SAFETY ASPECTS OF ROADSIDE CROSS-SECTION DESIGN

Results of a research program to determine the effects of roadside terrain geometrics on the dynamic behavior of an automobile departing from the highway and for assessing the safety of the occupants are presented in this report. Information obtained from a survey and review of the literature pertaining to safety criteria and analytical and experimental results from earlier studies of highway cross section design are also summarized herein. Vehicle responses during traversals of various roadside configurations were obtained using the Highway-Vehicle- Object Simulation Model (HVOSM) computer program. The simulation results illustrate the hazardous nature of various typical roadside terrain features and how safety can be enhanced by flattening of slopes and/or by providing adequate rounding of slope breaks. Rounding requirements at the juncture of shoulder and side slopes to prevent the vehicle from becoming airborne, and at the toe region of fill embankments and cut slopes to avoid bumper impact with the ground, are developed. The data generated in the study include plots showing the cross section profile and the height variations of the front bumper above the local terrain during traversal of side slope configurations.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/ZR5389V2
• Corporate Authors:

  Calspan Corporation

  4455 Genesee Street
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14225

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • DeLeys, N J
• Publication Date: 1975-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 180 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cross sections; Geometric design; Highway safety; Roadside improvement; Simulation; Slopes; Terrain; Vehicle dynamics; Vehicle occupancy
• Old TRIS Terms: Vehicle responses
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00130542
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• ISBN: ZR-5389-V-2
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-75- 41 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-FH-11-8189
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 29 1976 12:00AM