Project

The NCHRP 17-22 project ”Long Term Roadside Crash Data Collection Program” is designed to improve our understanding of single vehicle crashes by enhancing existing crash data collection activities funded by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, USA). Virginia Tech is leading the project that primarily develops the protocol and initiates data collection for run-off-road crashes by different NASS data collection teams. As part of the project, data from existing and future roadside crashes will be used to develop guardrail installation guidelines. Specifically, the length-of-need (LON) of guardrails is an important parameter that is currently based on relatively old (1960’s and 1970’s) data. VT is developing the data collection protocol to be implemented in the NASS program, pending NHTSA approval. VTI is a subcontractor to Virginia Tech and is investigating how to process the crash data into LON guidelines that are easy to implement at a local level.