PURPOSES : This study analyzed explanatory variables, such as dangerous driving behaviors, in a negative binomial regression model, using the Digital Tachograph data of commercial vehicles, to assess the factors associated with freeway accidents. METHODS : Fixed parameter and random parameter negative binomial regression models were constructed using freeway accident data of commercial vehicles from January 2007 to July 2018 on the Gyeongbu Expressway from West Ulsan Interchange to Gimcheon Junction. RESULTS : Six explanatory variables (logarithm of average annual daily traffic, sunny, rainy, and snowy weather conditions, road curvature, and driving behaviors that included sudden stops) were found to impact the occurrence of freeway accidents significantly. Two of these variables (snowy weather conditions and sudden stops among dangerous driving behaviors) were analyzed as random parameters. These variables were shown as probabilistic variables that do not have a fixed impact on traffic accidents CONCLUSIONS : The variables analyzed as random parameters should be carefully considered when the freeway operating authorities plan an improvement project for highway safety.

PURPOSES : In this study, the installation of drowsy rest areas and accidents are analyzed. The factors that affected the accidents caused by drowsy drivers in rest areas are analyzed to improve the safety of rest areas. METHODS : By comparing and analyzing the installation status of the rest areas for drowsy drivers, the accident status were analyzed. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors that affect accidents in the drowsy rest area. RESULTS : Most rest areas were installed below the installation criteria. Several accidents occurred when the vehicle entered the drowsy rest area. These rest areas had a short entry ramp, and no safety facilities were installed. The logistic regression model showed that the risk of an accident is lowered when the deceleration lane is longer than 215 m. Additionally, the risk of an accident is lowered when the rest area is installed in the straight section or the curve section, wherein the curve radius is greater than 2 km. CONCLUSIONS : In this study, we evaluated the installation status of the rest areas for drowsy drivers by comparing installation elements. Most rest areas for drowsy drivers were installed at different lengths of the ramp. Some of these were installed on the slope or curved sections of the road. We analyzed the accident status and developed an accident modal using the logistic regression model to identify the factors that affect accidents. It will be necessary to analyze accidents in drowsy rest areas continuously to improve safety for drowsy drivers.

The urban expressway is widely used to avoid traffic jams in highly-populated urban areas. However, vehicle exhaust can be easily transported to the neighboring area including residential buildings. In this study, we investigated the transport and penetration of vehicle exhaust into the nearby high-story residential building. Black carbon (BC) and lung deposited surface area (LDSA) concentrations were monitored every 1 min using an aethalometer (AE51, Magee) and a nanoparticle aerosol monitor (AeroTrak 9000, TSI), respectively. For comparison, the measurement was carried out in both the living room and balcony of the apartment from January 18 to January 25, 2016. The CO2 concentration indicated the presence of residents in the living room and transport of vehicle exhaust from the roadway in the balcony. Its diurnal variation showed a significant difference between weekdays and the weekend, implying the different time activity of residents and traffic volume. BC and LDSA concentrations were 1.4±1.5 μg/m3 and 53.9±45.0 μm2/cm3 indoors, and 1.9±1.0 μg/m3, 76.2±34.5 μm2/cm3 outdoors, respectively. The indoor to outdoor concentration ratios range from 0.6 to 0.8, indicating the significant influence of outdoor vehicle exhaust. The highest concentrations of BC and LDSA were observed in the morning rush hours, except for those indoors during the weekend. In particular, the outdoor effect is significant during the morning rush hours. Indoor air quality management is urgently needed for residents living near the urban expressway.

PURPOSES : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance characteristics of stone mastic asphalt (SMA) pavement by comparison with polymer modified asphalt (PMA) pavement and conventional asphalt pavement, to check the performance characteristics according to the pavement type, pavement materials, traffic volume, and environmental factors and to analyze the quality variation characteristics according to the pavement materials using data extracted from the database of the expressway long-term pavement performance. METHODS : Approximately 10% outlier data of pavement performance data were excluded in order to increase the reliability of the analysis results before evaluating the asphalt pavement performance. The performance model was developed through linear regression analysis by setting the performance period as the independent variable and the highway pavement condition index (HPCI) as the dependent variable. Descriptive statistic analysis of HPCI using the static package for social science (SPSS) tool and the analysis of variance was performed to identify the quality variation characteristics according to the pavement materials. The amount of de-icing agent and traffic level of service were classified as two levels in order to check the influence of traffic volume and environmental factors on the performance characteristics of the asphalt pavement. RESULTS : The tentative pavement performance lives were calculated at 19.3 years for new the SMA pavement (GPS-2), 14.3 years for the SMA overlay on the asphalt pavement (GPS-6), and 10.3 years for the SMA overlay on the concrete pavement (GPS-7). In case of the asphalt overlay, the tentative performance lives were calculated at 8.2 years for the PMA overlay on the asphalt pavement (GPS-6), 7.2 years for the PMA overlay on the concrete pavement (GPS-7), 7.2 years for the conventional asphalt overlay on the asphalt pavement (GPS-6), and 5.5 years for the conventional asphalt overlay on the concrete pavement (GPS-7). CONCLUSIONS : It was confirmed that the SMA pavement showed better performance and quality variation characteristics than the PMA and conventional asphalt pavement. The performance characteristics of the asphalt pavement (GPS-2) was better than the asphalt overlay pavement, and the asphalt overlay on the asphalt pavement (GPS-6) had better performance characteristics than the asphalt overlay on the concrete pavement (GPS-7). It was observed that the asphalt overlay on the asphalt pavement (GPS-6) was strongly influenced by the traffic volume and the asphalt overlay on concrete pavement (GPS-7) was strongly influenced by the traffic volume and de-icing agent.

PURPOSES: The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of superelevation on the existing local freeway ramps where occurrence of traffic incidents are concentrated in order to improve the safety of ramp curves. Using a superelevation slope test conducted on Cheong-ju interchange as a case study, operating speed and lateral friction coefficients are measured, and the safety before and after increasing the superelevation is analyzed. METHODS: First, the actual operating speed of freeway ramps is measured for analysis and the 85th-percentile speed is calculated. This is followed by a measurement change in the lateral friction coefficient because of an increase in superelevation slope from 6% to 10%. Based on the change in lateral friction coefficient, an evaluation of the safety of driving mechanics is carried out and suggestions for the most appropriate superelevation slopes are presented. RESULTS: The operating speed (V85) of the loop ramp increases by up to 5.6 km/h after increasing the superelevation slope, and the operating speed (V85) of reverse ramp curve increases by up to 6.1 km/h. However, the standard deviation of the speed between each section has decreased, making it easier to drive smoothly. Although some sections of the loop ramp show poor safety due to the difference between actual and design friction coefficients in the safety evaluation before the increase of superelevation slope, the lateral force decreases after the increase of superelevation slope, improving the safety of the road. CONCLUSIONS : Currently, Korea’s freeway ramps pose a safety risk to vehicles traveling at speeds higher than the design speed. To improve the safety of freeway ramps, analysis on the effect of increase in superelevation slope found that the lateral friction coefficient decreases, which in turn improves the safety of freeway ramps.