Citation

Vey AH. Highw. Res. Board Proc. 1939; 1939.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1939, National Research Council (U.S.A.), Highway Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The before and after accident experience on the dividing of a four-lane highway in New Jersey by a method of jacking apart the adjacent slabs presents pertinent data that are necessary in evaluating the benefits of divided highway construction. The years of 1933 and 1934 are compared to 1937 and 1938 for the 10.64 miles of this section. There was a decrease in fatal accidents of 83.3 percent, a decrease of 48.5 percent in non-fatal injuries and a 17.6 percent decrease in property damage accidents. The total reduction in accidents of all kinds was 40.4 percent. Comparing these reductions to state-wide data for the same period, it is found that there was an increase of 6.7 percent in total accidents, a decrease of 21.4 percent in fatal accidents, and a 5.3 percent decrease in non-fatal injury accidents. These changes occurred while the total traffic in the state was increasing 44 percent as measured by the total gasoline consumption. Further breakdowns of the data indicate that there was little change in total accidents at intersections, but a considerable reduction between intersections. It would seem that a wider dividing island would be a better accident preventive at intersections. The reduction of accidents was greater for the night than for the day, being 47.2 percent at night and 31.4 percent in the day. The cost of this reconstruction was about $50,000 per mile. By applying National Safety Council figures to the reduction in accidents, it is found that savings in accident costs will pay for this conversion in slightly over 3 years.