Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center

 
 
 
 
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Safety Effects of Cross-Section Design on Rural Multilane Highways

Product Type

HSIS Summary Report

Author

Jun Wang, Warren E. Hughes, and Richard Stewart

Date

Jun-97

Abstract

This study examined the effects of various cross-section-related design elements on crash frequency and developed a crash prediction model for rural, multilane, non-freeway highways. According to the Poisson model that was developed, predicted crashes increase as a result of worsening roadside conditions, increasing exposure measures, increasing numbers of driveways per mile, and increasing intersections per mile. Predicted crashes decrease as a result of increasing outside shoulder widths and increasing median widths. The model also shows lower crash frequencies on multilane roads with partial access control compared to roads with no access control. This model can be used for a variety of applications, such as: (1) predicting crashes for different highway design alternatives; (2) estimating crash reductions attributed to changes in cross sections; and (3) assessing the potential safety impacts of upgrading a two-lane rural road to a multilane rural highway. A poisson regression model was used to model the relationship between expected accident frequency and various roadway and traffic variables, The study results establish a quantitative relationship between accident frequency and various cross-section-related roadway design elements on rural, multi-lane, non-freeway highways.

Link To HSIS Summary Report

Safety Effects of Cross-Section Design on Rural Multilane Highways

Keywords

Crash prediction model
Rural multilane highways
Cross section
HSIS


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HSIS Summaries

HSIS Summary Reports are two to eight pages in length and include a brief description of the issue addressed, data used, methodology applied, significant results, and practical implications.

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