Research On Traffic Safety Improvement Measures With Low-cost (Cost-efficiency) For Rural Highways

With the fast development of urban and rural integration and village-to-village project, rural roads have got great achievements. Rural roads are the infrastructures to serve rural areas directly. Nevertheless, traffic safety of rural roads is ignored for long time. Traffic safety issues of rural roads are becoming more and more serious.Current situation of rural roads is researched firstly, including development situation, traffic characteristics, especially safety situation. Then the factors influencing traffic safety of rural roads are analyzed from the point of people, vehicle, road and environment. The factor of road is emphasized to define typical road segments of rural roads. The method of road risk assessment is also introduced to assess traffic safety of rural roads.For the safety issues of rural roads, there is no need to spend large numbers of funds like general roads. Improvement of traffic safety could be achieved by low-cost (cost-efficient) measures. Therefore, based on the limited investment of rural roads, concept of achieving ideal effects by low investment is presented. Safety improvements are classified and researched during the period of design and operation. Safety measures using active light technology are also combined to make comparison and study the application to typical roads. After safety measures come into effect, road segments are assessed and compared to the former risk situation.To evaluate the improving effects of safety measures of rural roads, a model has been established from the point of road risk, crash reduction factor, cost. Case is combined to evaluate the improving effects by the model.