A Bayesian assessment of the effect of highway bypasses in Iowa on crashes and crash rate

Introduction

A common contention is that the construction of highway bypasses negatively impacts the economy of local communities by reducing pass-by traffic for businesses. However, as access to specific business' account records is limited, this impact is difficult to quantify. Another common contention is that bypasses contribute to a reduction in overall crashes in the community and in the surrounding areas. Even though a large number of bypasses have been constructed in the State of Iowa over the past several years, their actual impact in terms of traffic safety has not been quantified.

Objectives

This study seeks answers to the following questions: (a) Are bypasses in Iowa associated with a reduction in crash frequencies and crash rates on the bypassed highway? (b) Do bypasses in Iowa introduce a reduction of overall crash frequencies and rates or do they merely shift crashes from the highways through the communities to the bypasses with no significant overall reduction?

Method

We obtained crash information from the Iowa DOT at 19 sites on which a bypass was constructed sometime during the past 23 years. We also obtained the same information at six sites used as comparison sites on which no bypasses were constructed at least until 2005. We them employed a Bayesian approach to estimating the association between the construction of the bypass and crash rates, while also accounting for other factors.

Results

The construction of bypasses in Iowa is associated with a significant increase in traffic safety both on the main road through town and on the combined main road and bypass roadway.     

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冶炼粉尘在人体呼吸系统的沉积仿真模拟研究

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湖北黄梅乱泥滩花岗岩体的同位素年龄及成因初析

黄梅乱泥滩花岗岩侵入年龄为124.1Ma,完全冷却暴露地表年龄为80Ma,据岩石化学、稀土元素地球化学、~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr初始比值、∈Nd值、δ~(18)0值等综合分析,均显示该岩体具有“S”型花岗岩类的特征,其原始物质来自地壳。岩浆侵位深度为4.8km,结晶温度为798℃,氧逸度fO_2=1×10~(-11)a,压力P=6.57×10~8Pa岩体侵位时处于张性构造环境的陆内碰撞带。     

The study for polyaromatic hydrocarbons decay on Chinese coal soot particles in atmosphere

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