Analysis of Road Traffic Accident Using Gis and Remote Sensing Technologies: A Case of Burayu Town, Central Ethiopia

Abstract

Road accidents are continuously becoming a major problem in developing countries town and subsequently cause losses of life and properties. This research aims at identifying accident prone sites and evaluated causes and consequences of car accidents. Distributions of hotspots are examined with the help of geospatial techniques to evaluate and delineate road accident hotspot. Assessment of spatial clustering of accidents and hotspots spatial densities was carried out following Moran’s I method of spatial autocorrelation, Getis-Ord Gi* statistics and point Kernel density functions. The GiZScore for the total accident locations in the study area varies between -1.95936 to 2.065021 and the GiPValues from 0.038921 to 0.875373. Based on GiZScore and GiPValue western and southwestern part of the study area particularly the local place named by Kella, Dirre gujje and Ashewa meda clearly indicate accident hotspots. This study clearly indicate lack of driving skills, poor knowledge of drivers and pedestrians over traffic rules and regulations, violating speed limits by drivers, insufficient traffic law enforcements, lack of timely vehicle maintenance, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, failure to observe and respect road traffic signs, failure to give way for pedestrians, failure to give way for vehicles, lack of sidewalks, lack of road traffic signs, improper overtaking, improper turning and excessive loading were the major possible causes for Road Traffic Accident ( RTA) in Burayu town. Findings from this study also shows that drivers with an age from (18-30) are the most vulnerable, which results a total record of 122 accidents (50.6%) within only four years. Generally, the main reason for road accidents in Burayu Town is mainly attributed to both spatial and non spatial characteristics. It is suggested that special inspection and priority should be given for those identified black spots sites.