RESULTS FROM THE ITALIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE EURO- REGIONAL PROJECTS SERTI AND CORVETTE: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SAFETY BENEFITS

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1 RESULTS FROM THE ITALIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE EURO- REGIONAL PROJECTS SERTI AND CORVETTE: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SAFETY BENEFITS Carla Messina ( ) Olga Landolfi ( ) ( ) Technical Officer Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport Via Caraci 36, Rome, Italy Phone: Fax: / carlamessina@libero.it ( ) General Secretary TTS Italia Italian Association for Telematics for Transport and Safety Via di Priscilla, Rome, Italy Phone: , Fax: tts.italia@inwind.it ABSTRACT The paper reports on the activities carried out by the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation (MIT) in the Euro-regional Projects SERTI and CORVETTE. As a result of such participation, an improvement of safety on the motorway stretches involved in both the Projects has been obtained. For both the projects, the MIT has promoted studies aimed at evaluating the safety impact of the ITS services/systems implemented The paper deals with the results of surveys carried out. BACKGROUND In Italy, every year around 170,000 people are hospitalised as a result of road accidents and about 600,000 people given emergency treatment at the scene of the accident. The total number of deaths is about 8,000 and disabilities 20,000. The National Plan for Road Safety, which complies with the European Commission directives of Programme II concerning Road Safety, has established that by the year 2010, the number of deaths and injuries occurring as a consequence of road accidents should be reduced by 40%. This means that in less than ten years Italy will have to reduce the annual number of road deaths by 2,700 and road injuries by 120,000. Achieving these objectives would allow Italy to come closer to the average for European countries. As shown in figure 1, the mortality rate in road accidents has considerably decreased in the last thirty years. In the decade from 1990 to 1999, road accidents in Italy resulted in 72,000 deaths and 2.4 million injuries. Nevertheless, this is still well above the 1

2 European average. In relation to its population, Italy has about 2,800 more deaths per year than other European countries rate x inhabitants Year Figure 1: Mortality rate in road accidents in Italy (Source: ISS/TIV Group, Italian National Week of Road Safety) CORVETTE and SERTI MIP projects, as other Euro-regional Projects within the MIP (Multiannual Indicative Programme for the Trans-European Network), are aimed at encouraging the harmonic and synchronised development of ITS on the Trans-European Road Network (TERN) with the following targets: optimisation of road capacity and of passenger and freight traffic flows, improvement of road safety thanks to the reduction of accidents and their less serious consequences, reduction of environmental damage through decreased traffic congestion. In Italy, CORVETTE Project involves motorway sections in the north-east of the Country; instead SERTI Project interests the motorway concessionaires of the north-west. Therefore, the two projects cover whole northern Italy and concern a relevant part of the whole Italian motorway network both in terms of kilometres and traffic flows. According to the Guidelines of the National Plan for Telematics and Advanced Communication Systems issued in 1996, Italian participation in the Euro-regional Projects is coordinated by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT). The aim is to improve the quality of the services and to guarantee the interoperability of such services across the national borders, and to reduce the number of accidents. 2

3 Therefore, in the activities carried out by MIT, special emphasis has been placed on how ITS systems could improve comfort and safety. For both the projects, MIT has promoted studies aimed at evaluating the safety impact of the ITS services/systems that have been realised. OBJECTIVES OF THE SURVEY In order to evaluate the benefits obtained from some ITS applications implemented in the Italian area interested in SERTI and CORVETTE, the MIT has been promoting an annual survey aimed at assessing the impact on road safety. The activities carried out in 2003 have been particularly focused on the following aspects: analysis of accident occurrence entity of accident occurrence on motorways owned by participants to the CORVETTE and SERTI projects in the years 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 assessment of the expected impact of ITS provided for in CORVETTE and SERTI project on road safety. The analysis of accident occurrence and causes have been carried out by elaborating AISCAT (Associazione Italiana Società Concessionarie Autostrade e Trafori) data. Also a socio-economic evaluation has been performed, dealing with: the assessment of the extent to which users know and accept the following ITS applications: o traffic monitoring systems; o traffic control and management systems; o general information systems and services for users, including centres for collection, exchange and technical management of traffic information. the willingness of users to pay in order to obtain an improvement in safety and traffic conditions thanks to telecommunication systems, The information needed in order to obtain these estimates was gathered both from Concessionary Societies, who are responsible for the management of Italian motorways stretches that are part of the Project (intermediate users), and from users of the motorway network throughout surveying campaigns (final users). In particular, concerning final users, a target questionnaire was elaborated for interviewing users who were actually present on motorways. Interviews took place in service areas appropriately selected along motorways operated by CORVETTE and SERTI partners. RESULTS OF THE SURVEY As regards accident occurrence, the analysis has been carried out studying the phenomenon at the macroscopic level, through the identification of characteristics, causes, and circumstances determining accident occurrence in Italy. Therefore, the analysis considered the 3

4 characterisation of accident occurrence on Italian motorways, the definition of the main causes and the evaluation of accident consequences. The analysis of the circumstances underlying a road accident is particularly important when measures are aimed at increasing safety. Knowing the circumstances allows a first analysis of circulation and of driving behaviours and highlights which behaviours and what elements of circulation could be improved to increase safety on motorways. In identifying the causes of the accident, authorities take into consideration all the elements known at the time the accident occurred, independently from deductions that may emerge afterwards, in a different place and for other aims. Fig. 3 shows the number of accidents per circumstance in years 1998, 1999 and It s evident that the presumed causes of accidents are largely due to incorrect driving behaviours. Actually, the majority of accidents, injured and casualties on the Italian motorway network are caused by inattentive driving, not keeping the safety distance, excessive speed and the lack of respect of other limitations imposed by the Road Code. Also environmental variables as fog, snow, strong wind etc., can play a relevant role (other circumstances). Accidents per circumstance - Motorways - Source Istat Ascribable to the driver s behaviour Ascribable to the psychophysical condition of the driver Circumstances ascribable to Circumstances ascribable to Circumstances ascribable to Circumstances ascribable to Due to concomitant deficiencies or breakdowns pedestrians people transported obstacle avoided difficulties in the circulation of the vehicle Other circumstances Figure 2: Accidents per circumstance in Italy (Source: ISTAT) Fig. 3, and 4 report the percent variation in the number of accidents, casualties and injured between the year 1999 and 2001 both in absolute terms and in terms of vehicle-kilometre on motorways owned by participants to the CORVETTE and SERTI. 4

5 Percent variation between 2001 and % 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Milano - Varese Milano - Genova - Milano - Brennero- Brennero - Trento Bologna - Bologna - Milano - Brescia - Padova - (VE) (VE) Mestre - (VE) Mestre - Udine - e Lainate Serravalle Serravalle Bologna Modena (tratto Modena (tratto Vicenza - Padova Ancona Brescia Padova Mestre Trieste (con dir. Vittorio V. - Tarvisio -20% Como - Chiasso Brennero - Verona) Verona - Modena) Rovigo (tratto Vicenza Piovene - Palmanova - Udine e Portogruaro - Belluno Rocchette) Conegliano) -40% -60% -80% Accidents Accidents per vehicle-kilometre Casualties Casualties per vehicle-kilometre Injured Injured per vehicle-kilometre Fig. 3 Comparison among man indicator in motorway in the CORVETTE area Percent variation between 2001 and % 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% -20% Traforo Del Gran S. Bernardo Traforo Del Frejus Torino - Bardonecchia (GE) Voltri -Gravellona Toce (GE) Voltri -Gravellona Toce (tratto Voltri-Alessandria e (tratto Alessandriaracc. con A 7) Gravellona T. e Coll.to con Santhià) Torino - Milano Torino - Piacenza Genova - Savona Savona - Ventimiglia Genova - Sestri L. -40% -60% Accidents Accidents per vehicle-kilometre Casualties Casualties per vehicle-kilometre Injured Injured per vehicle-kilometre Fig.4 Comparison among man indicator in motorway in the SERTI area 5

6 Analysis were carried out in absolute terms (number of accidents, injured and casualties) and relating these absolute values to the traffic flows on each section (vehicle kilometre). The study of these indicators provided values that allowed the comparison among the different motorway sections also taking into account the increase in traffic motorway sections experienced over the years. Even though the different sections show very different values, the tendency to improve safety can be confirmed, particularly concerning indicators related to casualties. If indicators are considered taking into account the traffic flows (vehicle kilometre), there are in general better values with respect to the national average for 2001 and a general reduction in terms of injured and casualties per vehicle kilometre. The results of the quantitative analysis on the trend in the number of accidents per motorway both for SERTI and CORVETTE areas allow to draw some conclusions as follows: In general the indicators for both SERTI and CORVETTE areas, considered taking into account the traffic flows (vehicle kilometre), show better values than the National average. The presumed causes of accidents are largely due to incorrect driving behaviours. Actually, the majority of accidents, injured and casualties on the Italian motorway network are caused by inattentive driving, not keeping the safety distance, excessive speed and the lack of respect of other limitations imposed by the Road Code. ITS provided for or already implemented on SERTI and CORVETTE road network proved to be potentially incisive acting on the human factor, and therefore particularly effective in reducing accident occurrence. An important role is played by those systems that facilitate the regulation and management of important traffic flows on the network, optimising road capacity and ensuring at the same time the distribution of optimal flows to limit accident occurrence. For the evaluation of user acceptance and willingness to pay, concerning final users, target questionnaires were elaborated for interviewing users who were actually present on motorways both in SERTI and CORVETTE areas. Interviews took place in service areas appropriately selected for their strategic position along the motorway stretches (A4, in the stretch between Verona and Padova, and the A22, in the stretch Verona - Trento). Approximately 570 questionnaires have been collected. The analysis of the questionnaire showed that motorway users and travellers are mostly men (78%) aged between 35 and 55 (43.3%), that they cover more than km per year (43.3%) and use the car every day (81.6%). According to these results users of the reference motorway stretches mainly travel almost every day and are therefore regular customers of this network, so they can be considered to be a reliable specimen. The essential elements that emerged from the survey can be summarised as follows: Users showed a considerable interest towards traffic information systems. Besides, they proved to feel a certain expectation towards the several information systems and services dedicated to traffic conditions. Fig. 5 shows the distribution of means of information preferences depending on the category of users; 6

7 Favourite means of information Percentage Up to 21 years betw een 21 and 35 years betw een 35 and 55 years over 55 years Internet radio SMS TV Teletext VMS Fig. 5 - Distribution of means of information preferences the scarce consideration showed by users with respect to road signs and information received is only in part due to a lack of discipline, while the main cause is the little trust in information, as it is frequently considered (rightly or wrongly) untimely or redundant; it is commonly thought that traffic information should be more specific, above all as far as news given via radio are concerned: it should be therefore limited to a regional scale; when the information provided is considered vague, incomplete or untimely by those who receive it, it causes a general distrust towards road signs and suggestions given, and a tendency to ignore its contents; such circumstances are extremely harmful, and risk to make fruitless the considerable efforts that are being made in order to improve safety and traffic conditions in general; it would be advisable that users are informed when a motorway stretch is subject to Traffic Management Plans, so that they can see it as the distinguishing element of a motorway stretch, users resulted particularly interested in receiving punctual information during the trip; this factor proves that the scarce advertising and the little understanding of the usefulness of journey planning systems (pre-trip) compromise its use. the percentage of sample users who think that information on traffic conditions can improve road safety is extremely high (88.2%). Also Traffic Management Systems are considered useful for this purpose (45%). the socio-economic evaluation quantitatively proves a certain willingness to pay on the part of users to travel more safely and better informed; these circumstances should encourage the implementation of telecommunication systems, although expensive, as they could finance themselves. It is important to highlight that the willingness to pay was manifested with respect to considerable advantages concerning the reduction of the number of accidents and the time taken by the journey. In conclusion, it shall be therefore remarked that efforts are required in order to co-ordinate information and to interface the several telecommunication systems, which are the essential conditions to reach the aims of both the SERTI and CORVETTE projects. 7

8 CONCLUSIONS The surveys carried out both in CORVETTE and SERTI have demonstrated the positive impacts of the ITS applications on the improvement of road safety. In the analysis special emphasis has been given on assessing the services for «infomobility» that are seen as strategic tools for increasing traffic mobility and safety. As regards safety issues, the study underlined that great importance must be given to services that tend to increase the driver s attention, that impose the respect of road rules and warn him promptly and clearly about the presence of critical situations along the road. Moreover, an important role is played by those systems that facilitate the regulation and management of important traffic flows on the network, optimising road capacity and ensuring at the same time the distribution of optimal flows to limit accident occurrence. REFERENCES 1) Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Trasport, Piano di valutazione dell impatto sulla sicurezza stradale in Corvette, Activity A4.6, Rome, ) Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation, Guidelines of the National Road Safety Plan, Rome, ) CSST Assessment of the impacts of road safety of the Italian infrastructure and data communications projects of the SERTI projects, Rome, ) Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Trasport, Politecnico di Milano, Evaluation of Telecommunication Facilities and Service Plans of the Projects CORVETTE MIP 2001, Milan, ) Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Trasport, Politecnico di Milano, Evaluation of Infrastructure and Telematic Services of the Projects CORVETTE MIP 2002 and SERTI MIP 2002, Milan,