on crash frequency on horizontal curves for rural two-lane highways and rural freeway facilities are controlled for in the evaluation. The safety analysis showed that the wet pavement reliability index was significantly associated with crash frequency for total curve-related crashes, single-vehicle run-off-road crashes, rollover crashes, truck-related crashes, and weather-related crashes. The relationship was strongest for the reliability index in its continuous form, meaning that the effect is continuous across the range of wet pavement reliability that was observed.


Author(s):  
Lingtao Wu ◽  
Srinivas R. Geedipally ◽  
Adam M. Pike

Roadway departure crashes are a major contributor to traffic fatalities and injury. Rumble strips have been shown to be an effective countermeasure in reducing roadway departure crashes. However, some roadway situations, for instance, inadequate shoulder width or roadway surface depth, have limited the application of conventional milled or rolled in rumble strips. Alternative audible lane departure warning systems, including profile (audible) pavement markings and preformed rumble bars, are increasingly used to overcome the limitations that exist with the milled rumble strips. So far, the safety effectiveness of these alternative audible lane departure warning systems has not been extensively assessed. The main purpose of this paper is to examine the safety effect of installing profile pavement markings and preformed rumble bars. Specifically, this study developed crash modification factors for these treatments that quantify the effectiveness in reducing single-vehicle-run-off-road (SVROR) and opposite-direction (OD) crashes. Traffic, roadway, and crash data at the treated sites on 189 miles of rural two-lane highways in Texas were analyzed using an empirical Bayes (EB) before–after analysis method. Safety performance functions from the Highway Safety Manual and Texas Highway Safety Design Workbook were used in the EB analysis. The results revealed a 21.3% reduction in all SVROR and OD crashes, and 32.5% to 39.9% reduction in fatal and injury SVROR and OD crashes after installing profile pavement marking and preformed rumble bars.


Author(s):  
Shaw-Pin Miaou

Crash-prediction models in the current edition of the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) have been developed to predict crash frequency by collision type and severity level for specific types of roadways and sites. Each model is made up of three major components: safety performance functions (SPFs), crash modification factors, and calibration factors. The objective of this study was to identify the limitations of the prediction models in estimating single-vehicle, run-off-road (SVROR) crashes for roadside safety analyses and suggest needed changes and developments. The paper presents a review of the state of the models in HSM and focuses on SPFs. Data from FHWA's safety effects of cross-section design for two-lane roads database were used to gain insight about the characteristics of SVROR crashes and total crashes, and to identify the limitations of the current models in predicting the frequency, type, and severity of SVROR crashes. Three major areas of limitations of SPFs are discussed: (a) assumptions involved in development, (b) variables that are potentially important to roadside design but not considered, and (c) statistical bias and uncertainty of the model equations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 207-216
Author(s):  
Chamroeun Se ◽  
Thanapong Champahom ◽  
Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao ◽  
Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha

Single-Vehicle Run Off Road (ROR) crash has been the leading crash type in terms of frequency and severity in Thailand. In this study, multinomial logit analysis was applied to identify the risk factors potentially influencing driver injury severity of single-vehicle ROR crash using accident records between 2011 and 2017 which were extracted from Highway Accident Information Management System (HAIMS) database. The analysis results show that the age of driver older than 55 years old, male driver, driver under influence of alcohol, drowsiness, ROR to left/right on straight roadway increase the probability of fatal crash, while other factors are found to mitigate severity such as the age of driver between 26-35 years old, using seatbelt, ROR and hit fixed object on straight and curve segment of roadway, mounted traffic island, intersection-related and accident in April. This study recommends the need to improve road safety campaign, law enforcement, and roadside safety features that potentially reduce level of severity of driver involving in single-vehicle ROR crash.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xu Lin

Fatigue-related crashes are believed to be more common on rural highways than on urban roads and on two-lane roads rather than on other rural road types. Thus an understanding of how design factors affect fatigue-related crashes on rural to-lane roads is vital. The problem is that fatigue is rarely reported as a cause of crashes, since is is rarely suspected by the police as a possible cause and since potential liability may motive the drivers not to reveal the real causes of the crash. Thus, getting a handle on these crashes thorough modeling is a formidable challenge. Fortunately, there is research to suggest that single-vehicle run-off-road crashes, particularly those during periods of low circadian rhythm, can be used as a reasonable surrogate in modeling fatigue--related crashes. The paper is based on research to examine how fatigue-related crashes rural on two-lane roads, as represented by single vehicle crashes, are affected by various engineering design factors. This study's goal is to explore the effects of fatigue on driving on rural two-lane roads in North America, and to consider how we can work towards mitigating the effects of fatigue on traffic safety. For this investigation, generalized linear and logistic regression modelling were used on US Highway Safety Information System (HSIS) data from Ohio. Models were developed separately and combined for periods of high and low circadian rhythm and for single-vehicle run-off-road and other crashes. The results show, for example, the after controlling for traffic volumes, increases in speed limit, average curvature and average gradient and decreases in surface width and average shoulder width were found to be associated with increased fatigue related crashes. Important differences were found in the effects of factors for period of low and high circadian rhythm.


Author(s):  
Adam M. Pike ◽  
Bryan T. Wilson

To help reduce single vehicle run-off-road and two-lane two-way crossover crashes, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), United States, has implemented various audible lane departure warning systems on seal coat road surfaces. This 20-month research project explored the effectiveness of these treatments using interior noise and vibration performance metrics and provided recommendations on implementation of these types of treatments. The researchers conducted performance evaluations at 24 unique field sites that had 51 treatments, and at a test deck that had 12 different variations of audible markings. The field sites consisted of varying designs and spacing of audible markings, varying spacing of rumble bars, and milled rumble strips. Researchers found that treatment effectiveness varies with vehicle type and vehicle speed. Traveling at higher speeds and in a vehicle with a stiffer suspension results in higher noise and vibration levels. The specific treatment design also impacts the performance. Treatments with closer spacing, longer bumps, and higher profiles produced higher noise and vibration levels. Certain alternative treatments were able to produce noise and vibration levels that approached levels of typical milled rumble strips. In areas where milled rumble strips cannot be used, these alternative treatments are viable options.


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