The New Zealand skid resistance policy and crash rate and skid resistance trending for the different site categories

The NZ Transport Agency and previously Transit NZ have implemented a skid resistance policy for state highways. This policy aims to improve the safety of road users by equalizing, across the state highway network, the risk of having a skidding crash in the wet. Various studies have been carried out to determine the effectiveness of the skid policy in terms of crash reductions compared to costs and it has been found that the skid policy has a very good benefit:cost ratio (e.g. Cook et al., 2011). This paper focuses on the effect the skid resistance policy has had over the period 2003-2012 in reducing wet crash rates and numbers by providing skid resistant road surfaces. The study for this paper therefore involved investigating the changes in crash rates and numbers over this 10-year time period for the various skid site categories for each of the 24 Highway Network Management Areas together with network skid resistance levels. Differences in wet crash rates and skid resistance levels between Network Management Areas were identified, highlighting the need to better promote skid resistance management practices within the roading industry. The opportunity was also taken to update existing comparisons of state highway crash rates with territorial local authority crash rates to the end of 2012. This showed crash rates to be decreasing, but more so for state highways where a sound skid resistance policy is in effect.

• Record URL:
  http://saferroadsconference.com/conference-papers-2014/
• Authors:
  • Owen, M
  • Donbavand, J
  • Cenek, P
  • Henderson, R
• Conference:
  • International Safer Roads Conference, 4th, 2014, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
• Publication Date: 2014-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 26p
• Monograph Title: Safer Roads 2014: 4th International Safer Roads Conference: 18-21 May 2014, Cheltenham, United Kingdom [papers]

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash analysis; Crash rates; Highway design; Skid resistance; Standardization
• Uncontrolled Terms: Road design and asset management; Safe systems (roads)
• Geographic Terms: New Zealand
• ATRI Terms: Crash analysis; Crash rate; Road design; Skidding resistance; Standardization
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01540209
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 14 2014 10:40AM