Highlights Geometric features of 137 miles of traffic barriers were collected on non-interstate highways in Wyoming. The safety performance of traffic barriers was analyzed in terms of crash frequency, and crash severity. Box beam barriers with a height of 27–29 inches were more likely to be associated with lower severity in crashes compared to other traffic barrier types. Both W-beam and box beam barriers with a post-spacing between 6.1 and 6.3 reduced the probability of fatalities and severe injuries in crashes. In terms of crash frequency, flare traffic barriers decreased the possibility of crashes compared to parallel traffic barriers.

    Abstract Introduction: The main objective of this research is to investigate the effect of traffic barrier geometric characteristics on crashes that occurred on non-interstate roads. Method: For this purpose, height, side-slope rate, post-spacing, and lateral offset of about 137 miles of traffic barriers were collected on non-interstate (state, federal aid primary, federal aid secondary, and federal aid urban) highways in Wyoming. In addition, crash reports recorded between 2008 and 2017 were added to the traffic barrier dataset. The safety performance of traffic barriers with regards to their geometric features was analyzed in terms of crash frequency and crash severity using random-parameters negative binomial, and random-parameters ordered logit models, respectively. Results: From the results, box beam barriers with a height of 27–29 inches were less likely to be associated with injury and fatal injury crashes compared to other barrier types. On the other hand, the likelihood of a severe injury crash was found to be higher for box beam barriers with a height taller than 31 inches. Both W-beam and box beam barriers with a post-spacing between 6.1 and 6.3 inches reduced the probability of severe injury crashes. In terms of the crash frequency, flare traffic barriers had a lower crash frequency compared to parallel traffic barriers. Non-interstate roads without longitudinal rumble strips were associated with a higher rate of traffic barrier crashes.


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    Title :

    The impact of traffic barrier geometric features on crash frequency and injury severity of non-interstate highways


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2020-09-10


    Size :

    11 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English