Safety Impact of Pavement Conditions

Pavement condition has been known as a key factor related to ride quality, but it is less clear how pavement condition is related to traffic crashes. The researchers used a geographic information system to link data from the Texas Department of Transportation crash record information system and the pavement management information system. Linking the data provided an opportunity to examine in depth the impact of pavement conditions on traffic crashes. This study analyzed the correlation between four key pavement condition scores and crash rates on a large number of crashes on Texas asphalt nonfreeway roadways between 2008 and 2009. The results overwhelmingly suggest that very good pavement conditions coincide with much lower crash rates compared with very poor conditions. The findings of this study provide insights into how pavement conditions might affect crash rates on different types of roadways. The study also provides critical knowledge that may lead to improvements in safety-oriented pavement design. Because of funding shortages, many state roadways suffer severe pavement deterioration, which may result in increased crash rates, as this study suggests. The findings of this study serve as scientific justification for more adequate maintenance of roadways to avoid further safety deterioration. The researchers recommend that state highway agencies maintain fair or good pavement conditions, at a minimum, on all major state highways. When possible, very good pavement conditions should be maintained to reduce crashes.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2455-09
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/172116.aspx
• Authors:
  • Li, Yingfeng
  • Huang, Jie
• Publication Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 77–88
• Monograph Title: Pavement Management 2014, Volume 1
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2455
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Correlation analysis; Crash rates; Highway factors in crashes; Pavement distress; Surface course irregularities; Traffic crashes
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01518576
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309295482
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-5373
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 20 2014 1:39PM