Correlation Analysis of Traffic Accident on Existing Road Cross-Section Elements: A Case of Small Akaki Bridge To Menagesha Road Segment

Abstract

Traffic accident is increased from time to time in alarming rate and it is a serious problem throughout the globe, particularly, in developing countries like Ethiopia. Designs Crosssection elements are ineligible on existing roads potential lead to accidents, such as the narrowness of shoulder, lane, carriageways, roadways that do not meet the requirements contribute to the cause of the accident. Uncontrolled traffic accident happens from time to time in Burayu Town with an alarming rate. According to the Burayu town police report, the high number of road traffic accident recorded in Burayu town along Small Akaki Bridge to Menagesha, that was considered in this research. The main objective of this study was to analyze the correlation of road traffic road accidents related to road cross-section elements. The target populations considered in this research was the population existing within the range of the study area, composed of a total length of asphalt road, traffic accident report from police station (slight injury serious injury, fatal, and property damage. In addition to this, interview and questionnaire survey distributed to respondents who used the road. The pivotal necessary for the study used primary data taken from the geometry or road data metrics (during site survey using road safety audit, interview, and questionnaire, while the secondary data collected from the post road traffic accident data of Traffic Police Office and ERA standard. Data analyses were performed from the record and road safety checklist. All results are presented in the form of line graphs, pie charts, figures for a road traffic accident, and sketch for the suggestion improvement on the road design problem photo. The results indicated that 354 Road Traffic Accidents have occurred along the road segment within the study period from 2015 to 2019. There were 185 casualties as a result of the Road Traffic Accident, and 169 property damage due to road crashes, with an estimated total cost of about 8,583,285 ETB. The major cause of road traffic accidents was the problem of the road cross sectional elements, the driver's and pedestrian problems. Additionally, the study determines the relationship between road traffic accident with traffic Volume, age of driver’s and cross-section elements using regression analysis. The result revealed that, there was significant relationship between traffic volume, selected road cross- sectional elements (shoulder, lane width, carriageway, roadways width) and traffic accident, which means road cross sectional elements, traffic volume are highly correlated or highly contribute for the occurrence of road traffic accident, while age of driver’s have a low correlation with road traffic accident occurred. As a result, awareness and training regards to traffic laws must be given for both pedestrian and drivers regularly, strict traffic police enforcement and speed control should be correctly applying. Additionally, improve road cross-section elements, road side light, traffic sign, and pedestrian sidewalk and provide zebra and others in order to decrease road traffic accidents.