Abstract
Entry and exit areas are considered critical parts of freeways and expressways. In order to meet traffic safety and operation requirements, it is important that ramps and speed-change lanes have the appropriate design so that vehicles may complete sequential maneuvers. However, literature on risks associated with these freeway elements is limited and has often demonstrated contradictory results. The present research meta-analyzes the effects of ramp and speed-change lane characteristics on crash outcomes. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted on the effect of ramp length on crash severity, and a nonsignificant overall effect is observed. Similarly, random-effects meta-analyses regarding deceleration lane length suggested a nonsignificant effect on road safety (both on frequency and severity) at a 95% level of confidence. There is no indication of strong publication bias in any of the meta-analyses performed. Overall, the results suggest that, although several individual studies reported significant effects of these design elements on road safety, there is a need for further research, especially in a broader geographical context because of heterogeneous results.
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Acknowledgments
This paper is based on work carried out within the SafetyCube research project of the Horizons 2020 program of the European Commission—INEA (Grant No. 633485). The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the INEA nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. The authors would like to thank all the partners involved in the “Infrastructure” work package of the SafetyCube project for their valuable comments on earlier drafts of this research.
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Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering, Part A: Systems
Volume 143 • Issue 10 • October 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 13, 2016
Accepted: May 5, 2017
Published online: Aug 1, 2017
Published in print: Oct 1, 2017
Discussion open until: Jan 1, 2018
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