Effect of Road Pavement Types and Ages on Traffic Accident Risks

Abstract

Abstract This study aims to reveal the relationship between the age of road pavement and traffic accident risks through empirical analysis. The current pavement maintenance is planned based on the road surface survey that measures the physical damage on the pavement surface. The indices for the physical damage on road surface are good representation for the structural healthiness and the driving comfort, but they do not measure the traffic safety levels of the pavement. This limitation hinders planning the pavement management scheme ideal in achieving safer driving environment. This study empirically analyses the relationships between the pavement conditions and accident risks. The pavement conditions are represented by the pavement age – the years since construction or last repair of the pavement. The accident frequency is modelled based on the Poisson regression analysis. The model estimation results show that the age of road pavement has a positive effect on the accident risk, and that the age affects differently in difference pavement types. The results also show that the accident risk is different if the pavement types are different.