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Citation |
Karkle DE, Rys MJ, Russell ER. J. Transp. Saf. Secur. 2013; 5(1): 1-26. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2013, Southeastern Transportation Center, and Beijing Jiaotong University, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
The occurrence of roadway departure crashes is a serious problem in the United States. These types of crashes correspond to approximately 40% of all crashes in the United States, and their estimated annual cost is $100 billion. The objective of this study was to quantify the safety effectiveness of center line rumble strips (CLRS) in Kansas. CLRS are raised or grooved patterns installed on the center of two-lane, undivided, rural highways to prevent mainly cross-over crashes, more specifically head-on and sideswipe in opposite direction types of crashes. In this study, 29 sections of highways with two patterns of CLRS (rectangular and football) were analyzed, totaling more than 590 km. The naïve and the empirical Bayes before-and-after methods were applied and compared. Results showed that following the installation of CLRS, total crashes judged to be correctable by CLRS were reduced by approximately 29%. Correctable crashes involving fatalities and injuries were reduced by approximately 34%. Cross-over crashes were reduced by approximately 67%. Run-off-the-road crashes were reduced by 19%. All comparisons except for run-off-the-road crashes were statistically significant. The two methods applied presented statistically similar results. There was no statistical differences between results from sections with rectangular or football-shaped CLRS. |