Research Projects

Road safety is crucial in India, with many deaths or injuries due to traffic crashes. The existing safety evaluation methods rely on post-crash data, which lacks information on crash-generating factors. This approach may not be suitable for new facilities with minimal crashes. This project proposes a proactive safety performance evaluation tool called STAYSAFER, which aids in a microsimulation-based safety evaluation of highway infrastructure. The STAYSAFER simulation model integrates data on complex geometry, environmental factors, and highway system traffic state changes to accurately represent realistic field conditions. Currently, there is no mechanism to assess highway infrastructure safety using conflict data to predict crash likelihood. The project proposes a proactive safety performance function using observed traffic conflicts and extreme value theory to fill this gap. The StaySafer module uses Anticipated Collision Time (ACT), a safety indicator developed by PI, which captures all real-world conflict patterns. This makes STAYSAFER more accurate than existing tools. Using microsimulation models allows immediate collection of simulated conflict data and comparison to field observation to see safety improvements. Leveraging microscopic simulation models allows the evaluation of confounding factors in the simulation environment, allowing for the assessment of safety impact of unimplemented design and traffic control improvements. The STAYSAFER framework will enable designers, engineers, and policymakers to assess safety improvements and customize mitigation strategies.