CT3596- Directed Research Projects

Faculty: Y p Pathak

Fatalities and injuries caused by road accidents are becoming the matters of great concern particularly with the recent surge in motorization, due to increasing population and increased vehicular penetration across the length and breadth of the nation. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death globally and the principal cause of death in the age group of 15 to 49 years. National Highways accounted for 30.6 per cent of total accidents and 35.7 per cent of fatalities in 2019, which increased to 31.8 per cent and 36.4 per cent respectively in 2020 2. Proactive approach towards road safety by Ministry of Transportation & Highways , GOI and all stakeholders contributed to reduce road causality over the years. 3. If effective access control is not exercised along a highway facility, ribbon development invariably follows. Interference from the residential and commercial establishments increases, resulting in congestion. Accidents rise steeply due to the numerous conflicts inherent in the roads meeting the highway at numerous points. As a sequel to this, the speed drops and level of service reduces. The highway facilities built at great cost become functionally obsolescent before long. 4. Spacing between intersections should have regard to the relevant geometric design and traffic requirements, such as the type of traffic, length of right-turn or speed change lanes etc. 5. Road crash is a random phenomenon; however, crashes may not be randomly distributed across road networks. There are locations with a concentration of crashes. In this regard, blackspot management process will help to identify those locations where higher number of crashes having similar nature are occurring as a result of local risk factors. 6. The occurrence of crashes or black spots are due to various factors like human error, road environment and vehicular condition in addition to engineering factors. Notwithstanding the effectiveness of blacks pot improvements, road safety professionals should keep in mind that blackspot identification and treatment (Blackspot Management) are only one among the many road safety interventions to reduce road crashes and associated fatalities and serious injuries. It has to be borne in mind that only a certain level of reduction in road crashes will be possible through blackspot improvements. 7. This case study provides guidance towards identification of blackspots and improvement of road crash prone locations through engineering interventions