Assessment of Road Traffic Crashes in the Addis Ababa to Adama Old Main Road.

Abstract

Road traffic crashes occur as a result of several factors associated with the traffic systems such as humans, vehicles, and roadways. Traffic crash is the most and worst leading testimony of death and injuries but now a day it is possible to reduce causes that results in great loss of life and property damages in developing country like Ethiopia. Addis Ababa to Adama old road is main old route which interconnects capital city with regional city and neighbor country like Djibouti. The main objective of this study was to assess the road traffic crashes in Addis Ababa to Adama old main road. Road crashes were characterized using descriptive analysis to examine the relationships among factors and to identify possible causes and contributing factors. Crash rates were also been used to compare the total crashes occurred and crash severity is identified using crash data from traffic police. The result of the study revealed that on average total traffic crashes including PDO occurred on the road before and after expressway constructed was 383 and 225 respectively. The average percentage of the type of crash due to vehicle and pedestrian collision occurred before and after expressway constructed is 60.26% and 54.1% respectively which accounts the largest cause of fatality. Driver whose education level is junior and age between 18-30 account highest traffic crashs before and after expressway constructed. Based on the result of this study the major causes of crashes attributed were failure to observe and give priority to pedestrians, following too closely and over speeding while driving. With regard to safety features installed along the road, problems identified during observation were mostly faded zebra, faded reflector and bent guiding post, missing value of grade, faded sign giving information, poor installation of speed limit. It was concluded that the rate of traffic crash occurrence is decreasing from year to year in the analysis period and traffic crash is reduced after expressway constructed. In general the study recommends implementing of overall road safety improvements that ensure the existence of appropriate legislation and rigorous enforcement of road safety law and also driving training and examining should be improved and quality assurance should be given to target professional drivers.