In this paper, two-state Markov switching models are proposed to study accident frequencies. These models assume that there are two unobserved states of roadway safety, and that roadway entities (roadway segments) can switch between these states over time. The states are distinct, in the sense that in the different states accident frequencies are generated by separate counting processes (by separate Poisson or negative binomial processes). To demonstrate the applicability of the approach presented herein, two-state Markov switching negative binomial models are estimated using five-year accident frequencies on Indiana interstate highway segments. Bayesian inference methods and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations are used for model estimation. The estimated Markov switching models result in a superior statistical fit relative to the standard (single-state) negative binomial model. It is found that the more frequent state is safer and it is correlated with better weather conditions. The less frequent state is found to be less safe and to be correlated with adverse weather conditions.
In this study, two-state Markov switching multinomial logit models are proposed for statistical modeling of accident injury severities. These models assume Markov switching in time between two unobserved states of roadway safety. The states are distinct, in the sense that in different states accident severity outcomes are generated by separate multinomial logit processes. To demonstrate the applicability of the approach presented herein, two-state Markov switching multinomial logit models are estimated for severity outcomes of accidents occurring on Indiana roads over a four-year time interval. Bayesian inference methods and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations are used for model estimation. The estimated Markov switching models result in a superior statistical fit relative to the standard (singlestate) multinomial logit models. It is found that the more frequent state of roadway safety is correlated with better weather conditions. The less frequent state is found to be correlated with adverse weather conditions.
Compliance to standardized highway design criteria is considered essential to ensure roadway safety. However, for a variety of reasons, situations arise where exceptions to standard-design criteria are requested and accepted after review. This research explores the impact that such design exceptions have on the frequency and severity of highway accidents in Indiana. Data on accidents at carefully selected roadway sites with and without design exceptions are used to estimate appropriate statistical models of the frequency and severity of accidents at these sites using recent statistical advances with mixing distributions. The results of the modeling process show that presence of approved design exceptions has not had a statistically significant effect on the average frequency or severity of accidents - suggesting that current procedures for granting design exceptions have been sufficiently rigorous to avoid adverse safety impacts. However, the findings do suggest that the process that determines the frequency of accidents does vary between roadway sites with design exceptions and those without.
In this study, a two-state Markov switching count-data model is proposed as an alternative to zero-inflated models to account for the preponderance of zeros sometimes observed in transportation count data, such as the number of accidents occurring on a roadway segment over some period of time. For this accident-frequency case, zero-inflated models assume the existence of two states: one of the states is a zero-accident count state, which has accident probabilities that are so low that they cannot be statistically distinguished from zero, and the other state is a normal-count state, in which counts can be non-negative integers that are generated by some counting process, for example, a Poisson or negative binomial. While zero-inflated models have come under some criticism with regard to accident-frequency applications - one fact is undeniable - in many applications they provide a statistically superior fit to the data. The Markov switching approach we propose seeks to overcome some of the criticism associated with the zero-accident state of the zero-inflated model by allowing individual roadway segments to switch between zero and normal-count states over time. An important advantage of this Markov switching approach is that it allows for the direct statistical estimation of the specific roadway-segment state (i.e., zero-accident or normal-count state) whereas traditional zero-inflated models do not. To demonstrate the applicability of this approach, a two-state Markov switching negative binomial model (estimated with Bayesian inference) and standard zero-inflated negative binomial models are estimated using five-year accident frequencies on Indiana interstate highway segments. It is shown that the Markov switching model is a viable alternative and results in a superior statistical fit relative to the zero-inflated models.
The influence of speed limits on roadway safety has been a subject of continuous debate in the state of Indiana and nationwide. In Indiana, highway-related accidents result in about 900 fatalities and 40,000 injuries annually and place an incredible social and economic burden on the state. Still, speed limits posted on highways and other roads are routinely exceeded as drivers try to balance safety, mobility (speed), and the risks and penalties associated with law enforcement efforts. The combined issue of speed limits and safety issue has been a matter of considerable concern in Indiana since the state raised its speed limits on rural Interstates and selected multilane highways on July 1, 2005. In this paper, the influence of the posted speed limit on the severity of vehicle accidents is studied through Indiana accident data from 2004 (the year before speed limits were raised) and 2006 (the year after speed limits were raised on rural Interstates and some multilane non-Interstate routes). Statistical models estimated the injury severity of different types of accidents on various roadway classes. The results of the model estimations showed that, for the speed limit ranges currently used, speed limits did not have a statistically significant effect on the severity of accidents on Interstate highways. However, for some non-Interstate highways, higher speed limits were found to be associated with higher accident severities, suggesting that future speed limit changes, on non-Interstate highways in particular, need to be carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.