Analysis of FARS data on state highways in Oklahoma.

Details

• Creators:
  Comer, Jonathan C. ; Bombom, Leonard S. ; Rose, Nicholas J.
• Corporate Creators:
  Oklahoma State University. Dept. of Geography
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Highways
  • Traffic accidents
  • Fatalities
  • Accident data
  • Rural areas
  • Poisson distributions
  • Geometric segments
  • Accident causes
  • Highway design
• Publication/ Report Number:
  OTCREOS11.1-12-F
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Oklahoma
• Corporate Publisher:
  Oklahoma Transportation Center
• Abstract:
  Analysis of fatality automobile accident data can be challenging in rural areas where a relatively small number of ; such accidents occurs on specific sections of highways. Combining crash data for 1998 to 2011 from the Fatality ; Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and highway networks and design specifications from the Oklahoma ; Department of Transportation (ODOT), this project employs Poisson regression analysis to determine what ; roadway characteristics (e.g., grade, geometry, and design) are most associated with fatal crashes on ; predominantly rural segments of highways in Oklahoma. ; A state-wide model found that median width and type, terrain type, surface type and thickness, grade, and outside ; shoulder width were all significant predictors of fatality crashes. Vertical grade was the most significant variable in ; the state model, with uphill grades contributing to significantly more fatal crashes while flat roads modestly reduce ; the risk. Terrain type was also very significant, both flat and rolling terrain categories having higher contributions to ; fatality crash rates than baseline levels in residential areas. Outside shoulder width significantly negatively ; correlated with fatalities, as wider shoulders mean more room for drivers to recover or at least shed speed. ; Median width was also significant with the expected negative sign as wider medians result in fewer fatalities. ; Surprisingly, median type was only moderately significant, though as expected most other median types did ; contribute to higher crash rates compared to cable barriers. ; The results provide information about what combinations of highway design traits have contributed most to past ; crashes and therefore can identify potentially dangerous road segments system-wide. This information will help ; transportation engineers evaluate current construction practice and seek ways to address design issues that are ; shown to contribute significantly to serious crashes.
  More +
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DTRT06-G-0016
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/27074/dot_27074_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.62 MB]
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers ; US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:56c47e8ee19faafbedd68d039bf0f61e82106d70b77a818f53aaed76561758bf