Citation

Parker MR. Transp. Res. Rec. 1979; 709: 30-38.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The traffic-conflicts technique was used to assess the hazards associated with transporting oversize loads over highways. The approach was based on the assumption that a driver applied brakes in response to a perceived danger when following, passing, or meeting other vehicles. Field tests were conducted to determine whether there are any differences in the hazards involved in moving 3.7-m (12-ft) wide housing units as compared with those of moving 4.3-m (14-ft) wide units. An analysis of the conflicts indicated that there were no major differences; however, the sample size was too small for the results to be accepted with a high degree of confidence. Although the conflicts data indicated that the large sample sizes needed to establish statistically reliable results may not be practical, the technique was useful in determining the types and relative frequencies of hazards associated with the movement of wide loads over a variety of highway systems. As a measure for assessing the hazards of moving wide loads, the conflicts technique provided more detailed information in a short period of time than could have been obtained from a conventional accident analysis.