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原文传递 EVALUATION OF MOTORIST WARNING SYSTEMS FOR FOG-RELATED INCIDENTS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA.

题名：	EVALUATION OF MOTORIST WARNING SYSTEMS FOR FOG-RELATED INCIDENTS IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA.
作者：	Pietrzyk-MC; Turner-PA; Geahr-SL; Apparaju-R
关键词：	TAMPA-BAY-AREA-FLORIDA; FOG-OCCURRENCE; ACCIDENT-STATISTICS; COUNTERMEASURES-; DRIVER-EDUCATION; DRIVER-INFORMATION; WEATHER-COMMUNICATIONS
摘要：	A four-month investigation was conducted to determine (1) the extent of unique and recurring patterns of fog and fog-related incidents in the Tampa Bay area (defined as Hillsborough and Pinellas counties) and (2) suitable countermeasures to detect and warn motorists of fog conditions. The results of this investigation are summarized as follows: The Tampa Bay area typically has about 22 "heavy fog" days annually when visibility is 1/4 mi (0.4 km) or less. Comparatively, the foggiest location in the U.S. is located at Cape Disappointment, Washington, with 106 heavy fog days per year. Fog tends to form on clear, cool nights when moist air accumulates just above the ground or water. Light winds mix this shallow air to form condensation, which dissipates as the sun rises. This condition generally tends to occur between December and February in the Tampa Bay area. However, fog prediction is difficult because of the variability in density, location, development and dissipation rates, and area of coverage at a given point in time. Only the typical "fog season" can be identified. Between 1987 and 1995, 829 fog-related crashes were reported in the Tampa Bay area and 6,323 statewide. This represents 0.30% and 0.32% of the total reported crashes in Tampa Bay and the state, respectively. Crash report sites have been scattered throughout the Tampa Bay area, and thus, historically, there have been no particular fog-prone crash locations. Over the last decade, Hillsborough County has had a fog crash rate somewhat above the state average, while Pinellas County's fog crash rate has been well below the state's average. Hillsborough County has never been ranked higher than 16th, and Pinellas County has not ranked higher than 47th among all 67 Florida counties over this same period of time. Those drivers who are most likely to be involved in fog-related crashes in the Tampa Bay area are residents of the county where the crash occurs, driving passenger cars, age 20-29, driving during the a.m. commute hours and traveling on local and county roads in rural locations. About 12 states have been formally engaged in detection and warning system evaluation related to fog, and several have invested $2-$4 million for integrated visibility/weather and motorist warning systems. However, the benefits for deployment of such systems have not been documented. Even though a recurring theme in all fog crash evaluations conducted by the states and National Transportation Safety Board recommends the development of a driver awareness campaign (to assure driver behavior is uniform in times of limited visibility), only California has followed through in this endeavor. This report recommends and describes a focused driver awareness
总页数：	1997/06. pp59 (4 Fig., 13 Tab., Refs., 1 App.)
报告类型：	科技报告