MINNESOTA ROADSIDE SURVEY PROGRESS REPORT ON ACCIDENT ACCESS POINT AND ADVERTISING SIGN STUDY IN MINNESOTA

An analysis was conducted of accidents, their location and causes in relation to geometric design features to determine whether there was any direct relationship between accident frequency and accident type and the several elements of roadway and roadside design. The study is now about 80% complete. A fairly definite pattern of relationship appears evident between frequency of access points and accident occurrence, it is felt that the relationship of advertising signs to accident occurrence should be investigated. The Evergreen Memorial Highway has a distance of some 45 miles with no billboards or advertising signs. An origin-destination survey conducted on this stretch of road showed that motorists expressed a feeling of fatigue and unease after having driven the 45 mile section. The road is of modern alignment with adequate right-of-way, some grades and some horizontal curvature, but almost without sight restrictions over its entire length. The accident experience on this route has been good although several rather severe accidents have occurred which have been attributed to excessive speed.