Roadside landscape safety of secondary roads based on multi-level grey correlation

Abstract

The visual characteristics of roadside landscapes affect road safety. To evaluate the influence of road landscape on safety, the focus of this study was on the landscape greening of highway roadsides based on the characteristics of secondary roads without a central divider. Using expert scoring, various indicators were statistically analysed. Then, multi-level grey correlation analysis was performed to calculate the weights of each index in an evaluation index system and establish a comprehensive evaluation model. The effects of various vegetation heights, spacings and colours on safety were quantified. Empirical analysis of three road sections of highways S319 and S246 in Hubei province, China revealed that highway safety is high when the vegetation height is 6 m, the plant spacing is 8 m and planting was coloured. The conclusions of this study provide a theoretical basis for establishing the roadside landscape along secondary roads and a preliminary theoretical reference for road design.