Effects of freeway climbing lane on crash frequency: Application of propensity scores and potential outcomes

Qinzhong Hou, Xianghai Meng, Xiaoyan Huo, Yuxing Cheng and Junqiang Leng

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2019, vol. 517, issue C, 246-256

Abstract: In this paper, the effects of climbing lane on traffic safety were investigated using propensity scores and potential outcomes. Firstly, a binary logit model was developed to estimate propensity scores, and nearest neighbor matching technique with caliper was selected as the suitable matching method. Then, a random effects negative binominal (RENB) model was estimated to further explore the mechanism of safety benefits of climbing lanes. The results indicated that installing a climbing lane on steep uphill freeway segment can reduce the crash frequency, crashes per kilometer and crashes per 100 million vehicle-kilometers traveled by 18.27%, 19.49% and 17.41%, respectively. The safety effects of traffic volume, longitudinal grade and curvature did not change significantly for a segment before and after installing a climbing lane. However, the adverse effects of heavy truck proportion and distance along composite ascending grade on safety could be considerably mitigated by installing a climbing lane.

Keywords: Climbing lane; Traffic safety; Freeway; Propensity score; Random effects model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:517:y:2019:i:c:p:246-256

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2018.09.117

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