| Review of the 1983-85 Ohio skid resistance inventory has shown a disparity in skid resistance among regional ODOT administrative districts. These differences are due to naturally occuring local conditions (traffic intensity and available aggregate) as well as other local factors not readily explainable. Due to these localized conditions an undesirable situation has arisen in which the risk of wet-weather skidding is inequitably distributed throughout the state. Thus, the goal of equalizing skid resistance throughout the state appears to be desirable from the standpoint of equity to the travelling public.; By modelling the district skid number (SN) distributions with the general beta distribution, a standard basis for comparison of district SN was achieved. After retrieval and analysis of pertinent statewide data, both annual SN losses due to environmental factors and gains in SN due to resurfacing of state routes were determined for each district. It appears that some process operates upon the SN within a district whereby annual remedial actions upon pavements tend to be balanced by an ongoing loss of skid resistance due to environmental factors. This "steady-state" process, comprising the net effect of two opposing influences, would tend to hold the SN distribution at or near a stationary position over time. The losses and gains in SN were incorporated into a computer simulation program that approximates yearly fluctuations in district SN levels when given mileages of pavements to be resurfaced.; Using the computer simulation, levels of annual remedial resurfacing necessary to achieve a steady-state condition of SN in each district were determined. The results indicate that several districts do not presently possess resurfacing policies conducive to increasing average skid resistance in their area. The development of a model with which to optimize equity in the geographical distribution of statewide skidding accident risk is therefore precluded. Further research is necessary for further calibration of annual SN loss parameters. As new SN inventories become available, investigation should be performed into the nature of resurfacing policies in districts were present policies render improvement in average SN infeasible. |
