Safety Effects of Horizontal Curve and Grade Combinations on Rural Two-Lane Highways

2014PDFTech Reporthttps://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/13078/index.cfmFHWA-HRT-13-078Highway curvesRural highwaysTwo lane highwaysHighway safetyUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationBauer, Karin M.Harwood, Douglas W.United States. Federal Highway AdministrationTurner-Fairbank Highway Research CenterFees, Chris ATan, CarolEigen, Ana MariaFederal Highway AdministrationThe safety effects of horizontal curves and grades on rural two-lane highways have been quantified in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Highway Safety Manual (HSM), but it was not previously known whether and how the safety performance of horizontal curves and grades interact. Furthermore, there are no established safety effects for crest and sag vertical curves, and it is unknown whether and how the safety performance of crest or sag vertical curves is affected by the presence of horizontal curves.The objective of this study was to quantify the combined safety effects of horizontal curves and grade combinations and express the results as crash modification factors (CMFs) that can be considered for use in the AASHTO HSM.80