Impacts of road infrastructure on traffic safety

Submitted By:
Mazhar khan
Reg. #: 12pwciv3704
1st semester
MSc Transportation Engineering

Submitted To:
Dr. Riaz Akbar Sahb

Subject:
Traffic Impact and Safety Analysis

Department Of Civil Engineering,

University Of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar
 1. Acknowledgements

First of all in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, All thanks and praise
to Almighty Allah, Who enabled us to complete this project in road safety. I am very grateful to
the Course Supervisor, Dr Riaz Akbar Sahb for his heartiest interest and vehement encouragement.

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 2. Abstract
This project covers investing the accident rates influenced by road infrastructure. The basic
parameters included in road infrastructure are road surface, night visibility, presence of
roundabouts and traffic signals, lighting, roughness, pavement colors, geometric aspects, cross
slopes, lane width, traffic channelization, superelevation, guard rails, proper drainage and sight
distance etc. the theme of this study is to analysis the accident rates both in the presence and
absence of above utilities and enlighten the difference both in human and properties losses.

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 3. Table of contents
1, Acknowledgement ………………………………………………….. 02

2. Abstract ………………………………………………….. 03

3. Table of contents ………………………………………………….. 04

4. Introduction ………………………………………………….. 05

5. Accident Rate in Pakistan (2004-2013) ………………………………. 06

6. Pacific Institute for Research and evaluation Report …………………. 07

6.1 Causes and Effects of bad accidents …………………………… 07

6.2 How accidents are caused ………………………………………. 07

6.3 Types of bad Road conditions …………………………………. 07

7. NHTSA Report ………………………………………………………. 09

8. Recommendations ……………………………………………………. 13

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 4. Introduction
According to the recently published World Health Organization (WHO) global status report on
road safety, annually road traffic crashes (RTCs) injure about 50 million and kill as many as 1.2
million people worldwide. Exposure to RTCs is a serious public health challenge around the globe
because of a variety of reasons. These include the tendency of young population to adventurous
driving, low gas price, the use of private vehicles rather than public transport, and non-standard
safety designs. The severity of accidents and property losses depends upon the following three
major factors.

1. Road infrastructure
2. Drivers behavior
3. Environmental conditions

Common road conditions that contribute to car accidents:

 Confusing, damaged or missing signs

 Roads not salted or plowed in winter weather
 Blind curves and poorly banked roads
 Lack of traffic signals or poorly placed signals
 Improperly graded curves and uneven shoulders
 Poor landscaping and vision obstructions
 Overly bright lights or lack of nighttime lighting
 Lack of appropriate road markings
 Inappropriate road materials
 Low bridges or incorrect overhead bridge markings
 Broken guard rails
 Cracks and potholes that can cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle
 Signs that have fallen or can’t be seen because of overgrown foliage
 Faded paint markings that are invisible from the driver’s seat
 Inadequate guardrails on curves and overpasses

 Lack of rumble strips on freeways;

 Poor traffic control in construction zones;

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 5. Accident rate in Pakistan (2004-2013)
The last 10 years data on traffic accidents present a horrific picture as average 15 people died every
day in traffic accidents across the country. Sindh proved the deadliest in terms of average people
killed in accidents, followed by Punjab, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data on traffic accidents in Pakistan from 2004 to 2013,
the ratio of killings in road accidents in Sindh was recorded the highest at up to 86 percent. The
overall ratio of deaths in road accidents across the country has been recorded up to 55 percent
which according to the experts and former traffic police officials is the highest. According to the
data, total 51,416 people died in 97,739 road accidents across the country. Out of total casualties,
as many as 29,524 were killed in 51,715 accidents in Punjab, 9,639 died in 13,965 accidents in
Sindh, 9,494 people died in 27,939 accidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 2,250 people died in
Baluchistan in 4,085 accidents. Out of the total number of accidents, 43,582 were recorded as fatal
which is 47.3 percent. While analyzing the data further in order to know the ratio of people killed
per accidents across the country, it was found that the ratio of deaths per accident is 55 percent in
last 10 years across the country. Similarly, the ratio of injured people per accident is percent.
The data was further analyzed on provincial level according to which Punjab is on top in terms of
number of accidents, casualties and people injured in the traffic accidents. The number of accidents
in Punjab is 52 percent of the total. The data shows that the average number of people died per
accident in Punjab is up to 60 percent which is the second highest in the country. Similarly, the
number of injured people per accident was recorded up to 129 percent.

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 6. Pacific institute for research and evaluation (PIRE) report
An 18-month study conducted by The Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation examined
information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration and other government agencies and concluded that road problems like
potholes and iced-over stretches of highway cause more than 42,000 deaths a year.

6.1 Causes and effects of bad Roads

Poor driving surfaces are often caused by a combination of seasonal and traffic conditions. In
Tennessee, we experience intense seasonal shifts. These changes in weather can cause hazards
like slippery surfaces caused by rain and ice and oil spots caused by our vehicles. Construction
zones with uneven pavement are also a major cause of accidents.

6.2 How Accidents are caused

Poorly maintained roadways cause accidents in a variety of ways, mostly due to the fact that they
create an enormous hazard to drivers. In many instances, a driver may attempt to avoid a certain
situation, like a pothole or pooling water which could cause a serious accident.

Some hazards include:

 Clear zone issues

 Confusing signage
 Inadequate signage
 Sudden driver maneuvers

6.3 Types of Bad Road conditions

There are several types of bad driving situations which exist throughout the state of Tennessee,
including:

 Potholes: Severe accidents can occur when blacktop or asphalt are missing in large
chunks from the road.

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  Ice patches: Ice patches can form even without rain or snow. They typically form in
isolated areas on the road.
 Shoulder drop-off: A drop-off region can present a serious danger to drivers.
 Oil and chip: These are temporary fixes on roads before they are resurfaced. Oil and chip
areas can become slippery when left for extended periods of time.
 Construction work zones: Lanes shift and uneven roads are some of the issues involved in
construction areas.
 Slick roads: Slippery surfaces cause hydroplaning to occur

More than half of U.S. highway fatalities are related to deficient roadway conditions - a
substantially more lethal factor than drunk driving, speeding or non-use of safety belts - according
to a landmark study released today. Ten roadway-related crashes occur every minute (5.3 million
a year) and also contribute to 38 percent of non-fatal injuries, the report found.

PIRE report concluded that in US, roadway related crashes impose $20 billion in medical costs;
$46 billion in productivity costs; $52 billion in property damage and other resource costs; and $99
billion in quality of life costs which measure the value of pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of
life by those injured or killed in crashes and their families. The report also found that crashes linked
to road conditions cost American businesses an estimated $22 billion at a time when many firms
are struggling. According to the report, crashes linked to road conditions cost taxpayers over $12
billion every year.

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7 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Reports:

Explanation and Analysis:

To investigate the roadway impacts on road safety, few cases are hereby taken from NHTSA
website.

1. Case No. 33
Date 08/2005

This crash occurred on a two lane undivided roadway, slight curving to the left with a positive
3.27% grade and a posted speed limit of 72KMPH (45MPH). It was raining lightly and the roadway
was wet. This crash occurred on a weekday afternoon. Accident occur due to poor roadway
conditions. Surface course was very smooth and no proper lightening and signal system.

2. Case No. 46
10/2005

The crash occurred on a level two lane undivided roadway with a posted speed limit of 35 MPH
(48 KPH). This was an "S" type roadway. The first curve was to the left with a radius of curvature
of 225 meters and no superelevation which entered a curve to the right with a radius of curvature
of 113 meters and a superelevation of 2.5%. There were no warning signs. It was raining, the
roadway was wet and it was daylight at the time of this weekend afternoon crash. Causes of

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accident was very sharp consecutive horizontal curves, smooth surface, poor lightening system,
no road sign and signals.

3. Case No. 25
Date 07/2005

The crash occurred on a two lane undivided roadway with a posted speed limit of 45 MPH (72
KPH). The roadway curved to the right with a radius of 81.06 meters and a superelevation of 1.6%.
The roadway had a downgrade of -6.7%. There was a black-on-yellow curve warning sign with an
advisory speed of 30 MPH more than one-quarter mile prior to the crash site. It was cloudy, the
roadway wet and it was daylight at the time of this early morning weekend crash.

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 4. Case No. 24
Date 04/2005

The crash occurred in the westbound lane of a five-lane divided roadway at an intersection with
another five-lane divided roadway. There were three lanes westbound and two lanes eastbound.
The intersection was controlled by a traffic control signal. Conditions were daylight with rain in
the morning on a weekend. The posted speed limit was 80 kmph (50 MPH).

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 5. Case No. 64

Date 11/2005

The crash occurred in the intersection of a five-lane roadway controlled by a traffic control signal.
Conditions were dark with minimal lighting in the evening on a weekday. The posted speed limit
was 80 KMPH (50 MPH). The northbound lane had a >2% uphill grade. The southbound lane was
level.

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8. Recommendations:
a) Major arterials and expressways should bypass major towns which should be connected
by spurs. There should be clear zones identified for linear land use control.
b) Consistency of horizontal geometry avoiding monotonous straight lines or abrupt change
of speed.
c) Adequate off-set distance from natural road side features.
d) Undivided carriageways designed for Overtaking Sight Distance.
e) Wider lane widths and shoulders for High Speed Roads.
f) Inside widening for sharp curves.
g) Recoverable slopes for out-of-control vehicles.
h) Segregation of the slow moving non-motorized traffic from fast moving traffic.
i) Provision of raised footpath for pedestrians in Urban Areas.
j) Barriers should be designed to deflect the vehicle and not crash it.
k) Road Signs should be standardized throughout the country.

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l) Properly designed traffic calming measures like the speed humps, rumble strips, small
Roundabouts, etc.
m) Entry / Exit only through Slip Lanes with proper Acceleration and Deceleration Lanes.

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References:

 National highway traffic safety administration

 Pakistan statics of Bauru
 Transport and communications bulletin for Asia and the pacific
 Pacific institute for research and evaluation (PIRE) report.

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