Accidents at Median Crossovers

Abstract

THE PURPOSE WAS TO EXAMINE THE NECESSITY FOR AND THE VALUE OF MEDIAN CROSSOVERS ON LIMITED-ACCESS FACILITIES. AN ACCIDENT ANALYSIS PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE FREQUENCY AND NATURE OF ACCIDENTS AT MEDIAN CROSSOVERS. THE TYPE OF AND NECESSITY FOR CROSSOVER USAGE BY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL WAS DETERMINED FROM INTERVIEWS WITH HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE ENGINEERS AND QUESTIONNAIRES COMPLETED BY STATE POLICE WHO PATROL LIMITED-ACCESS FACILITIES. IT WAS FOUND THAT CROSSOVERS DO CAUSE FREQUENT ACCIDENTS IN SOME LOCATIONS, THUS NEGATING THE POSITIVE BENEFITS OF HAVING CROSSOVERS. UNDERSIRABLE LOCATIONS FOR CROSSOVERS INCLUDE URBAN AREAS, INTERCHANGE AREAS, AND ANY LOCATION WHERE USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS LIKELY. APPLYING MORE STRINGENT CONTROLS TO THE LOCATION AND USE OF MEDIAN CROSSOVERS THAN NOW EMPLOYED MAY RESULT IN A 5 PERCENT REDUCTION IN ACCIDENTS ON LIMITED-ACCESS FACILITIES. /AUTHOR/