WHAT LEADS TO SEVERE MOUNTAINOUS FREEWAY CRASHES IN SOUTHEAST OF CHINA?

This paper adopted chi-square test and binary logistic regression to analyse factors about mountainous freeway crash severity level in the southeast of China and to determine the factor impact on crash severity level to make corresponding measures to improve road safety. Results of this paper indicated that younger and older drivers, female drivers, weekends and driving early in morning all make contribution to severe mountainous freeway crashes. Besides, it is more likely to occur in severe crash in spring, summer and autumn compared to that in winter. The importance of study results to audience is that road users can understand the specific characteristics of mountainous freeway crashes in southeast of China and corresponding measurements could be made to improve the safety level. Therefore, this paper proposed some suggestions to improve mountainous freeway safety: younger and older drivers should be told the driving weakness by means of variable message sign or propaganda; female drivers are not encouraged to drive in some special mountainous freeway sections; traffic designs about careful driving at night are supposed to be set especially between 0 am and 5: 59 am.