Exploring Spatial Relationship between Roadway Safety and Wet Condition Risk Factors Based on Systemic Safety Analysis Approach
Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 24, Issue 4
Abstract
This study applies spatial analysis to investigate the relationship between crashes, wet road conditions, and physical roadway variables. Wet roadway and flood risk factors are not included in the data-driven systemic safety analysis approach currently used by the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Safety. The presented methodology identifies variables that influence crash frequency under wet road conditions by examining spatial correlations between crash data and factors expected to influence roadway drainage patterns. Predicted variables were examined of the geographical information system software ArcMap, such as surface slope, urban influence, and stream influence (relative location within the floodplain). Analysis results revealed a statistical relationship between the predicted variables and the crash severity level. Specifically, urban influence was identified as the most influential factor (37% correlation) followed by stream influence (10% correlation). This information reveals correlations between variables in the physical environment, which may eventually be used to identify areas of high crash risk in existing roadway infrastructure and thus improve the ability for practitioners to develop proactive safety measures.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the PennDOT for providing the data used as a part of this research. The contents of this paper do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the state of Pennsylvania.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 24 • Issue 4 • December 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 15, 2017
Accepted: May 8, 2018
Published online: Aug 16, 2018
Published in print: Dec 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Jan 16, 2019
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