HIGH-ACCIDENT SPOT-IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the high-accident location spot-improvement program in Kentucky. The following represent major conclusions: 1. The spot- improvement program has resulted in significant reductions in accident occurrences at high-accident locations in Kentucky. 2. Savings attendant to the reduction costs have more than offset program costs within a short time span following completion of the improvements. 3. Average accident severity was not appreciably reduced as a result of the spot-improvement program. 4. The 12-month period immediately prior to the identification date cannot be used for the purpose of accumulating accident statistics representative of relatively stable before-improvement conditions. A much better period is the 12-month period beginning 2 yr in advance of the identification date. 5. A segment length of 0.3 mile (0.48 km) was found in this study to be considerably superior to a segment length of 0.1 mile (0.16 km). 6. The analysis validated the capabilities of the investigative teams, composed of state police and maintenance and traffic engineers, to discern proper corrective measures through field investigations and office study. 7. The method for identifying high-accident locations, i.e., three or more accidents at a 0.1-mile (0.16-km) location during a 12-month period, is an inefficient method for identifying hazardous locations for improvement under the spot-improvement program since only slightly more than 5% of the locations so identified have warranted improvement. /HSRI/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/8674831
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Agent, K R
  • Deacon, J A
  • Deen, R C
• Publication Date: 1976-5

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 427-445
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transportation Engineering
  • Volume: 102
  • Issue Number: TE2
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0733-947X
  • Serial URL: https://ascelibrary.org/journal/jtepbs

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Crashes; High risk locations; Improvements; Prevention; Safety; Statistics
• Uncontrolled Terms: Accident costs
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00145069
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
• Report/Paper Numbers: ASCE #12102
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM