The Effect of Segment Characteristics on the Severity of Head-on Crashes on Two-Lane Rural Highways

The National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggest that head-on crashes are disproportionately represented in fatal crashes on two-lane highways, which constitute a substantial proportion of the highway network in the US. This study focuses on analyzing the correlation between head-on crash and potential causal factors, such as the geometric characteristics of the road segment, weather conditions, road surface conditions, and time of occurrence. Statistical and qualitative analyses were conducted using head-on crash records in Connecticut and Maine. The authors analyze the factors affecting the head-on crash frequency and severity on two-lane rural highways in both states. The analysis results may be used by practitioners to understand the trade-off between geometric design decisions and head-on crash severity. Furthermore, identifying correlated factors will help to better explain the crash phenomenon and in turn can institute safer roadway design standards.

• Record URL:
  https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/25000/25000/25048/index.html
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Connecticut, Storrs

  Connecticut Transportation Institute
  179 Middle Turnpike
  Storrs, CT  United States  06269-5202

  New England University Transportation Center

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 40-279
  Cambridge, MA  United States  01239

  Department of Transportation

  University Transportation Centers Program, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Ivan, John N
  • Garder, Per E
  • Deng, Zuxuan
  • Zhang, Chen
• Publication Date: 2006-1-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 75p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash causes; Crash rates; Crash severity; Design standards; Fatalities; Frontal crashes; Geometric design; Highway design; Highway safety; Qualitative analysis; Rural highways; Statistical analysis; Surface course irregularities; Time of crashes; Two lane highways; Weather conditions
• Geographic Terms: Connecticut; Maine
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01020188
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Project UCNR15-5
• Contract Numbers: DTRS99-G-0001 (Grant)
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 15 2006 2:48PM