Abstract:
The relationships between accident of heavy truck and highway geometry factors on highway in Thailand was carried out in order to study highway geometry factors which affected accident rate of heavy truck on two-lane rural highway. A case study of highway route number 304, between section of highway route number 319 intersection in Chachoengsao to Ta-kob intersection in Nakhonratchasima , total length of 180 kilometers was related. The study started from gathered data of group of highway geometry factors that related to accident of heavy truck from various documents and researches. Consequently, the groups of factor were categorized and data of the related highway were collected. The preliminary relationships of group of factors which influenced the increased rate of accident of heavy truck were determine. Furthermore, the variation of accident rate were also analyzed under different circumstances on highway geometry factors by multiple regression analysis to il1ilst;ate the relationships. From the result of the study on each variable groups of factor, it was found out that change of vertical alignment is the most significant variable that influenced the rate of accident of heavy truck followed by change of horizontal alignment, width of roadway and number of intersection. It was also found out that change of vertical alignment and width of roadway are the most significant groups of factors that influenced the rate of accident of heavy truck on two-lane rural highway. Another finding was that the rate of accident increased with the change of vertical alignment and vice versa. Nevertheless, the narrowed width of roadway also influenced increase rate of accident and vice versa. The study has developea the relationships between the rate of accident of heavy truck and highway geometry factors in term of mathematical equation which can be applied to the evaluation of the tendency to accident of heavy truck on other highways. However, the further analysis on the relationships between vertical alignment and horizontal alignment at other two-lane highway would confirm the result of the study. The result would assist the highway engineer to design better and safe two-lane rural highway for the transport of heavy truck in Thailand.