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Title:

Safety Evaluation of Cable Median Barriers in Combination with Rumble Strips on Divided Roads

Accession Number:

01664984

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

The empirical Bayes before–after method was used to evaluate the safety effectiveness of cable median barriers in combination with rumble strips on the inside shoulder of divided roads, using Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri data. In Illinois and Kentucky, cable median barriers were introduced many years after the inside shoulder rumble strips were installed, while in Missouri, the inside shoulder rumble strips and cable barrier were implemented about the same time. Hence, the evaluation in Missouri estimated the combined safety effect of inside shoulder rumble strips and cable barriers, while the analysis in Illinois and Kentucky estimated the effect of cable barriers installed on roads with existing inside shoulder rumble strips. The combined Illinois and Kentucky results indicate approximately a 27% increase in total crashes, a 24% decrease in fatal, incapacitating, non-incapacitating, and possible injury crashes (KABC), a 22% decrease in in fatal, incapacitating, and non-incapacitating injury crashes (KAB), and a 48% decrease in head-on plus opposite-direction sideswipe crashes (used as a proxy for cross-median crashes). The results from Missouri for total and KABC crashes were very similar to the combined Illinois and Kentucky results. However, the reduction in cross-median crashes in Missouri was much more dramatic—showing a 96% reduction (based on cross-median indicator only) and an 88% reduction (based on cross-median indicator plus head-on). An economic analysis showed that this strategy is cost-beneficial. Keywords: cable median barrier, rumble strip, empirical Bayes before–after method, safety effectiveness

Supplemental Notes:

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ANB25 Standing Committee on Highway Safety Performance.

Report/Paper Numbers:

18-03788

Language:

English

Authors:

Lan, Bo
Srinivasan, Raghavan
Carter, Daniel
Persaud, Bhagwant
Eccles, Kimberly

Pagination:

5p

Publication Date:

2018

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 97th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2018-1-7 to 2018-1-11
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

References; Tables

Geographic Terms:

Illinois; Kentucky; Missouri

Subject Areas:

Highways; Safety and Human Factors

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2018 Paper #18-03788

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Jan 8 2018 10:56AM