AN AID ANALYSIS OF TEXAS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DATA BEFORE AND DURING THE ENERGY CRISIS

Fatal accident data from the state of Texas for two six-month periods(one before and one during the energy crisis) have been analyzed using the Automatic Interaction Detector (AID) computer algorithm. This method identifies those factors which account for the greatest difference in fatal accident involvement between the periods. Overall there was a reduction in fatal accident involvement of 23% in the first six months of 1974 as compared with same period of 1973; a corresponding reduction of 11.7% was observed in all traffic accident involvements. The difference between these two percentages is attributed largely to the effects of speed reduction. In support of this observation it is noted that the severity of crashes occurring in the crisis period decreased, as measured by the TAD (Traffic Accident Data) severity scale. Severe crashes-levels 6 and 7 of this seven-point scale-diminished in frequency by 18% and 24% respectively, as compared with a 12% reduction for crashes of the least severity. Detailed breakdowns of the accident characteristics for the two periods are compared.

• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Safety Research Institute

  Huron Parkway and Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109
• Authors:
  • Golomb, D H
  • O' Day, J
• Publication Date: 1975-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1-6
• Serial:
  • HIT Lab Reports
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash investigation; Crash rates; Crash severity; Data analysis; Energy; Energy resources; Fatalities; Mathematical analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Energy crisis
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00096050
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 2 1975 12:00AM