Examining Driver Risk Factors in Road Departure Conflicts Using SHRP2 Data

Date of Award

2018

Degree Name

M.S. in Civil Engineering

Department

Department of Civil Engineering

Advisor/Chair

Advisor: Deogratias Eustace

Abstract

When a vehicle leaves the roadway, the likelihood of a roadway departure (RwD) crash can be deadly. Roadway departure conflicts usually involve a single vehicle, which occurs after a vehicle crosses an edge line, a centerline, or otherwise leaves the designated traveled way and collide with another vehicle or with a fixed object or overturns, etc. This study investigates the nature of the interrelations between roadway, vehicle, and driver (characteristics and behavior) risk factors in roadway departure conflicts. The purpose of this thesis study was to examine which factors increase the risk of roadway departure conflict and increase the likelihood becoming a roadway departure crash, using the Second Strategic Highway Research program (SHRP2) data. SHRP2 include Naturalistic Driving Study (NDS) and Roadway Information Database (RID), which were collected from six different states in 2010-2012. Stepwise logistic and generalized linear regression models were estimated to provide insights as to those factors that have association with roadway departure conflicts and more importantly to those that are more likely to lead the conflict into crashes.The results revealed that drivers pre-incident maneuvers, judgment maneuvers, secondary tasks (distracted drivers), road alignment (curves) were significant factors. Driver education, average mileage driven per years were also significant factors. However, driver gender and age were non-significant risk factor of roadway departure conflicts in the current study.

Keywords

Civil Engineering, SHRP2, Roadway Departure Conflicts, Risk Factor, Driver Behavior, RID, NDS

Rights Statement

Copyright © 2018, author

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