Evaluation of High Traffic Crash Corridors

The objectives of this study were to: a) determine a procedure to use to identify corridors in each highway district for which a detailed analysis of crash data should be conducted (with resulting increased law enforcement activities, education programs and engineering improvement s); b) develop a procedure to use to analyze the crash data and recommend countermeasures; and c) conduct a case study analysis for one selected corridor. A method which could be used to select high crash corridors, by highway district, was developed. The procedure involved: obtaining a list of rout es in each district which traveled through more than one county; determining various attributes for each route (such as length, number of crashes, traffic volume); calculating a relative value for each attribute; and developing a ranking method to select a route for each district. After a specific corridor is selected in a highway district, the crashes should be analyzed based on both a corridor basis and a review of high crash locations. The corridor analysis involves comparing the characteristics of the crashes on the corridor with statewide data. The high crash analysis involves identifying 0.1 and 0.3-mile spots and 1-mile sections having a critical number and rate of crashes and inspecting these locations. Countermeasures would then be recommended to address the problem areas identified on the corridor.