Rural Highway Median Treatments

The objective of this study was to examine the safety records of different rural and suburban highway (other than fully-controlled access roadways) cross-section alternatives in Arkansas. This study attempted to assess the safety effects of the lack of or inclusion of various median types. Various databases were examined to identify those roadway segments having four or more lanes and posted speeds of 40 mph or above. When entering an urban area, the segments were normally terminated when the first traffic signal or stop sign was encountered. Crash data from three years were used. The analyses produced a number of relationships relating crash frequency to median, shoulder, volume, and access frequency attributes. Crash severity and crash type were also examined. The roadways with depressed medians and shoulders had the lowest crash rates, while the roadways with no median (i.e., painted line) and no shoulder had the worst safety record.