Keywords

Traffic Safety, Variable Speed Limit (VSL), Lane Flows, Crash Prediction

Abstract

This thesis focuses on evaluating the appropriate speed at which vehicles should travel under different traffic conditions on freeways and its impact on crash frequency. The common belief is that the lower speed results in fewer crashes as reduced speed provides drivers with more time to react effectively and avoid collisions. However, this perspective overlooks the interplay among traffic speed, average spacing between consecutive vehicles, and the distance available for stopping a vehicle. Hence, we propose a safety parameter termed ‘Safety Correlate' (SCORE), which is defined as the proportion of average spacing relative to the stopping distance. To determine the relationship between SCORE and crash frequency, data from 366 4-lane urban freeway segments located in Virginia was analyzed and a Random-effects Poisson Lognormal model was developed. The obtained result indicated that the safety parameter SCORE is negatively associated with the annual hourly crash frequency, implying that the lesser the average spacing as a proportion of the stopping distance while traffic flow remains constant, the more frequent will be the crashes. Additionally, this research presents an application of SCORE in setting variable speed limits under various traffic flows. Overall, the study results provide valuable insights by investigating SCORE to improve traffic safety. Also, this research would help practitioners and policymakers to incorporate safety aspects while setting variable speed limits on freeways.

Completion Date

2023

Semester

Fall

Committee Chair

Abdel-Aty, Mohamed

Degree

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (M.S.C.E.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering

Degree Program

Civil Engineering; Smart Cities Track

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

DP0028039

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0028039

Language

English

Release Date

December 2023

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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