IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDOUS RURAL HIGHWAY LOCATIONS

Abstract

An effective procedure was developed for identifying hazardous rural highway locations based on accident statistics. Indicators of accident experience that are necessary include the number of fatal accidents, total number of accidents, number of equivalent-property-damage- only accidents, and the nature of the local safety improvement program, local traffic and roadway conditions, and prevailing attitudes toward highway safety. Specific recommendations are given for use of the procedure in Kentucky. Critical accident rates are established by using quality control procedures. In identification of hazardous highway locations, distinction is made between short highway segments (spots) and large segments (sections), and spots are further classified as intersection and nonintersection locations. Intersection spots should include a distance of 0.15 mile (0.24KM) along all approaches; nonintersection spots should be 0.3-mile (0.48-km) floating segments; and sections should be 3-mile (4.8-km) floating segments. Both spots and sections should be classified by highway type and location. The use of 1- and 2-year intervals for accumulating and evaluating accident statistics was found to be desirable.