RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Frequency and Severity of Tree and Other Fixed Object Crashes in Florida, 2006–2013
JF Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF)
FD International Society of Arboriculture
SP 65
OP 74
DO 10.48044/jauf.2019.006
VO 45
IS 2
A1 Jeffery W. Van Treese II
A1 Andrew K. Koeser
A1 George E. Fitzpatrick
A1 Michael T. Olexa
A1 Ethan J. Allen
YR 2019
UL http://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/45/2/65.abstract
AB Roadside trees provide benefits to drivers such as traffic calming, roadway definition, and driver stress reduction. However, trees are also one of several roadway infrastructure elements commonly involved in single-vehicle crashes. In this study, Florida Highway Saftey and Motor Vehicle records were analyzed to: evaluate the relative frequency of tree-related crashes compared to other fixed-object crashes; assess the impact of roadway-, vehicle-, and driver-related factors on tree crash frequency; and compare the severity of tree crashes relative to other single-vehicle crashes. In accessing 3,033,041 crash records from 2006 to 2013 (all complete years), we identified 323,581 single-vehicle accidents (10.6%) and 47,341 tree-related accidents (1.6%). Trees were the third most common fixed object hit in urban single-vehicle accidents and the second most common fixed object hit in rural single-vehicle accidents. Driver gender, vehicle type, light conditions, weather conditions, and land use all were correlated with the frequency. Additionally, the injuries associated with tree crashes were more severe than all other single-vehicle crash types except vehicle rollovers.