RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL ROADWAY ALIGNMENTS AND THE INCIDENCE OF FATAL ROLLOVER CRASHES IN NEW MEXICO AND GEORGIA

Survey data on curvature and grade collected at the sites of fatal single-vehicle rollover crashes and at random comparison sites in New Mexico and Georgia were analyzed to determine the relationship of horizontal and vertical alignment to such crashes. The results showed that road sections with extreme horizontal and vertical alignments were as much as 50 times more common at crash sites than at comparison sites. Although sharp left curves and steep downgrades were over-represented in both states, the relative importance of downgrades was greater in New Mexico than in Georgia. Because the relative importance of the two alignments can be expected to vary in other states as well, no overall set of priorities for hazard identification was developed. It is recommended that each state develop its own priorities for hazard identification based on comparisons between the bivariate curve-grade distributions of fatal single-vehicle crash sites and those of a representaive roadway sample. A method for setting such priorities that can be used by individual states is presented.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1111/1111-004.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=RELATIONSHIPS+BETWEEN+VERTICAL+AND+HORIZONTAL+ROADWAY+ALIGNMENTS+AND+THE+INCIDENCE+OF+FATAL+ROLLOVER+CRASHES+IN+NEW+MEXICO+AND+GEORGIA&author=P.+Zador&author=H.+Stein&author=J.+HALL&author=P.+WRIGHT&publication_year=1987
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Traffic Records and Accident Analysis. 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:
  • Zador, Paul
  • Stein, Howard
  • Hall, Jerome
  • Wright, Paul
• Publication Date: 1987

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 27-42
• Monograph Title: TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ANALYSIS, VISIBILITY FACTORS, AND MOTORIST INFORMATION NEEDS
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1111
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alignment; Data collection; Fatalities; Road downgrades; Rollover crashes; Single vehicle crashes; Surveys
• Uncontrolled Terms: Horizontal alignment; Vertical alignment
• Geographic Terms: Georgia; New Mexico
• Old TRIS Terms: Downgrade
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00464593
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0-309-04463-4
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 31 1987 12:00AM