2014•Transport Research Arena (TRA) 5th Conference: Transport Solutions from Research to DeploymentEuropean CommissionConference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR)European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC)WATERBORNEᵀᴾEuropean Rail Research Advisory Council (ERRAC)Institut Francais des Sciences et Technologies des Transports, de l'Aménagement et des Réseaux (IFSTTAR)Ministère de l'Écologie, du Développement Durable et de l'ÉnergieRequires access
Relationship between road infrastructure characteristics and accidents on highways
Véronique Cerezo, Florence Conche, M. A. Garcia Sanz
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Abstract
This study aims at characterizing the link between accidents on motorways and infrastructure’s characteristics to complete existing knowledge about the impact of road characteristics on accidents occurrence. The study is carried out on the ASF (Autoroutes du Sud de la France) road network by considering more than 1000 km of roads. Accident data including both injury and damage-only accidents were collected between 2003 and 2010. In a first part, the database is checked to see its representativeness in comparison with highways usual characteristics. In a second step, each carriageway is divided into homogeneous sections. Sections with similar characteristics are then grouped in classes. Accident rates are calculated for each class. Statistical analyses allow determining correlation between some parameters describing infrastructure and accidents. Thus, slope superior to 4% represents a high level of risk for road users and that heavy vehicles are deeply involved in accidents in ramps. Statistics show also that left curves are more dangerous than right curves or straight lines. To conclude, the results of this work confirm safety experts’ feelings with objective means and determine dangerous configuration of road infrastructure.