Citation

Hall JW, Burton CJ, Coppage DG, Dickinson LV. Transp. Res. Rec. 1976; 601: 56-58.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1976, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper identifies the nature of single vehicle accidents involving fixed objects along the roadside of non freeway facilities. The concept of roadside hazard combines the severity level characteristics of an obstacle with the likelihood of impact. While the severity of impact at a given speed is more closely related to roadway and obstacle parameters. Analysis of single-vehicle, fixed object (SFVO) accidents indicate that a majority were passenger cars involved in non-intersection related accidents. SFVO accidents were found to occur most frequently on weekends, during hours of darkness, under adverse pavement conditions, during inclement weather, and on horizontal curvature. Field investigations were conducted at 75 percent of the study sections, and photographic logs were used to examine the remaining sites. The following characteristics were identified as common to many of the SFVO accident sites: Narrow highway right-of-way; Curves; Lateral placement; Outdated designs; Treatment of obstacles; and, Combination effects (isolated obstacles placed adjacent to continuous objects in a manner that increases the likelihood that they would be struck). The preliminary work on this research has verified that SFVO accidents on non freeway facilities warrants increased attention.