Highlights ► We developed a quantitative safety propensity index for driver behavior. ► Structural equation models were constructed for interrupted and uninterrupted flow conditions. ► Geometric road characteristics and weather related features were linked to crash data. ► Shoulder width, number of lanes, grade, visibility, precipitation, speed and AADT were significant parameters. ► Additional trajectory data will contribute to developing the models estimated in this paper.
Abstract The objective of this paper is to develop a quantitative safety propensity index (SPI) that captures the overall propensity of a given surrounding environment to cause unsafe driving. The study is conducted in two different flow conditions: interrupted and uninterrupted. Using structural modeling techniques, the index can be estimated from observed geometric, weather-related, vehicular, driver-related, and traffic-related characteristics. To illustrate the adopted approach, extensive effort was conducted to “sync” data from different sources including the Virginia Department of Transportation and the FARS/GES crash data libraries. The Virginia Department of Transportation provided traffic data for 10 freeway sections with interrupted flow and 9 highway sections with interrupted flow in the Northern Virginia area, USA. Two different structural equations models were found allowing insights to the safety impact of different surrounding elements/dimensions. The SPI provides (a) a basis for quantifying the effects of the aforementioned characteristics on safety, (b) a basis for comparing the differences between the factors affecting safety in different flow scenarios and (c) ranking the corresponding roadway sections/locations for improved safety performance. The framework and methodology used to develop this index have the potential to support safety policy analysis and decision making.
Interrupted versus uninterrupted flow: A safety propensity index for driver behavior
Accident Analysis and Prevention ; 55 ; 22-33
2013-01-28
12 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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