Citation

Abramson P. Transp. Res. Rec. 1974; 486: 33-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1974, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This analysis of accidents is motivated by a need to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of traffic controls at intersections and thereby develop new traffic control warrants. The purpose of this paper is to obtain a quantitative means of comparing accident histories at intersections. An attempt is made to recognize the fact that accident frequency alone is not adequate and can be misleading in making this comparative judgment; hence, the severity and type of accident are incorporated in this analysis. Based on cost figures gathered from several published studies, accident severity weightings are obtained. An accident evaluation index and accident evaluation factors are then computed by using percentage distribution of accidents by type, that is pedestrian, right-angle, rear-end, left-turn, and all others. The accident evaluation factors are multipliers that, when applied to an accident history profile for an intersection, yield a single figure of merit.