Rainfall impacts on traffic safety: rain-related fatal crashes in Texas

This study uses fatal crash data and geospatial analysis to examine the temporal and spatial distribution of rain-related fatal crashes in Texas from 1982 to 2011. The data were obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Terrance L. Jackson, Hatim O. Sharif
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2016-03-01
Series:Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2014.984246
_version_ 1818498340818518016
author Terrance L. Jackson
Hatim O. Sharif
author_facet Terrance L. Jackson
Hatim O. Sharif
author_sort Terrance L. Jackson
collection DOAJ
description This study uses fatal crash data and geospatial analysis to examine the temporal and spatial distribution of rain-related fatal crashes in Texas from 1982 to 2011. The data were obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Getis–Ord Gi*(di) statistic was used to identify spatial clustering patterns of rain-related fatal crashes and their correlation with rainfall and compare them to spatial patterns of other crashes. The spatial statistical analysis reveals spatial patterns for rain-related crashes that are clustered in different areas at different levels of confidence. The temporal variability of raw and normalized fatal crashes and rain-related crashes was also investigated at the state level. Although the population of Texas increased by more than 67% over the study period, with a corresponding increase in the number of vehicles, the fatal crashes and rain-related crashes in Texas did not increase but decreased instead. Results suggest that rain is a contributor to crashes in few counties but at less than 95% confidence in some of the wetter counties. These counties should be the focus of further research and detailed analysis to identify underlying crash contributing factors such that safety countermeasures can be developed.
first_indexed 2024-12-10T18:57:31Z
format Article
id doaj.art-711fb2df3b56479a800dafeef9241ad8
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1947-5705
1947-5713
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-10T18:57:31Z
publishDate 2016-03-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
spelling doaj.art-711fb2df3b56479a800dafeef9241ad82022-12-22T01:37:07ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGeomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk1947-57051947-57132016-03-017284386010.1080/19475705.2014.984246984246Rainfall impacts on traffic safety: rain-related fatal crashes in TexasTerrance L. Jackson0Hatim O. Sharif1University of Texas at San AntonioUniversity of Texas at San AntonioThis study uses fatal crash data and geospatial analysis to examine the temporal and spatial distribution of rain-related fatal crashes in Texas from 1982 to 2011. The data were obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Getis–Ord Gi*(di) statistic was used to identify spatial clustering patterns of rain-related fatal crashes and their correlation with rainfall and compare them to spatial patterns of other crashes. The spatial statistical analysis reveals spatial patterns for rain-related crashes that are clustered in different areas at different levels of confidence. The temporal variability of raw and normalized fatal crashes and rain-related crashes was also investigated at the state level. Although the population of Texas increased by more than 67% over the study period, with a corresponding increase in the number of vehicles, the fatal crashes and rain-related crashes in Texas did not increase but decreased instead. Results suggest that rain is a contributor to crashes in few counties but at less than 95% confidence in some of the wetter counties. These counties should be the focus of further research and detailed analysis to identify underlying crash contributing factors such that safety countermeasures can be developed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2014.984246
spellingShingle Terrance L. Jackson
Hatim O. Sharif
Rainfall impacts on traffic safety: rain-related fatal crashes in Texas
Geomatics, Natural Hazards & Risk
title Rainfall impacts on traffic safety: rain-related fatal crashes in Texas
title_full Rainfall impacts on traffic safety: rain-related fatal crashes in Texas
title_fullStr Rainfall impacts on traffic safety: rain-related fatal crashes in Texas
title_full_unstemmed Rainfall impacts on traffic safety: rain-related fatal crashes in Texas
title_short Rainfall impacts on traffic safety: rain-related fatal crashes in Texas
title_sort rainfall impacts on traffic safety rain related fatal crashes in texas
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19475705.2014.984246
work_keys_str_mv AT terranceljackson rainfallimpactsontrafficsafetyrainrelatedfatalcrashesintexas
AT hatimosharif rainfallimpactsontrafficsafetyrainrelatedfatalcrashesintexas