THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISIBILITY AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

The objective of this research was to develop statistical relationships between visibility, as defined by a visibility metric relying on luminances, and nighttime traffic accident experience on urban arterial streets. In meeting this objective a target was fabricated that was sensitive to the local longitudinal and lateral illumination gradients on urban roadways. Instrumentation was designed and fabricated to automatically record target, pavement and glare luminances. Sites were selected that reflected the lighting conditions, are types and population densities on typical urban arteries. Accident and visibility data was collected at each site and finally regression equations were developed that defined the relationships between visibility and accident experience. The results have whosn an inverse relationship between visibility level and accidents. As the visibility level increases, the accident rate decrease. Accidents were however, directly related to both area type (central business district vs other) and population density. Higher population densities are associated with higher accident rates and CBD areas have higher accident rates than other areas. In addition, a direct relationship was found between illumination level and accidents. Higher illumination levels were related to higher accident frequencies. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  Illuminating Engineering Society

  120 Wall Street, 17th Floor
  New York, NY  United States  10005-4001
• Authors:
  • Janott, M S
  • Koth, B
  • McCunney, W
  • Berkovitz, M
  • Freedman, M
• Publication Date: 1977-7

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 25
• Serial:
  • Lighting Design and Application
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: Illuminating Engineering Society

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Arterial highways; Central business districts; Crash rates; Data collection; Glare; Highway grades; Luminaires; Night visibility; Pavements; Population; Regression analysis; Slopes; Statistics; Streets; Traffic crashes; Visibility
• Old TRIS Terms: Horizons
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00159612
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM