ASSOCIATION OF MEDIAN WIDTH AND HIGHWAY ACCIDENT RATES (WITH DISCUSSION AND CLOSURE)

Data for two states have been extracted from the Highway Safety Information System and used to examine the effect of median width on the frequency and severity of accidents. Log-linear models for accident rates have been used to describe the effect of median width after adjusting for other variables. Effects have been estimated by the quasi-likelihood technique assuming a negative-binomial variance for the accident count per roadway section. Results for both states indicate that total accident rates and rates for specific types and severity decline rapidly when median width exceeds about 25 ft (7.6 m). Policy guidelines for median widths are somewhat nebulous, partly due to the lack of large well-conducted studies providing quantitative information on this topic. The results provide a basis for the development of more precise guidelines regarding median width.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1993/1401/1401-010.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=ASSOCIATION+OF+MEDIAN+WIDTH+AND+HIGHWAY+ACCIDENT+RATES+(WITH+DISCUSSION+AND+CLOSURE)&author=M.+Knuiman&author=F.+Council&author=D.+Reinfurt&publication_year=1993
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1401, Highway and Traffic Safety and Accident Research, Management, and Issues. 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:
  • Knuiman, Matthew W
  • Council, Forrest M
  • Reinfurt, Donald W
• Discussers:
  • Miaou, Shaw-Pin
• Publication Date: 1993

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 70-82
• Monograph Title: Highway and traffic safety and accident research, management, and issues
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1401
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Medians; Width
• Uncontrolled Terms: Log-linear models
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00640006
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309054745
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Dec 21 1993 12:00AM