FIRST-YEAR EFFECTS OF THE ENERGY CRISIS ON RURAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IN KENTUCKY

The Arab oil embargo in mid-October 1973 curtailed availability of gasoline. Fuel conservation measures resulted in reduced travel and lower traffic speeds. On March 1, 1974, posted speed was set at 55 mph (88 km/h) on rural highways in Kentucky. Traffic volumes, speeds, and accidents for the rural highway during the period known as the energy crisis and its aftereffects were compared to those during the corresponding period a year earlier. Traffic volumes began to decline in December 1973 and continued through September 1974. Total travel in the 12 months through November 1974 decreased by 2.3 percent; traffic increased by 5 percent in 1973. Accident rates during this period decreased by 13.5 percent, and the largest decreases were associated with the highways experiencing the greatest reductions intravel speed. Accident rates decreased substantially as traffic speeds decreased. Differences between wet-surface and dry-surface accident rates were especially significant and were more so for Interstate than for two-lane highways. Improved wet- pavement skid resistance due to lower speeds obviously contributed to a reduction in accident rates. Continuation of the 55-mph (88-km/h) speed limit on all rural highways would seem advisable.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/567/567-008.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=FIRST-YEAR+EFFECTS+OF+THE+ENERGY+CRISIS+ON+RURAL+HIGHWAY+TRAFFIC+IN+KENTUCKY&author=K.+Agent&author=D.+Herd&author=R.+Rizenbergs&publication_year=1976
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics. 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:
  • Agent, Kenneth R
  • Herd, Donald R
  • Rizenbergs, Rolands L
• 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: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 70-81
• Monograph Title: Traffic flow theory and applications
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 567
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Energy resources; Pavements; Rural highways; Skid resistance; Speed limits; Traffic crashes; Traffic speed; Traffic volume; Wet weather
• Identifier Terms: Interstate Highway System
• Uncontrolled Terms: Energy crisis; Wet pavements
• Geographic Terms: Kentucky
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139878
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024803
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 6 1976 12:00AM