Prepared by:

Alireza Hadayeghi, M.A.Sc, Ph.D. (Candidate) Manager, Transportation Safety Systems, Synectics Transportation Consultants Inc.

Brian Malone, P.Eng., PTOE, President, Synectics Transportation Consultants

Greg Szrejber, B. Eng., Jeffrey Reid, B.A., C.E.T.

Abstract

Identifying sites with potential for safety improvements, network screening, is the initial step that is usually taken by many transportation agencies in their safety management programs. However, identifying and conducting detailed engineering studies of candidate improvement sites is very expensive and time consuming. Since the funds for safety improvements are limited, it is important to spend the resources as effectively as possible. The purpose of network screening is to review the entire roadway network under the jurisdiction of a particular agency and identify and prioritize those sites that have promise as sites for potential safety improvements.

The objective of this paper is to detail the development of an automated ranking tool using Traffic Engineering Software (TES) for identifying and prioritizing problem intersections and road segments for the Region Municipality of Halton, Canada. The proposed approach uses the Empirical Bayes method and collision prediction models for estimating the potential safety improvement can be achieved for each intersection and roadway segment. The generalized estimating equations technique with the assumption of negative binomial error distribution was used for development of the collision prediction models.

For a complete copy of this paper, please contact: jsuggett@synectics-inc.net