IDENTIFICATION AND TESTING OF COUNTERMEASURES FOR SPECIFIC ALCOHOL ACCIDENT TYPES AND PROBLEMS-VOLUME IV: APPENDICES

This report summarizes work conducted to investigate the feasibility of developing effective countermeasures directed at specific alcohol-related accidents or problems. In Phase I, literature and accident data were reviewed to determine the scope and magnitude of the driver-alcohol problem among vehicle drivers in general and heavy truck drivers in particular. Single vehicle accidents, head-on collisions, and to a lesser extent, rear-end collisions, were identified as alcohol collision types. In Phase II, prospective countermeasures were identified and evaluated according to their expected effectiveness, state of development, and potential for empirical evaluation. Roadway treatments were selected for evaluation in Phase III, which consisted of two experiments. Experiment I evaluated a simulated rumbling shoulder treatment combined with a simulated raised pavement marker. An instrumented vehicle driven over a closed-course was used. The results indicated strong and consistent effects of alcohol on driving performance, including increases in lane position errors and vehicle control variability. Effects of the rumbling treatments were positive although not strong. Experiment II used a driving simulator to evaluate continuous (standard and wide edgelines) and spot treatments for curves (herringbone patterned pavement markings, flashing beacons added to curve warning signs, chevron alignment signs, and post delineators). Alcohol effects were evident primarily on measures of tracking behavior and overall scenario performance. Edgeline presence improved tracking as well as overall performance. Wide edgelines were associated with additional, although non-significant benefits. The effects of spot treatments were relatively weak and equivocal. Based upon the results, recommendations for additional research and development are presented.

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• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/1412
• Corporate Authors:

  Calspan Field Services, Incorporated

  P.O. Box 400, 4455 Genesee Street
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14225

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • RANNEY, T A
  • Gawron, V J
• Publication Date: 1984-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 70 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Countermeasures; Driver performance; Drivers; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Edge lines; Frontal crashes; Highway curves; Measures of effectiveness; Personnel performance; Rear end crashes; Road shoulders; Rumble strips; Single vehicle crashes; Tracking systems; Truck drivers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Tracking
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00396311
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: 6551-Y-1 Final Rpt., HS-806 671
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-9-02085
• Files: HSL, NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1985 12:00AM