Causes and Control Mechanisms of Road Traffic Accident: Case Study from Shashemene to Adaba Road

Abstract

The rate of road traffic accidents increase from time to time in Shashemene to Adaba road sections. In this study the aim is to identify the cause and control mechanisms of road traffic accident along Shashemene to Adaba. The scope of the study was limited to Adaba Shashemene road, which starts from Shashemene municipal and point up to Adaba town which is 350 km from Addis Ababa with total length of 100km. The sample kebele/town, those with high traffic volume, for the study are taken using purposive sampling technique. The general characteristics of road traffic accidents from Shashemene to Adaba road are identified and ranked blackspot locations according to priority values with corresponding cause of accidents. For the identified blackspot locations control mechanisms are provided. In order to conduct the research, the data that were collected are accident records from 2012-2017 by each wereda police stations. Then these data were analyzed using priority value based on the severity of traffic accidents which takes into consideration the number of deaths and slight and serious injuries occurred for five years is used for Shashemene , Fejihursa, Kofele , Dodola and Adaba town while accident frequency is used for Ashoka and Wabe kebele to rank blackspot locations. Based on the analysis made, 25 top blackspot locations were identified. Based on the results of the study in the year 2012 to the year 2017, it found out that there were 904 road traffic accidents have been occurring in the vicinity of the survey road sections. The percentage distribution of severity class comprised of about 25% of the fatal accident, 8.3% serious injury, 12.72% slight accident and 53.98% property damage, respectively. Properties damage during study period was about 26,697,236.00 Birr. Finally, from the finding of the research the following control mechanisms were provided: speed breaker, provision of road side improvements, improvement of side walk, installation of traffic signs and pavement markings should be done.