STUDY TO IDENTIFY HYDROPLANING ACCIDENTS

The objectives of the study were to identify hydroplaning accidents and their locations, to examine road, vehicle and weather conditions associated with hydroplaning, and to try to prevent recurrence of identified hydroplaning accidents. The study had three phases: (1) library research, (2) review of existing accident reports, and (3) compilation of supplementary data through bi-level police reporting. Phases 1 and 2 lead to the design of a supplementary accident report form which was filled out by all police agencies for wet-pavement accidnets on the state trunkline system, and attached to the regualr accident report. Approximately 1,400 bi-level reports were obtained during a six-month period, which comprised only 13 percent of the known total of wet-pavement accidents. An analysis of the reported conditions resulted in a list of frequency of parameters associated with possible hydroplaning. Sixty-eight locations were selected for field investigations to determine if roadway improvements might be warranted. It is concluded that, although impossible of absolute indentification, true hydroplaning accidents on the highways, are rare, and certainly below five percent of wet-pavement accidents. It is recommended that a greater effort be made to educate the public as to the degree of deterioration of tire capabilities on wet pavements under high speeds.

• Corporate Authors:

  Michigan Department of State Highways & Transport

  425 West Ottawa, P.O. Box 30050
  Lansing, MI  United States  48904
• Authors:
  • Enustun, N
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: 48 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Education; Governments; Hydroplaning; Pavements; Tires; Traffic crashes; Wet weather
• Uncontrolled Terms: Wet pavements
• Old TRIS Terms: Public
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00156170
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Report/Paper Numbers: TSD-330-77
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 16 1978 12:00AM