Highway safety analysis using geographic information systems

Given the high number of crashes occurring on highways, it is necessary to intensify the search for new tools that assist in understanding their causes. With this aim in mind, the authors have developed a computer system, named Highway Design Analysis (HDA), which analyses the relationship between the geometric characteristics of a highway and those characteristics that the driver expects to find. The system is based on the analysis of vehicles' operating speed and allows the selection of the operating speed prediction model to be used. Several speed prediction models, including the model developed in Spain in the current study, have been used in the case study. The information generated by the application developed has been integrated into a geographic information system (GIS) with the purpose of manipulating, analysing and showing the results in a more efficient way. The system developed is discussed along with its application to three highways.