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access icon free Speed impacts of an icy curve warning system

© The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Received 02/08/2012, Accepted 07/01/2013, Revised 13/12/2012, Published 16/08/2013

Icy pavements can impair the ability of drivers to operate their vehicles safely. The California Department of Transportation has deployed an icy curve warning system (ICWS) on a five-mile segment of SR 36 in Lassen County. This section of roadway has a history as a high-crash location with fatal crashes, the vast majority of which occurred during icy pavement. The objective of this study was to evaluate operational effects of the ICWS, specifically on speeds during various conditions. The results of statistical analysis found that mean speeds were significantly different by greater than 5 mph when the system was on against off in general, as well as when examined by day and night. Mean speeds were significantly reduced by greater than 5 mph during wet weather (during day and night). The real interest of the evaluation was the system's impacts on reducing speeds during conditions when ice was present but unexpected (called clear, cold and not dry in this work). Statistical analysis found that mean speed reductions were significant by greater than 3 mph (but less than 5 mph) when the system was on both during the day and at night. Consequently, the ICWS appears to reduce speeds by approximately 3 mph in conditions where icy roads are unexpected.

Inspec keywords: ice; alarm systems; friction; roads; velocity; automotive engineering; tyres; statistical analysis; road safety

Other keywords: speed impact; icy condition; automobile tire; friction coefficient; icy pavement; roadway system; road surface; traffic safety; ICWS; California Department of Transportation; icy curve warning system; Lassen County; statistical analysis

Subjects: Vehicle mechanics; Automobile industry; Health and safety aspects; Statistics; Mechanical components; Tribology (mechanical engineering)

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