The Economic and Safety Analysis of Lighting Technologies Applied at Indiana Intersections
Abstract
Approximately one-third of all vehicle crashes and half of all traffic fatalities occur at night in the United States. The night-time traffic crash fatality rate is about three times the daytime traffic crash fatality rate and may be worse at unlit or poorly lit critical roadway safety spots, such as interchanges, intersections, and railroad and highway crossings, particularly in adverse weather conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of lighting on crashes that occur at intersections in Indiana. Night-time crash data for Indiana were first analyzed to identify contributing factors. This study then selected intersection sites based on crash frequency and severity. Field tests were conducted before and after crash incidents to verify in-service lighting performance, including illuminance distribution and uniformity ratio. AGi32 simulations were performed for three selected intersections to compare the simulation results with the field test results. Also, surveys were sent to communities in order to identify public perceptions of the lighting improvements. In order to quantify the safety effects of lighting and justify roadway lighting projects at certain types of intersections, crash modification factors (CMFs) were developed adopting two revised methodologies: before-and-after comparison group analysis and cross-sectional statistical analysis. At last, life cycle cost analysis (LCCA), considering initial cost, energy cost, and maintenance and rehabilitation cost, was conducted to determine the most cost effective lighting solution given two real project scenarios.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Jiang, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Economics|Civil engineering|Transportation
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.