Details:

Creators:
Savolainen, Peter T. ; Gates, Timothy J. ; Russo, Brendan J. ; Kay, Jonathan J.
Savolainen, Peter T. ; Gates, Timothy J. ; Russo, Brendan J. ; Kay, Jonathan J. Less -
Corporate Creators:
Wayne State University
Subject/TRT Terms:
[+]
Accident Data Accident Severity Before And After Studies Cables Highway Safety Median Barriers Rollover Accidents
Publication/ Report Number:
RC-1612
Resource Type:
Tech Report
Geographical Coverage:
Michigan
Corporate Publisher:
Michigan. Dept. of Transportation. Office of Research Administration
Abstract:
Median-crossover crashes present the highest risk of fatality and severe injury among all collision types on

freeways. These crashes are caused by

a variety of factors, including drowsiness, driver distraction, impaired

driving, and loss of control. The primary countermeasur

e to reduce the opportunity for such crashes is the

installation of median barriers. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) began installing high-

tension cable median barriers in 2008 and has installed approximately 317 miles of high-tension cable median

barrier on state freeways as of September 2013. Given the capital costs required for this installation program,

as well as the anticipated annual maintenance and repairs costs, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted in

order to ascertain the efficacy of cable barrier systems th

at have been installed to date. Statistical analyses

showed that fatal and incapacitating injury crashes were

reduced by 33 percent after cable barrier installation.

The analysis also showed the median-crossover crash rate

was reduced by 86.8 percent and the rate of rollover

crashes was reduced by 50.4 percent. In contrast, less

severe crashes were found to increase by 155 percent

after cable barrier installation. A detailed analysis of

crashes involving a vehicle striking the cable barrier was

also conducted. The results showed that cable barriers we

re 96.9 percent effective in

preventing penetration in

the event of a cable barrier strike. Weather and road cond

itions were also found to play a role in the frequency

and severity of crashes, as well as cable barrier performance. An economic analysis was conducted to

determine the cost-effectiveness of the cable barrier system, and guidelines were developed to assist in

prioritizing candidate locations for cable barrier installation.


Format:
PDF
Funding:
2010-0298
Collection(s):
US Transportation Collection
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:b5dc342cb352ee7f0c80c8730f2a5dd38670cbfe0ca74d4c561378ac305f6385
Download URL:
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/28338/dot_28338_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• No Additional Files

More +