HUMAN FACTORS IN SKIDDING: CAUSATION AND PREVENTION

This paper provides a state of the art overview of the human factor in skid accident causation and prevention. Available literature is summarized in two parts. First, the driver and skid potential are covered in terms of driver perception and responses in skid hazardous driving situations. Second, candidate traffic control techniques are reviewed as potential remediation techniques. The detection and appreciation of hazardous situations during wet weather conditions tends to come from knowledge of the fact that it is raining, the pavement appears wet or road alignment is changing (as on horizontal curves). Communicating potential hazards to motorists through static signing is generally ineffective; whereas flashing signals and dynamic displays and advisory speeds at such highway sites are effective in modifying control behavior and presumably in the reduction of loss of control. Specific road geometric conditions can lead to higher than accepatable frictional demands because their difficulty in negotiation is underestimated by motorists. Suggestions are made for readily implementable accident countermeasures and necessary research required for more effective countermeasure development is delineated. /Author/

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/623/623-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=HUMAN+FACTORS+IN+SKIDDING%3a+CAUSATION+AND+PREVENTION&author=F.+Hanscom&publication_year=1977
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This article appeared in Transportation Research Record No. 623, Skidding Accidents: Wet-Weather Accident Experience, Human Factors, and Legal Aspects.
• Authors:
  • Hanscom, Fred R
• Conference:
  • Second International Skid Prevention Conference
  • Location: Columbus Ohio, United States
  • Date: 1977-5-2 to 1977-5-6
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 40-47
• Monograph Title: Skidding Accidents: Wet-Weather Accident Experience, Human Factors, and Legal Aspects. Proceedings of a Conference Conducted by the Transportation Research Board, May 2-6, 1977.
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 623
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Countermeasures; Crash causes; Drivers; Hazards; Human factors; Pavements; Perception; Prevention; Safety; Skidding; Speed control; State of the art studies; Traffic control; Traffic signals; Traffic signs; Warning signs; Wet weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wet pavements
• Old TRIS Terms: Driver perception; Flashing sign; Speed control signal
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00163899
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025671
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM