VEHICLE AND GEOMETRIC VARIABLES RELATED TO ACCIDENTS IN RURAL NO-PASSING ZONES. FINAL REPORT

Previous studies on Michigan highways had identified a high rate of accidents in no-passing zones. This study was conducted to identify geometric features, roadside and vehicle characteristics, associated with these higher accident rates. A representative sample of two-lane, two-way rural roads in Michigan, containing 525 no-passing zones (245 with a high accident rate and 280 with zero accidents in three years) was selected for the study. Geometric and roadside environment information (i.e. shoulder and curve type, number of driveways, roadway obstacles and intersections) were gathered for each of these 525 no-passing zones. Regression analysis and discriminant analysis were used to describe the propensity of a no-passing zone to experience a high accident rate. Discriminant models were developed to predict which no-passing zone will experience "high" and "low" accident rates based on these variables. No evidence was found that the length of no-passing zones or the presence of curve warnig signs, chevrons or advisory speed plates are related to the rate of accidents in no-passing zones. The study also failed to find no-passing zones to be particularly hazardous for vehicles for any specific weight class. Small vehicles experience a higher than expected accident rate on rural roads in general, but this does not appear to be exacerbated in no-passing zones.

• Corporate Authors:

  Michigan State University, East Lansing

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  East Lansing, MI  United States  48824-1226

  Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning

  300 S Washington Square, Suite 300
  Lansing, MI  United States  48913

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Taylor, W C
  • DeLong, M
  • Shams, G
• Publication Date: 1985-11

Media Info

• Pagination: v.p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Environment; Geometric design; High risk locations; Length; No passing zones; Roadside; Rural highways; Vehicle characteristics; Vehicle size; Warning signs
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00457031
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-MI-RD-85-05
• Contract Numbers: 0010 (7)
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:55PM