Citation

Brogan JD, Hall JW. Transp. Res. Rec. 1985; 1047: 10-17.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

his paper contains a description of a process for identifying sections of rural New Mexico Interstate, primary, and secondary highways with significant fixed-object accident experience. Data bases for the analysis are the computerized accident record and roadway inventory systems for the 3-fiscal-year period from 1980 to 1982. The rate quality control method is used as the statistical technique to identify those sections of roadway that are most in need of examination. Accident and inventory information are combined to calculate critical accident rates for sections of roadway on each of the three systems. Calculated critical rates are then compared with the actual rates on each section, and a listing of sections arranged by criticality (the difference between the actual and critical rates) is obtained. This listing is used by New Mexico State Highway Department personnel to prioritize locations for implementing safety improvements. The procedure is applicable to the analysis of other subsets of accidents as well. Data quality is critical for the proper application of the technique; factors other than accident experience, in addition, must be considered in the cost-effective development of accident reduction countermeasures.

Language: en

Keywords

TRAFFIC SURVEYS; HIGHWAY SYSTEMS; TRANSPORTATION - Accidents