What factors actually affect crash severity and how can road safety programs be better targeted?

The aim of this study was to develop a methodology that would better focus scarce road safety resources to fix those areas of the road network that have the greatest number of fatal and serious injury crashes. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is used to prioritise black spot projects with the economic benefit of a remedial treatment being the difference between predicted costs of crashes with and without the proposed treatment. This was found to have practical implications for improving the prioritisation of road safety crash reduction programs. Categories of crashes were identified, based on differences in average severity and their relevance to possible treatments. The analysis demonstrates the higher priority of projects that address more severe crashes when crash values are determined using: 1. RUM codes rather than DCA codes to include run-off-road on bend crash type codes that indicate the side of the road which the vehicle went off; 2. three speed limit groups rather than two; 3. darkness as against daylight; 4. the area of the State where the crashes are located; 5. whether the crash happened at an intersection or on a freeway/motorway; 6. different types of safety barrier; 7. size of curve radius. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E217612.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1876346566
• Authors:
  • LEVETT, S
  • SAFFRON, D
  • TANG, J
  • JOB, S
• Publication Date: 2008-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 10P
• Serial:
  • AUSTRALASIAN ROAD SAFETY RESEARCH POLICING EDUCATION CONFERENCE, 2008, ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA
  • Publisher: South Australia Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Conferences; Costs; Crash severity; Crashes; High risk locations; Safety
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 1663: Accident black spot; 8525: Conference; 224: Cost; 226: Cost benefit analysis; 1665: Safety; 1623: Severity (accid, injury)
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01143850
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 1876346566
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 16 2009 12:08PM