Real-Time Freeway Crash Detection Framework using Connected Vehicle Waypoint Data

Accurate and timely detection of traffic accidents is crucial for transportation agencies seeking swift responses and effective traffic management, particularly on freeways where crash severity and traffic flow disruptions are amplified. While several methods have been developed using cameras or infrastructure-mounted sensors, these approaches may face challenges in geographical scalability. To address this issue, a novel approach has been developed that leverages real-time connected vehicle trajectories at a market penetration rate of 4%–9%. The method involves extracting five key features from individual journeys that sense the speed and acceleration fluctuations. The results demonstrate promising outcomes, achieving an overall accuracy of 63.5% with 4.1% false detections and 33.4% non-detections. This accuracy surpasses the speed-alone model using the same data by 24%. Furthermore, higher traffic volumes lead to even greater accuracy, exceeding 80% at level of service D and 90% at level of service E. The developed algorithm also exhibits precision in crash detection, with a mean latency of only 2.5 min after the actual incidents. The entire processing time may additionally add up to 1 min. The robustness of the model is tested for a single day on one of the interstates, providing promising results. This study highlights the potential of connected vehicle data in enhancing crash prediction methods and underlines its value for the safety and efficiency of future transportation systems.