AN ANALYSIS OF GUARDRAIL AND MEDIAN BARRIER ACCIDENTS USING THE LONGITUDINAL BARRIER SPECIAL STUDIES (LBSS) FILE, VOLUME I: FINAL REPORT

In the study, the Longitudinal Barrier Special Studies (LBSS) file was cleaned for use in examining the real-world performance of longitudinal barriers. Given that impact speeds were mostly missing from the LBSS file, impact speeds were reconstructed for several accidents. An examination of the accuracy of reconstructed impact speeds was also performed using input from three experts in barrier accident reconstruction. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed to compare one barrier type vs. another in terms of driver injury. Where appropriate, logistical models were developed that utilized impact speed, impact angle, and vehicle curb weight as covariates. Another comparison involved severity of impacts to ends vs. length of need (LON). Nearly 1,200 cases were available for analysis. Two-thirds of the cases involved a LON and one-third involved an end impact. Two-thirds of the cases involved guardrail accidents; the remainder were median barrier accidents. Clinical analysis of barrier performance was also undertaken to learn more about length-of-need segment failures and barrier-ends.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • The other volume in this series is: FHWA-RD-92-099, Volume II: Users Guide.
• Corporate Authors:

  Scientex Corporation

  1655 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 400
  Arlington, VA  United States  22209

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Authors:
  • Erinle, O
  • Hunter, W
  • Bronstad, M
  • Council, F
  • Stewart, R
• Publication Date: 1994-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 89 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Barriers (Roads); Crash data; Crash reconstruction; Crash severity; Databases; Guardrails; Impact; Longitudinal control; Median barriers; Speed; Statistical analysis; Studies; Vehicle weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Impact angle; Impact speed
• Old TRIS Terms: Ends; Longitudinal barrier special studies file
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00675177
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-92-098, FR-1362, 3A5B1132
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-89-C-00015
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 2 1995 12:00AM