Analysis of Accidents on Rural Trunk Roads free essay sample

The trunk road which has lot of feeder roads feeding it also link Monrovia to the Southeast of Liberia; which indicates how constantly it is busy. Though it is use as a means of supplying goods and services to this part of the country, it is heavily use daily by the World’s one time largest producer of natural rubber (Firestone). Besides being its major user, most of its vehicles that ply this road are Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV). This road experiences numerous accidents annually, with over 90% of these accidents being fatal. 2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Since the construction and dedication of the road link leading from ELWA junction to the Roberts International Airport (RIA); it has been a major route for use in the country. In view of its enormous usage, it has been a route that had experienced countless numbers of accidents; most of which had resulted into fatal or serious injuries with damage to properties in some cases. These accidents have caused serious losses of output to the Liberian economy and which I think must be investigated as to what are the major causes of these accidents . 3. GENERAL OBJECTIVES The Government of Liberia attaches significance to this road linking Roberts International Airport to the capital Monrovia. Since this road is paramount to the economic growth of the country, attention is being placed on the causes of the frequent occurrences of accidents. This research aims at identifying the major causes of these accidents and recommend mitigation or remedial measures. A better understanding as to what are the causes of these accidents are factors that will be highly considered in this research. 3. 1 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES Assess the negative effects and their impacts on the road corridor as it relates to accidents, * Assess the causes of these negative impacts and their resulting outcomes, * Assess a broader insight of the identified impacts and the effects they have on the National Government both internally and externally, and * Recommend remedial interventions to alleviate or minimize these negative effects. 4. RESEARCH METHODS The successful ac complishment of this research in achieving its objectives will be dependent on textbooks, relevant journals and literature reviews of past works in this area of interest. For the realization of the objectives of this research, the methods to be employed will be, but not limited to; * Collection of past accident data information on the ELWA junction to RIA road link, * Interview of a cross-section of the drivers and passengers plying the road link through a well prepared questionnaire, * Make several visits on the road link in the different modes of vehicles plying the road link, and * Have discussions with a cross-section of the locals that live in settlements along the road link. 5. MISCELLANEOUS In drafting the thesis report for this research work, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Graduate School’s thesis manual will be regularly consulted for the guidelines of the procedures and recommendations to be applied. 6. 1 PROPOSED FORMAT OF THE THESIS REPORT For conformity, the format below is being proposed for the final report of the research study to be conducted on accidents on the 23km road link from ELWA junction to the Roberts International Airport (RIA) highway in Liberia. * TITLE PAGE * CERTIFICATION PAGE * ABSTRACT * COPYRIGHT PAGE * TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES * LIST OF FIGURES * ACKNOWLEDGEMENT * CHAPTER 1 : INTRODUCTION * Background * Research Statement * Research Objectives * The Essence of the Research * Limitations * Chapter Disposition * CHAPTER 2 : LITERATURE REVIEW * CHAPTER 3 : METHODOLOGY * CHAPTER 4 : RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS * CHAPTER 5 : CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5. 2 RESEARCH PROPOSED TIMESCALE With time being an important factor in the completion of this Road and Transport Engineering Programme course of study, it is envisaged that this research study will have a time frame from April 2013 to October 2013. References Aarts, L. amp; van Schagen, I. (2006) Driving speed and the risk of road crashes: a review. Accident Analysis and Prevention, , 215-224 AASHTO (2001) A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Washington DC Bowie, N. amp; Walz, M. (1994) Data Analysis of the Speed-Related Crash Issue, Auto and Traffic Safety, Vol. 1, No. 2, NHTSA Broughton, J. (2005) Car Occupant and Motorcyclists Deaths 1994-2002. TRL Report TRL629. Transport Research Laboratory, Crowthorne Comte, S. L. (2000) New systems: new behaviour? Transportation Research Part F, 3, 95-111 Durkin, M. amp; Pheby, T. (1992) York, aiming to be the UKs first traffic calmed city. In: Traffic Management and Road Safety; Proceedings of Seminar G, Manchester, 14-18 September 1997, p. 73-90 Elliott, M. A. , McColl, V. A. amp; Kennedy, J. V. (2003) Road design measures to reduce drivers speed via psychological processes: A literature review. TRL Report 564. Transport Research Laboratory, Crowthorne Elvik, R. , Christensen, P. amp; Amundsen, A. (2004) Speed and road accidents. An evaluation of the Power Model. TOI report 740/2004. Institute of Transport Economics TOI, Oslo Elvik, R. amp; Vaa, T. (2004) The Handbook of Road Safety Measures. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam ETSC (1995) Reducing Traffic Injuries resulting from excess and inappropriate speed. European Transport Safety Council, Brussels Finch, D. J. , Kompfner, P. , Lockwood, C. R. amp; Maycock, G. (1994) Speed, speed limits and crashes. Project Record S211G/RB/Project Report PR 58. Transport Research Laboratory TRL, Crowthorne, Berkshire Goldenbeld, Ch. , van Schagen, I. N. L. G. amp; Drupsteen, L. (2005) De geloofwaardigheid van 80 km/uur limieten. SWOV Institute for Road Safety Research, Leidschendam (NL) Heino, A. (1996) Risk taking in car driving; perceptions, individual differences and effects of safety incentives. PhD Thesis; University of Groningen, NL Haglund M. amp; Aberg, L. (2000) Speed choice in relation to speed limit and influences from other drivers. Transportation Research Part F, 39-51 Kallberg V. -P. , amp; Toivanen, S. (1998) Framework for assessing the impact of speed in road transport. MASTER project report. Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT, Espoo, Finland Kanellaidis, G. , Golias, J. amp; Zafiropoulos, K. (1995) A survey of drivers attitudes toward speed limit violations. Journal of Safety Research, 26(1), 31-40. Ker, K. , Roberts, I. , Collier, T. , Beyer, F. , Bunn, F. amp; Frost, C. (2005) Post-licence driver education for the prevention of road traffic crashes: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 37, 305-313 Kloeden, C. N. , McLean, A. J. , Moore, V. M. amp; Ponte, G. (1997) Travelling speed and the rate of crash involvement. Volume 1: findings. Report No. CR 172. Federal Office of Road Safety FORS, Canberra Martens, M. , Comte, S. amp; Kaptein, N. (1997) The effects of road design on speed behaviour a literature review. MASTER Deliverable D1. Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT, Espoo Masten, S. V. amp; Peck, R. C. (2003) Problem driver remediation: a meta-analysis of the driver improvement literature. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Arlington (USA) Nilsson, G. (2004) Traffic safety dimensions and the power model to describe the effect of speed on safety. Bulletin 221, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund OECD/JTRC (forthcoming) Report on speed management measures. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris Pasanen, E. (1991) Ajonopeudet ja jalankulkijan turvallisuus (Driving speeds and pedestrian safety). Espoo, Teknillinen korkeakoulu, Liikennetekniikka Peltola H. (2000) Seasonally changing speed limits. Effects on speed and accidents. Transportation Research Record, 1734, 46-51 Persson, H. , Towliat, M. , Almqvist, S. , Risser, R. amp; Magdebuirg, M. (1993) Speed limiters for cars. A field study of driving speeds, driver behaviour, traffic conflicts and comments by drivers in town and city traffic. Department of Traffic Planning and Engineering, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden SARTRE 3 (2004) European drivers and road risk; Part 1: report on principal results. INRETS, Paris Silcock, D. , Smith, K. , Knox, D. , amp; Beuret, K. (2000) what limits speed? Factors that affect how fast we drive. AA Foundation for Road Safety Research, Farnborough (UK) Taylor, M. , Lynam, D. A. amp; Baruya, A. (2000) The effect of drivers speed on the frequency of accidents. TRL Report TRL421. Transport Research Laboratory, Crowthorne Tingvall, C. amp; Howarth, N. (1999) Vision Zero: an ethical approach to safety and mobility. The 6th Institute of Transport Engineers International Conference on Road Safety and Traffic Enforcement: Beyond 2000. Melbourne 1999 TRB (1998) Managing speed; review of current practice for setting and enforcing speed limits. Special report 254. Transportation Research Board (TRB). National Academy Press, Washington, DC Vaa, T. (1997) Increased police enforcement: effects on speed. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 29, 373-385 Webster D. C. and Wells P. A. (2000) The characteristics of speeders. TRL Report TRL440 Transport research Laboratory, Crowthorne UK Winnett, M. A. amp; Wheeler, A. H. (2002) Vehicle-activated signs; a large scale evaluation. TRL Report 549. Transport Research Laboratory, Crowthorne Zuckerman, M. amp; Neeb, M. (1980) Demographic influences in sensation seeking and expressions of sensation seeking in religion, smoking and driving habits. Personality and Individual Differences, 1, 197-206 Naatanen R, Summala H. Road-User Behavior and Traffic Accidents. Amsterdam, Netherlands: North Holland; 1976. Cahill RA. Collisions and their Causes. London, UK: Nautical Institute; 1997. Hakkinen S. Traffic accidents and professional driver characteristics: A follow-up study. Accid Anal Prev. 1979; 11: 7-18. Evans L. Traffic Safety and the Driver. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold; 1991. Hauer E. Accidents, overtaking and speed control. Accid Anal Prev. 1971; 3: 1-12. Evans L, Wasielewski P. Risky driving related to driver and vehicle characteristics. Accid Anal Prev. 1983; 15: 121-136. Wasielewski P. Speed as a measure of driver risk: Observed speeds versus driver and vehicle characteristics. Accid Anal Prev. 1984; 16: 89-103. Shinar D. Psychology on the Road the Human Factor in Traffic Safety. New York, NY: John Wiley; 1978. McMurray L. Emotional stress and driving performance: The effects of divorce. Behavioral Research in Highway Safety. 1970; 1: 100-114. Jessor R. Risky driving and adolescent problem behavior: An extension of problem-behavior theory. Alcohol, Drugs, and Driving. 1987; 3: 1- 11. http://www. cdc. gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr49/nvsr49_11. pdf http://www. bast. de/htdocs/fachthemen/irtad/english/we2. html http://www. general. monash. edu. au/muarc/rptsum/optspeed. pdf