Severity Indices as measurement tools for road safety in mountainous highway sections: case study of the Centinela–La Rumorosa highway
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55329/fvka8530Keywords:
evaluation tool, road safety, severity indicesAbstract
The evaluation of road safety in highway infrastructure requires tools that enable the objective identification and prioritization of risk conditions. This study proposes the development of Severity Indices (SI), a quantitative tool designed to assess the severity level of road segments based on geometric and safety-related variables. Unlike traditional approaches based on qualitative audits, the SI allows for the establishment of severity levels through the integration of measurable and reproducible data. The guiding research question is: How can an index be constructed to quantify the level of road risk based on the physical characteristics of the road and their relationship to crash incidence? To validate the methodology, it was applied to the Centinela–La Rumorosa Highway in Baja California, Mexico—a roadway with high geometric complexity. Variables such as curvature, slope, superelevation, signage, and containment devices were analyzed and correlated with crash records using statistical and spatial analysis in Minitab version 21.1.0. A total of 35 critical points were identified in the descending direction and 28 in the ascending direction, to which SI values were assigned. The results show that this tool allows road safety assessments to be transformed into quantifiable, comparable, and technically informed decision-making processes. The development of the Severity Indices represents a significant methodological contribution to improving road safety evaluation, particularly in contexts where it is necessary to prioritize interventions based on evidence and consistent technical criteria.
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Author Biographies
Itzel Núñez López, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico
Itzel Núñez López has a Master's degree in Science with a focus on transportation planning and roadway infrastructure. Her research interests center on the evaluation and design of road systems and their influence on traffic safety. She approaches her work from an interdisciplinary perspective, incorporating technical, social, and environmental indicators to support comprehensive transportation solutions.
CRediT contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing—original draft.
Leonel García, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico
Leonel García is a research professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) in Mexico and collaborates with the Academic Body "Transport Infrastructure, Regional Development and Social Impact" attached to the Faculty of Engineering, Mexicali Campus. His research focuses mainly on the analysis of road transport infrastructure and how it impacts territorial development, specifically the impact that road infrastructure has on the quality of life of the population, and the analysis of urban and suburban accessibility, in which he has participated in the development of applied research projects and high-impact publications.
CRediT contribution: Data curation, Investigation, Supervision, Validation, Writing—review & editing.
Julio Calderón-Ramirez, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico
Julio Calderón holds a Ph.D. in Science with a specialization in transportation planning and road infrastructure. His research interests include the analysis and design of highway systems, as well as their impact on safety and quality of life. His work adopts an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates technical, social, and environmental indicators, supported by geographic information systems, with the aim of proposing solutions to social issues related to transportation planning, urban structure, and various types of infrastructure.
CRediT contribution: Data curation, Investigation, Supervision, Validation, Writing—review & editing.
Marco Montoya-Alcaraz, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico
Marco Montoya-Alcaraz is a Civil Engineer, Master in Global Development Studies, and Doctor of Science from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexico. Full-time professor-researcher in the Educational Program of Civil Engineering at the Mexicali Faculty of Engineering. Laboratory Manager. Member of the Basic Academic Nucleus of the Master's and Doctorate Program in Sciences and Engineering (MiDCI). Level 1 national researcher of the National System of Researchers (SNI). His research interests include transportation planning, transportation efficiency, maintenance and rehabilitation of pavements, infrastructure management systems, pavement technology, and sustainability.
CRediT contribution: Data curation, Investigation, Supervision, Validation, Writing—review & editing.
Manuel Gutiérrez, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico
Manuel Gutierrez earned his Ph.D. in Science from the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. His research interests include sustainable infrastructure, recycled concrete, and sustainable urban mobility. He is an active member of the American Concrete Institute, participating in committees ACI 211 and ACI 555.
CRediT contribution: Data curation, Investigation, Supervision, Validation, Writing—review & editing.
Alejandro Sánchez-Atondo, Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexico
Alejandro Sánchez Atondo is a research professor at the Engineering Faculty of the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) in Mexico. He is the leader of the academic group “Transport Infrastructure, Regional Development and Social Impact”. His research interests include urban mobility on the Global South, urban transportation systems modelling and sustainable infrastructure design. He has participated in various applied research projects with the government sector at local and regional levels, focused on the optimization of transportation systems and their infrastructure.
CRediT contribution: Data curation, Investigation, Supervision, Validation, Writing—review & editing.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Itzel Núñez López, Leonel García, Julio Calderón-Ramirez, Marco Montoya-Alcaraz, Manuel Gutiérrez, Alejandro Sánchez-Atondo
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