Citation

Kockelman KM, Ma J. J. Transp. Res. Forum 2007; 46(1): 43-61.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Transportation Research Forum)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study examines the effect that drivers' choice of speed has on creating crashes. Vehicle speeds (and their variations) were derived from single loop detectors for several Southern California freeways, within and across freeway lanes, and analyzed together with corresponding crash data. The study controlled for roadway design features and weather conditions. Findings showed no evidence in these crash data sets and observations of their corresponding series of 30-second traffic conditions that speeds or their variation trigger crashes. Results did show that higher design speeds resulted in higher speed variation, and that higher within-lane speed variations accompany higher within-lane speeds.