Citation

Highw. Res. Board bull. 1959; 219: 5-8.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1959, National Research Council (U.S.A.), Highway Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Analysis of extensive motor vehicle traffic and accident records indicate that skidding is an important factor in highway accidents. Skidding was reported as involved in four out of ten rural accidents in virginia in 1957. Records in great britain indicate that one out of four personal injury accidents on wet road surfaces involved skidding -- while on icy surfaces the proportion was four out of five. Nearly one out of four accidents on the pennsylvania turnpike involves failure of the driver to cope with road conditions, particularly skidding. The wet skid factor becomes more serious as speeds increase and the traction coefficient decreases. Driver actions remain a dominent factor in skidding, although improvements affecting skidding are produced through physical developments in roads and control devices, tires, and vehicles. Recommendations are made for improvements in the following: (1) accident reports, (2) studies on status of skid knowledge, (3) skid instruction in driver education courses, (4) training in sensing impending skids, (5) training through induced skids, (6) driver clues, (7) skid zone programs, and (8) skid resistance standards.