THE ENERGY CRISIS, CHARACTERISTICS OF TRAFFIC FLOWS, AND HIGHWAY SAFETY

The impact of changes in traffic flow upon accident frequency and severity as represented by mean speed and standard deviation of speeds was investigated in terms of effects observed during the energy crisis of 1973-1974. Based upon empirically reported results which related accident rate to deviation from mean speed and accident severity to speed at the time of accident, accident rates were predicted as a function of highway types and flow characteristics. These relationships were used to investigate the effect of observed changes in traffic flows upon accident rates for the state of Wisconsin. Apparently as much of the improvement in accident conditions observed stemmed from changes in the standard deviation of the vehicle speeds as from the reduction in mean speed. /Author/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Maxwell House, Fairview Park
  Elmsford, NY  United States  10523
• Authors:
  • Michaels, R
  • Schneider, C
• Publication Date: 1976-12

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 263-270
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Crash severity; Energy resources; Highway safety; Motor vehicles; Speed; Standard deviation; Traffic flow; Traffic speed
• Uncontrolled Terms: Energy crisis
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00148748
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council
• Contract Numbers: NSF GI 38004, DA HC04-73-0032
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 1977 12:00AM