SINGLE-VEHICLE ACCIDENTS INVOLVING UTILITY POLES

From the limited data available, utility poles appear to constitute one of the major roadside hazards on U.S. highways. The data indicate that utility poles are one of the most frequently struck fixed objects along the roadside. Utility-pole accidents are estimated to account for more than 5 percent of the national traffic fatalities and more than 15 percent of the fixed-object traffic fatalities. Assessing and resolving the utility-pole accident problem is a formidable task. Contributing factors that make the problem difficult include sketchy accident statistics, lack of uniform standards and enforcement for locating utility poles, insufficient legal authority for states to undertake corrective action, inadequate right-of-way in many areas, and the high cost of current solutions to the problem. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the severity and complexity of the utility-pole accident problem and recommend further specific actions.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/571/571-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=SINGLE-VEHICLE+ACCIDENTS+INVOLVING+UTILITY+POLES&author=N.+Graf&author=J.+Boos&author=J.+Wentsworth&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309024846
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Utilities. 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.
• Authors:
  • Graf, Nicholas L
  • Boos, James V
  • Wentsworth, James A
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 36-43
• Monograph Title: Utility Facilities in Transportation Corridors
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 571
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash severity; Fatalities; Hazards; Laws; Roadside structures; Single vehicle crashes; Standards; Utility poles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Enforcement; Fixed object
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139574
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024846
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-019 230
• Files: HSL, TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 6 1983 12:00AM