Road Accident Reduction Strategies in Correlation between Driver's Perception and

Behavior and Road's Attribute

CHAPTER 1
Introduction

Background of the Study

Roads and Highways have become one of the most important infrastructure equipment
worldwide. They are important as they play the role to connect a destination to another. They
play a significant role in achieving national development and contributing to the over-all
performance and social functioning of the community. Road traffic accident is therefore an issue
not just of national but of great international concern as it has emerged as the single greatest
source of death all over the world.

In the Philippines, the arterial road network expanded quantitatively by intensive

investment in response to the increasing road traffic demand but meanwhile this expansion also
pose great challenges to the safety and security of the travelling public.

For the year 2016, thirty-three (33) local roads were converted through Administrative
Procedure, having a total length of 82.05 km. The slight increase in the number of converted
roads was due to the subsequent compliance of the requirements of the previously evaluated
roads sections in the past years. On the other hand, there were no road sections that were
converted through Legislative Procedure. Overall, the total length of road sections whose
administration have been transferred from local government units to the national government,
from 2009 to 2016, is now 2,486.14 km, consisting of a total of 213 road sections that were
converted for the period cited.

Accidents are relatively unpredictable. A road accident is commonly attributed to the

collision of vehicles, pedestrian, or with an object that will result to death, disability and damage
to property.

In the city of Maasin specifically at Panan-awan Maasin City has a major curved road
connecting its boundary to the Municipality of Matalom. Panan-awan curved road was a river
and was called “Buajahan” which means crocodile, because the place was a nest of crocodiles
before. Around 90s, the road was constructed using culvert and was a sharp gravel curved road.
It was upgraded to a national road and was widened in the year 2017. Accidents often happen in
this specific road.

In this context, the researchers determine the factors why do accidents often happen in
this road. The researchers would also propose a strategy to lessen the number of accidents
happening in the said road and improve the safety of the drivers as well as pedestrians. This
study will focus the correlation between driver's perception and behavior and road's attribute.

Statement of the Problem

Transportation is the movement of humans, animals and goods from one location to
another. Modes of transportation include air, land (rail and road), water, cable, pipeline and
space . Transport is important because it enables trade between people, which is essential for the
development of civilizations. However transportation also faces hazards such as traffic accidents.
It can cause physical, financial and mental effects for everyone involved. Drivers and passengers
can suffer from minor cuts and bruises to broken limbs, whiplash, back and spinal injuries,
paralysis and even death. Vehicles in traffic accidents are damaged and may be in need of minor
or costly repairs or may even be completed totaled and no longer drivable. Additional effects of
traffic accidents can include emotional and mental distress as people can suffer from post-
traumatic stress from being involved in the accident or from losing a loved one due to a traffic
accident.

Particularly in the boundary of Maasin city and Matalom Leyte multiple accidents have
been reported that is why the researchers are aiming to minimize or eventually prevent the
accident from happening in the specific area.

Significance of the Study

The provision of highways are resulting in convenience for the peoples but the main
problem which is faced by the government of any country is that the more frequent road
accidents which are happening on the highways which results in severe damage in form of man
power or infrastructure. The researchers conduct this study to help the following:
 Land Transportation Office (Philippines). The results of the study will aid the Land
Transportation Office (Philippines) in implementation of the design speed of traffic in order to
minimize and control future catastrophe.
Construction Contractors, Department of Public Works and Highways
(Philippines). For Construction Contractors, the results of the study will help in designing
roadways and help in implementation of road accident reduction strategies for proper
construction to improve the safety of the traffic that will pass by at the particular road and the
people constructing it. The result of the study may help DPWH (Department of Public Works
and Highways) in decision making.
General Public. The information is spread throughout the general public and gives
precautions not only to the drivers but also for the pedestrians.
Researchers. The results of the study can be one of the references for other researchers
that has similar topic.

Scope and Delimitation

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Related Literatures

According to Dr. Tom V. Mathew, IIT Bombay last February 19, 2014 on his
transportation systems engineering, the accidents are caused by Road Users, Vehicle, Road
Condition, Road design, Environmental factors, other causes. It is said that these are the main
factors of the accidents that are occurring every time there is an accident.

After the accident, the road needs reconstruction and also needs to have more road signs
to avoid another accidents or to lessen future accidents in the same location. The said case study
also informs us about the traffic mitigations used to lessen the accidents. These are street
lighting, Improvement in skid resistance, Road markings, Guide posts with or without reflector,
Guard rail, Driver reviver stop, Constructing flyovers and bypass, Regular accident studies.
These mitigations will help motorist and vehicles avoid certain accidents that can be avoided.

As a summary, this case study concludes that the chapter provides an important subject of
highway safety and accident studies. Everything a traffic engineer does, from field studies,
planning and design; to control operation is related to the provision of the safety system for
vehicular travel. This chapter gives an insight of how the analysis of traffic accident can be done
from the viewpoint to reduce it by designing proper safety measure.

The case study of Dr. Mathew is related to this study. The researchers need to know first
about the major causes or the cause of accidents which they need to include 4 in our case study.
Of course, the researchers also need to collect data about the accidents occurred at the chosen
location which is the curve at Panan-awan which have more recorded accidents.
 The researchers also have to know or get the investigation reports about all the accidents
occurred at our location, they have to get that information at the barangay Panan-awan’s records
located at its own barangay hall. They also need to ask the motorists and the residents about their
reaction on the said location.

The said location needs to have recovery plans after every accident. This includes the
investigations which help lessen the cause of accident or the accident itself.

The case study of Dr. S.K. Singh, Assistant professor of the Department of Humanities
and Social Sciences of Indian Institute of Technology Kampur in Utar Pradesh, India, focuses on
the main causes of those accidents occurred in the location in Patna City. These accidents and
fatalities are because of inadequate and deteriorating transport Facilities as the years passed. The
development of the public transport system has not kept pace with the traffic demand both in
terms of quality and quantity. As a result, the use of the undesirable modes such as personalized
transport, mainly two wheelers, and intermediate public transport, mainly three wheelers, is
growing at a rapid speed. Roads and footpaths today are heavily encroached by parked vehicles,
hawkers, and roadside business forcing pedestrians to walk on the road. This results not only in
restricting the traffic flow, but also putting the pedestrian’s life in a great risk. Besides
encroachment, it is found that the road surface in most of India Cities is substandard. In addition,
lane marking and traffic signs are usually missing and the intersections often require geometric
correction.

As said, the location is heavily encroached by parked vehicles, hawkers and road side
business. This results not only in restricting the traffic flow but also putting the user’s life in a
great danger.

The problem of deaths and injuries as a result of road accidents in Indian Cities is serious
enough to demand attention of respective administrative authorities. Apart from the humanitarian
aspects of reducing road deaths and injuries, a strong case can be made of reducing road crash
deaths on economic grounds alone. It is estimated that the total economic loss due to road
accidents is of the order Rs. 60 Billion each year in India.
 In line with the case study that the group made, the problems in the case study of Dr.
Singh have similarities in the case of Panan-awan, Maasin City. The chosen site was observed by
the researchers and found out that the curves going to the site up to the site have less road signs
like “slow down, Accident Prone Area” which causes more accidents and also, the road is super-
elevated which means that the motorists should be aware before entering the super-elevated area
with precautions like the speed needed in passing the site and also some warnings pertaining to
being slippery when wet.

Krishnanagar is one of the oldest cities in the state of West Bengal, India. In the study
area road accidents are increasing day by day. Road safety of the passengers is depleting. The
present article tries to focus on the pattern of road accident and its causes. It will also focus on
the passengers’ satisfaction regarding road safety. Finally the author has given some suggestions
including reduction of the number of private cars, motor cycles, removal of the road
encroachments and increase in the percentage of the road areas, reorganization of land uses
pattern, separate provision of motorized and non-motorized traffic, increase in the number of
control points to reduce the road accidents and their hazardous impacts on the society.

In the case study, the main causes of the accidents are: little area covered by the orads, rapid
growth in the number of vehicles, multi-modal use of roads, overtaking, old vehicles, and other
factors such as violation of traffic rules by the pedestrians, drivers, passengers, and riders. The
motorcycle drivers and riders do not wear helmets, car drivers and riders do not wear seat belts.
Some result from drunken condition of the drivers.

The suggestions of the case study to reduce road accidents is to follow the following data;
it is necessary to reduce the number of private cars, motor cycles and scooters and to increase the
public buses; It has become a must-to-do work i.e. removal of the road encroachments and
increase the percentage of the road areas from 7% to at least 15%-20%. The land to the road
projects will come from the vertical and compact development of the city.; it is necessary to
review the internal morphology of the city and if necessary, land usage patterns can be re-
organized e.g. residential, shopping, offices are to be developed in separate sectors of the city.;
two way traffic flow is to be stopped and one way traffic flow has to be introduced.; motorized
and non-motorized vehicles are to be given separate provision of the road and for pedestrians
there must be provisions on foot paths.; the traffic control points are to be increased at the major
road crossings.; construction of fly-over at the busiest points of the cities and at the fronts of
schools and colleges like at Collectors More, A.V High School more, Post Office more.;
necessary to educate the people (passengers, pedestrians, drivers, riders, and local people) about
the road safety rules.

The said case study have similarities as of the case study of the the researchers since the
case study indebted to Prof. Chaudhuri is pertaining to accidents of the road and how to lessen
the accidents such as the casualties by simply following the road traffic rules and road signages.

Road accident is an incisive problem in highway transportation system which directly

sentenced to death, injury and property damage. Rajshahi is one of the most crucial cities in
Bangladesh where road accident frequently occurs. Many people die and seriously injured every
year in Rajshahi city due to accident. The statistical data of road accident of Rajshahi city is
presented in this paper. Data of accidents for three years (2011, 2012 & 2013) were collected
from four Police Stations which are situated in Rajshahi city. It is observed that, 51 accidents
occur in this time span. It has been found that six intersections and four mid-blocks are the most
hazardous, where the rate of accident frequency is high. These intersections and mid-blocks were
located by GPS technology and finally a map is drawn by GIS to indicate these locations. The
analysis shows that 41.67% victims were between ages 20 to 35 years old. The vehicles are
mostly responsible for accidents that are trucks (26%) and buses (23%). Truck accidents caused
in city road accidents contribute 32.56% of total deaths while other vehicles such as Bus 23.26%,
Private Car 4.65%, Auto Rickshaw 9.30%, Bike 11.63%, Vutvuti 11.63%, Rickshaw/Van 2.33%,
Emma 2.33% and Micro bus 2.33% of total fatalities.

Based on the obtained data, the analysis can be concluded as: From analysis it is found
that people ages from 20 to 35 years old are most susceptible to accidents (42%) and maximum
accidents (15.69%) occur at 12:00 pm to 01:00 pm. It has also been found that trucks involved in
26% of total accidents where involvement of other vehicles such as buses 23%, bike 14%,
Private Car 4%, Auto-rickshaw 9%, Vutvuti 6%, Rickshaw/van 4%, Emma 8%, Cycle 3% and
Micro-bus 3% of total accidents.; Maximum fatality (70%) occurs in Rajpara Police Station,
maximum injury (35.90%) involves in Motihar Police Station and maximum property damage
(20.51%) takes place in Motihar Police Station. ; From analysis it is concluded that Choto
Bongram, Rail Station, Kapasia, Katakali, Kashiadanga and Vugoroil Mor are most hazardous
road intersections of Rajshahi city. Also it is seen that Bhadra Road, Binodpur Bazar Road,
Rajpara Road and Court Darusa Road are most hazardous road mid-blocks of Rajshahi city.

In line with the case study of the researchers, this case study deals with the age of the
motorists or the person driving on a certain vehicle. This case study also discriminates the types
of vehicle that the victims rode and also the said case study talks about the locations of the
accidents such as intersections and other things to be considered as a cause of an accident.

Related Studies

P. Anusha,M. Anvesh Kumar (2016). Traffic Volume and Spot Speed

Analysis on a Busy Corridor (NH-5). Road safety is a serious concern in the developing
countries. The study utilized by spot speed analysis and traffic volume identifies the accident
block spots within Gudur to Nellore crossroads at Audisankara Group of Institutions.

Theoretical Framework

Conceptual Framework

Definition of Terms

Alignment - is the route of the road, defined as a series of horizontal tangents and curves;
the center line layout or position on the ground surface
Compound Curve - This is the circular curve which is comprised of a series of two or more
simple curves of different radii which turn in the same direction.
Escarpment - a steep slope or long cliff that forms as an effect of faulting or erosion and
separates two relatively leveled areas having differing elevations.
Horizontal curve - is a broad term that encompasses several aspects of transportation engineering
Negligence – when driver behaves in a reckless or careless manner.
Quantitative design - emphasizes objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or
numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or by
manipulating pre-existing statistical data using computational techniques. Quantitative
 research focuses on gathering numerical data and generalizing it across groups of people
or to explain a particular phenomenon.
Reverse Curve - This is a circular curve consisting of two simple curves of same or different
radii which turn in the opposite direction.
Simple Curve - It is a circular curve which consists of a single arc of uniform radius
Superelevation - is the transverse slope provided to counteract the effect of centrifugal force and
reduce the tendency of vehicle to overturn and to skid laterally outwards by raising the
pavement outer edge with respect to inner edge. Superelevation is represented by “e” in
Highway Engineering.
Vertical curve - provides a transition between two sloped roadways, allowing a vehicle to
negotiate the elevation rate change at a gradual rate rather than a sharp cut.
 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

Locale of the Study

Research Instrument

Data Gathering Procedure

 Each accident entails economic cost, not to mention the social cost of pain, grief, and suffering
of families of the victims. It also has an adverse impact on the resources of the government.

As of 2011, the country’s road system comprised about 215,000 km, of which about 15% were
classified as national roads, thereby falling under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH). The remaining 85% of the network is defined as local roads and falls under the
jurisdiction of a variety of local government units (ADB, 2012).

A road accident is commonly attributed to the collision of vehicles, pedestrian, or with an object that
will result to death, disability and damage to property. Road accidents were caused by driver’s errors
(26%), mechanical defect (12%), over speeding (18%), drinking spree before driving (1%), damaged
roads (5%) (SSRN Electronic Journal, 2009).

RESEARCHGATE

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3242547/