Citation

Runkle SN, Mahone DC. Transp. Res. Rec. 1977; 633: 28-34.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The selection of appropriate minimum skid number (SN) values for wet pavements remains a major issue in skid-resistance research. The purpose of the research presented in this paper was to critique several reported accident and driver behaviour studies related to skid resistance in an attempt to determine the most reasonable tentative guidelines for use in Virginia. The review confirmed our belief that required SN sub 40 values vary with roadway and traffic conditions and that much work remains to be done regarding the determination of required SN sub 40 values for specific roadway and traffic characteristics. For these reasons we concluded that accident data should continue to be the primary basis in Virginia for identifying wet-pavement sites that have high accident rates. However, general SN sub 40 guidelines were selected for the purpose of determining potentially hazardous wet-pavement accident sites, that is, sites with SN sub 40 values below the guideline values. Sites selected in this manner will be included in the normal site review process of the program to reduce wet-pavement accidents and may or may not be treated, depending on the results of the review process. The tentative SN sub 40 guidelines selected and stated in terms of Virginia's survey of locked-wheel-trailer values are 30 for Interstate and other divided highways and 40 for two-lane highways.