HOLES IN THE PAVEMENT--AN ASSESSMENT OF THEIR INFLUENCE ON SAFETY

A hole must be relatively large to constitute a significant safety influence when rim or tire damage are the guiding criteria. A hole must be in excess of 60 in. long and 3 in. deep to constitute a threat to the smallest automobiles at highway speeds in excess of 40 mph. On urban streets, with traffic speeds as low as 20 mph, holes must still be greater than 30 in. long and greater than 3 in. deep to have the potential of damaging tires and rims, or both. Damage to tires and rims, with the associated potential for a tire blowout, is the only significant safety-related influence of holes identified in this study. Holes are atypical of most highway surface discontinuities in that the lower the vehicle speed, the greater the potential for causing damage. Problems can arise if a driver reacts to the hole inappropriately. For example, it is counterproductive to react to a hole in the vehicle's path by braking or extreme cornering. In general, a hole of a given size is more likely to cause damage if speed is reduced. Losses of control can occur if extreme braking is produced at highway speed. Extreme cornering can have two results: (a) if a driver reacts with a large steering input to avoid a hole, he may produce a loss of control on a low friction surface; and (b) the vehicle may be put in a hazardous position with respect to other traffic. It is probably the latter that accounts for most of the accidents where holes are identified as contributing factors.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1984/1000/1000-004.pdf
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Surface Properties-Vehicle Interaction. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
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• Authors:
  • Zimmer, Richard A
  • Ivey, Don L
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 26-27
• Monograph Title: SURFACE PROPERTIES-VEHICLE INTERACTION
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1000
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Braking; Depth; Drivers; Highway safety; Length; Loss and damage; Motor vehicles; Potholes; Reaction time; Size; Speed; Steering; Tires; Traffic speed; Wheel rims
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction
• Old TRIS Terms: Cornering (Vehicle); Rims
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450720
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030903809X
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-039 022
• Files: HSL, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 31 1985 12:00AM