Book Description

A recent study in Australia has shown that there is a relation between low pavement macrotexture and crash incidences on highways. However, literature documents no such research in the United States. This study focuses on evaluating the role of pavement macrotexture in crashes on selected roads in the state of North Carolina (NC). Pavement macrotexture refers to variations in the road surface in the range 0.02" (0.5 mm) to approximately 2" (50 mm). Laser profilometer data obtained from the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is processed to calculate estimated pavement macrotexture at one-sixteenth of a mile interval according to the ASTM standards. Crash data collected over the same lengths of the corridors were integrated with the calculated pavement macrotexture. Scatter plots, bivariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that a strong relationship exists between pavement macrotexture and crash incidences on NC roads. Analyses and evaluation indicate that crashes decrease with increase in pavement macrotexture on NC roads. Pavement macrotexture greater than or equal to 0.06" (but typically less than 0.12") would be most appropriate to provide safe and efficient transportation to road users.