A DETERMINATION OF NEEDED MINOR HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH AN ANALYSIS OF FATAL ACCIDENT REPORTS

SINGLE VEHICLE, RAN-OFF-THE-ROAD TYPE OF FATAL ACCIDENT WAS INVESTIGATED THROUGH AN ANALYSIS OF 493 FATAL ACCIDENTS REPORTED ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1966. THE PURPOSE WAS TO SHOW THE POTENTIAL WHICH EXISTS IN ACCIDENT REPORTS TO INDICATE SPECIFIC AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT WHICH ARE NEEDED IN THE DESIGN OF THE ROADWAY AND APPURTENANCES. ALTHOUGH MANY DETAILS WERE FOUND LACKING ON THE HIGHWAY ELEMENTS INVOLVED IN FATAL ACCIDENTS IT IS CONCLUDED THAT MINOR MODIFICATIONS OR IMPROVEMENTS IN CURRENT DESIGN STANDARDS WOULD RESULT IN SAFER HIGHWAYS. THE SINGLE-VEHICLE RAN-OFF-THE-ROAD TYPE OF FATAL ACCIDENT REPRESENTED 58.6% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED FATAL ACCIDENTS. OVER 70% OF THESE VEHICLES STRUCK A ROADSIDE OBJECT OF OBSTACLE. ANALYSIS INDICATED THE FOLLOWING DEFICIENCES AND NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS. (1) GUARDRAIL TERMINAL SECTIONS ARE FORMIDABLE OBSTACLES AND SHOULD BE FLARED AND ANCHORED. ONLY ABOUT 16% OF THE GUARDRAIL INSTALLATIONS STRUCK APPEARED TO FUNCTION AS INTENDED. (2) BRIDGE PIERS AND ABUTMENTS WERE INVOLVED IN 25% OF THE ACCIDENTS. (3) SIGN SUPPORTS AND LIGHT STANDARDS MUST BE MADE FRANGIBLE OR BREAKAWAY, AND (4) RAISED OR DEPRESSED DRAINAGE STRUCTURES ARE HAZARDS AND MUST BE ELIMINATED. THE THREE "R'S" OF ROADSIDE SAFETY SHOULD BE APPLIED: REMOVE THE OBJECT IF IT IS NOT NEEDED, RELOCATE IT TO A LESS HAZARDOUS POSITION OR, IF IT MUST REMAIN, REDESIGN THE INSTALLATION TO PROTECT VECHICLES FROM ITS HAZARD. /AUTHOR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 51 Pp, 7 FiG, 6 TAB, 15 REF
• Corporate Authors:

  Catholic University of America

  School of Engineering and Architecture
  Washington, DC  United States  20019
• Authors:
  • Connor, R E
• Publication Date: 1967-6

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash investigation; Design; Design standards; Fatalities; Hazards; Highway design; Highway safety; Improvements; Relocation (Facilities); Single vehicle crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Redesign; Relocation; Removal
• Old TRIS Terms: Appurtenances
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00220845
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Nat Safety Council Safety Res Info Serv
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 29 1970 12:00AM