INTERSTATE ACROSS MEDIAN ACCIDENT STUDY: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OFTRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING ERRANT VEHICLES WHICH CROSS THE MEDIAN DIVIDER STRIPS ON NORTH CAROLINA INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS

The Traffic Engineering Branch conducted a study of accidents on the North Carolina Interstate Highway System in which a vehicle crossed the median and entered the opposing traffic lane. These accidents are referred to in this study as median accidents. The study analyzed accidents that occurred during the time period April 1, 1988 through October 31, 1991. The objectives of this study were to: (a) use available accident history to identify interstate locations that had an unusually high number of across median accidents; (b) determine what safety improvements can be made; (c) develop a priority listing of these locations with recommended improvements which are justified and based on sound analytical procedures and engineering practices; and (d) use the information collected to develop a model that will aid in identificfation of potentially dangerous locations on North Carolina Interstate based on relevant variables such as median width, traffic volume, and other geometric and operational characteristics.