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Title:

Examining Trends in Traffic Crashes as They Relate to the Display of Safety Messages on Dynamic Message Signs

Accession Number:

01764403

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

Transportation agencies have increasingly been using dynamic message signs (DMSs) to communicate safety messages in an effort to both increase awareness of important safety issues and to impact driver behavior. Despite their widespread use, evaluations as to potential impacts on driver behavior, and the resultant impacts on traffic crashes, have been very limited. This study addresses this gap in the extant literature and assesses the relationship between traffic crashes and the frequency with which various types of safety messages are displayed. Safety message data were collected from a total of 202 DMSs across the state of Michigan between 2014 and 2018. These data were integrated with traffic volume, roadway geometry, and crash data for segments that were located downstream, as well as at several locations upstream of each DMS. A series of negative binomial models were estimated to examine total, speeding-related, and nighttime crashes based upon historical messaging data while controlling for other site-specific factors. However, the results of this evaluation did not show any meaningful differences in safety performance based on message delivery. While crashes declined marginally when higher frequency messaging was utilized, none of these differences were statistically significant. These findings are in contrast to stated preference surveys, which suggest drivers would be more likely to adapt their behavior to such messaging strategies. Important issues are also highlighted with respect to methodological concerns that arise in the analysis of such data. Field research is warranted to investigate potential impacts on driving behavior at the level of individual drivers.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ACS20 Standing Committee on Safety Performance Analysis.

Report/Paper Numbers:

TRBAM-21-02355

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

Authors:

Megat-Johari, Megat-Usamah
Megat-Johari, Nusayba
Savolainen, Peter T
Gates, Timothy J
Kassens-Noor, Eva

Pagination:

18p

Publication Date:

2021

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2021-1-5 to 2021-1-29
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board; Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

Figures; Photos; References; Tables

Geographic Terms:

Michigan

Subject Areas:

Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2021 Paper #TRBAM-21-02355

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Dec 23 2020 11:25AM