01044815

Component

High-crash locations are investigated by a team of safety specialists who attempt to identify roadway and traffic control countermeasures with the ultimate goal of reducing the risk of crash. The most difficult part of site investigation is determining the probable causes of the high risk. Due to the lack of suitable tools, investigative teams have to rely on their experience and judgment. Under the high uncertainty and complexity of the task, one of the tempting alternatives is limiting the investigation to roadway deficiencies understood as a diversion from design standards. The objective of this paper is to present a prototype knowledge-based system that supports investigation of high-crash locations. The presented prototype is applicable to a two-way stop-controlled intersection. It can be of a particular interest to local highway agencies that deal mainly with this type of control at high-crash locations. The Road Site Investigation Tool (RSIT) was developed in three phases. In the first phase, available sources of information about safety and countermeasures at two-way stop-controlled intersections were identified. In the second phase, the relevant knowledge was extracted and combined in a tree-like knowledge base. In the last phase, a graphic user interface was developed to facilitate forward chaining applied to determine suitable safety countermeasures during site investigation. The developed tool was evaluated in the field. Inexperienced site investigators used the RSIT and worked independently from each other and obtained similar solutions. Their solutions agree well with the solutions found by the team of site investigation experts who used traditional checklists. Surprisingly, some of the inexperienced investigators pointed out relevant improvements that were overlooked by the experts. On average, the time needed for a RSIT-supported site investigation was shorter than for the checklist-supported investigation.

01042056

07-1545

English

24p

2007

Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting

CD-ROM

Figures (6) ; References (18) ; Tables (3)

Countermeasures; Crash risk forecasting; Decision support systems; High risk locations; Highway design; Highway safety; On the scene crash investigation; Safety engineering; Stop signs

Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I80: Accident Studies

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2007 Paper #07-1545

BTRIS, TRIS, TRB

Feb 8 2007 6:10PM