Exploration of Weather Impacts on Freeway Traffic Operations and Safety Using High-Resolution Weather Data.

摘要

Adverse weather is considered as one of the important factors contributing to injuries and severe crashes. During rainy conditions, it can reduce travel visibility, increase stopping distance, and create the opportunity hydroplaning. This study quantified the relative crash risk on Oregon 217 southbound direction under rainy conditions by using a match-paired approach, applied one-year traffic data, crash data and NEXRAD Level II radar weather data. There are 26 crashes occurred in match-paired weather conditions for Oregon 217 in year 2007. The results of this study indicate that a higher crash risk and a higher property-damage-only crash risk occurred during rainy days. The crash risk level varies by the location of the highway, at milepost 2.55 station SW Allen Blvd has the highest driving risks under rainy conditions.