This project forms part of a major Austroads strategic research program to improve the understanding of the relationships between crash risk, road infrastructure and traffic operations. A crash rating database was created for seven Australian jurisdictions. It used GIS systems to combine crash information with road feature and traffic flow data, and thus provided a platform for detailed analysis of crash risks in different road environments. Mean crash rates and crash cost rates were developed for different road link and intersection types in different jurisdictions. General conclusions regarding the safety of travel on different parts of the road network were drawn based on these figures. The project also presented practical examples of database application through development of safety performance functions and crash rate functions based on different road feature attributes, such as: lane width, terrain, horizontal alignment, road type or traffic control type. The Austroads Crash Rates Database provides a unique support tool to inform further road safety research, policy and guidelines development. (Author/publisher)
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