The relationship between collisions and skid resistance on the Strategic Road Network

Requirements for data on skid resistance and texture depth are part of the management of road surface on the United Kingdom’s Strategic Road Network (SRN). The requirements were introduced in the 1980s and were last reviewed before the 2004 update to the skid resistance standard (HD28). A fresh review is needed to provide information for new recommendations, because of changes on the SRN, such as the introduction of smart motorways and widespread adoption of new pavement surface materials. Other innovations that make a new review necessary have occurred in the vehicle fleet, such as anti-lock braking systems and electronic stability control systems. This report presents analyses similar to those in TRL 622 (Parry & Viner, 2005) to examine the connections between skid resistance and collision risks. The analyses in this report are restricted to rural roads on the SRN, and makes use of traffic, collision and condition data. Generalized Linear Modeling, a multivariate regression technique, was used to explore the relationship between collisions and an array of variables including skid resistance. The results can be used to indicate the connection between the significant variables and collision numbers, but not to predict the actual number of collisions on a given section. Texture depth appears in all the models for all collisions with the exception of gradients. This property does not appear to be associated only with preventing skidding on wet roads; it may be associated with increased road surface friction in all conditions. Traffic flow is always significant as a variable in the models. The authors make the following recommendation: For bends, gradients and roundabouts the skid resistance has a significant influence on collision risk. Treatments to these sites identified by the current Standard should be prioritized and a cost-effective, sustainable solution through enhanced skid resistance should be pursued.

• Record URL:
  https://trl.co.uk/publications/the-relationship-between-collisions-and-skid-resistance-on-the-strategic-road-network
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9781910377987
• Corporate Authors:

  TRL Limited

  Wokingham, Berkshire  United Kingdom 

  Highways England

  Guildford, Surrey  United Kingdom  GU1 4LZ
• Authors:
  • Wallbank, C
  • Viner, H
  • Smith, L
  • Smith, R
• Publication Date: 2018-2

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Published Project Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 43p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash risk forecasting; Crashes; Highway safety; Multivariate analysis; Regression analysis; Skid resistance; Standards; Surface course (Pavements)
• Identifier Terms: Strategic Road Network (United Kingdom)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01728745
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9781910377987
• Report/Paper Numbers: PPR806
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 28 2020 9:46AM