01518576

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2455-09

Pavement condition has been known as a key factor related to ride quality, but it is less clear how pavement condition is related to traffic crashes. The researchers used a geographic information system to link data from the Texas Department of Transportation crash record information system and the pavement management information system. Linking the data provided an opportunity to examine in depth the impact of pavement conditions on traffic crashes. This study analyzed the correlation between four key pavement condition scores and crash rates on a large number of crashes on Texas asphalt nonfreeway roadways between 2008 and 2009. The results overwhelmingly suggest that very good pavement conditions coincide with much lower crash rates compared with very poor conditions. The findings of this study provide insights into how pavement conditions might affect crash rates on different types of roadways. The study also provides critical knowledge that may lead to improvements in safety-oriented pavement design. Because of funding shortages, many state roadways suffer severe pavement deterioration, which may result in increased crash rates, as this study suggests. The findings of this study serve as scientific justification for more adequate maintenance of roadways to avoid further safety deterioration. The researchers recommend that state highway agencies maintain fair or good pavement conditions, at a minimum, on all major state highways. When possible, very good pavement conditions should be maintained to reduce crashes.

01555808

14-5373

English

pp 77–88

2014

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309295482

Print

Figures (5) ; References (10) ; Tables (6)

Asphalt pavements; Correlation analysis; Crash rates; Highway factors in crashes; Pavement distress; Surface course irregularities; Traffic crashes

Texas

Highways; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 27 2014 3:53PM

• Aggregating and Modeling Automated Pavement Condition Survey Data for Flexible Pavements for Use in Pavement Management
• Calibration and Validation of Condition Indicator for Managing Urban Pavement Networks
• Considering Safety Impacts of Skid Resistance in Decision-Making Processes for Pavement Management
• Estimating Vehicle Operating Costs Caused by Pavement Surface Conditions
• Florida’s Return on Investment from Pavement Research and Development
• Investigating Consistency in Highway Performance Monitoring System and Pavement Management Reporting
• Probabilistic Life-Cycle Assessment as Network-Level Evaluation Tool for Use and Maintenance Phases of Pavements
• Use of Finite Element Analysis and Fatigue Failure Model to Estimate Costs of Pavement Damage Caused by Heavy Vehicles
• Use of System Dynamics to Understand Long-Term Impact of Climate Change on Pavement Performance and Maintenance Cost