Browsing by Subject "Traffic safety"
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Application of Microscopic Simulation to Evaluate the Safety Performance of Freeway Weaving Sections(2011-02-22) Le, Thanh QuangThis study adopted the traffic conflict technique, investigated and applied it for evaluation of freeway weaving section safety performance. Conflicts between vehicles were identified based on the state of interactions between vehicles in the traffic stream at microscopic level. The VISSIM microscopic simulation model was employed to simulate traffic operation. Surrogate safety measures were formulated based on deceleration rate required to avoid crash and these simulation-based measures were statistically compared and validated using crash data collected from the same study site. Three study sites located in Houston and Dallas areas were selected. Geometric and traffic data were collected using various technique including the use of traffic surveillance cameras and pneumatic tubes. The study revealed the existence of links between actually observed crashes and the surrogate safety measures. The study findings support the possible the use of microscopic simulation to evaluate safety performance of weaving areas and other transportation facilities.Item Built Environmental Correlates of Traffic Collisions(2014-07-01) Yu, Chia-YuanTraffic safety has become an important concern in recent years. Built environmental characteristics have been identified as a critical factor in affecting traffic safety. However, several research gaps remain in the understanding of the built environment?traffic safety relationship. This dissertation explored the complex associations between built environmental characteristics and traffic safety on neighborhood and school scales in the city of Austin, TX. In Aim 1-1, the author examined local relationships between built environmental attributes and crashes with different levels of injury severity in census block groups in Austin, TX. The results showed that traffic volume, highways/freeways, arterial roads, and commercial uses had consistently positive impacts on total, fatal, serious, minor, and no injury crashes. Some built environmental factors (e.g., highway/freeway, arterial road, and commercial use) had a stronger effect in some areas but were weaker predictors in other places. In Aim 1-2, this study explored the disparity issue in crashes with different levels of injury severity across neighborhoods with different economic statuses and ethnic compositions in Austin, TX. The findings indicated that some built environmental variables (e.g., arterial road, office land use, and school) only showed significant impacts on traffic safety in areas with high percentages of non-white population and population below the poverty line but not in low-percentage areas. Aim 2 used two-level binomial logistic models to investigate the influence of built environments on crashes involving elementary school?aged children during school travel time in 78 elementary schools in the Austin Independent School District (AISD), TX. The results showed that roads with higher posted speed limits, highways/freeways and arterials, higher percentages of commercial, office, and industrial land uses around street segments significantly increased the probability of crashes. In conclusion, it is necessary to develop tailored policies with regard to the characteristics of each area. Moreover, policies related to arterial roads, office uses, and schools may not equally promote traffic safety in areas with different economic statuses and ethnic compositions. For the school travel safety, planners should design a complementary network of low-speed roads in the vicinity of school areas, and arrange roads with residential uses around school area.Item Children’s traffic park design in USA to promote children’s traffic safety education(2004-12) Hong, Jung-Sun, 1976-; Beamish, Anne, 1954-Many transportation proposals aim to enhance child traffic safety, and they suggest environmental interventions, law enforcements, and educational methods as the solutions. However, educational approach has not been focusing on practices. When we consider children’s perceptual immature, hand-on education should be more efficient than verbal education. Thus, through an examination of typical child motor vehicle-related crash types in Austin and recent interviews, this Professional Report proposes a Children’s Traffic Park as a practical educational method that delivers traffic rules and influences children’s attitudes and behaviours to traffic.Item Evaluation of the effectiveness of rumble strip construction in the travel lane(Texas Tech University, 1995-05) Sutton, Carrie A.This study was done for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to assess design standards and guidelines for the use of mmble strips in the travel lane. Rumble strips are raised or depressed patterns used to provide auditory or tactile sensations to the driver to call attention to an upcoming change or hazard in the roadway. Rumble strips are used for shoulder treatment and in-lane treatment. Research in rumble strips and their use and effectiveness is documented as far back as the 1940s with the "singing shoulders" and the early 1950s with mmble strips in the travel lane in use in several different states. Reasons cited for using mmble strips include warning drivers of the need to stop, slow down, change lanes, warning of changes in roadway alignment, warning that they are leaving or have left the traveled way, and to warn of other potentially unexpected situations. Rumble strips on the roadway are therefore used on approaches to intersections, toll plazas, horizontal curves, mainline lane drops, work zones, and in lanes to be closed. Specific concerns generated in relationship to the use of mmble strips include noise created by the installations, motorist use of opposing lanes to avoid rumble strips, maintenance problems, motorist concerns, bicyclist concerns, and motorcyclist concerns.