Launch of Book ANALYSIS OF ROAD ACCIDENTS IN SRI LANKA

Transcription

1 Launch of Book ANALYSIS OF ROAD ACCIDENTS IN SRI LANKA Analysis for 2001 & 2002 Prof. Amal S. Kumarage, University of Moratuwa Mr. S.M. Wickremasinghe, DIG, Sri Lanka Police Ms. M.D.R.P. Jayaratne, University of Moratuwa August 2005

2 Acknowledgements

3 Trends Growth Rate (198 80=100) O perational Vehicles O perated Vehicle kilometers Road Accident Passenger km Accident Fatality Population Trends in Growth Rates (1980=100) Year

4 Vulnerability of the Population to Road Accident Deaths ( ) Year Road Accident Fatalities All Deaths Ratio , , , ,106 91, ,238 88, ,249 92, ,362 95, , , ,305 98, ,479 96, ,232 99, ,381 95, , , ,788 97, ,532 95, ,515 98, ,402 96, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,637 51

5 Risk to Different Road Users ( ) Fatality Rate- Deaths Fatality per 100, Rate,000 population all users veh. user pedestrians Year

6 Analysis Police Data According to the Police Statistics, there were 54,911 road accidents in Sri Lanka in the year Fatal 4% Grievous 6% Non- Grievous 23% Damaged Only 67% Of these, 2,038 accidents were fatal, while 3,286, 12,725 and 36, 862 were reported as Grievous, Non-grievous and Damage only accidents respectively. Finding out when, where and how accidents happen is an important first step in understanding why accidents happen. Accident reduction programs can only be successful if the answer to these two questions are known.

7 Where accidents occur? Road Accidents in Sri Lanka 2002 North Central Province 2% Nothern Province Uva Province 2% 3% Eastern Province 3% Southern Province 6% Percentage of Fatal Road Accidents by Province (2002) Western Province 59% North Western Province 9% Sabaragamuw Province 7% Central Province 9% Western Province 39% North Central Province 2% Fatal Accidents in Sri Lanka 2002 Uva Province 3% Nothern Province 3% Eastern Province 5% Central Province 7% Percentage of Road Accidents by Province (2002 ) Sabaragamuwa Province 8% North Western Province 21% Southern Province 12%

8 Fatality Rate by Province (2002) Province per 10^6 Vehicle Kms Rank Fatality Rate Per 10^5 Population Composite Rank Rank Central North Central North Western Sabaragamuwa Southern Uva Western

9 Accident Severity Index (deaths as a ratio of persons injured) by Province (2002) NWP 12.86% SP 9.51% EP 9.19% WP 9.06% NCP 8.94% SAB 8.18% NP 7.26% CP 6.05% Uva 4.46% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% Severity Index (%)

10 Conclusions & Recommendations Conclusions Even though the Western Province has the largest share of accidents, the North Western Province followed by the Southern Province can be called the most unsafe for the road user and the residents, when adjusted for transport activity levels and resident population. When analyzed, this appears to be largely due to the intense use of motor cycles (NWP fleet has 67% and SP has 65%), when compared to other provinces. The Severity of accidents appears to be high where vulnerable vehicles are higher and also where speeds are higher. It is also high where accessibility to emergency facilities is poor. Recommendations The NWP and SP provinces, in particular appears to deserve a targeted road safety campaign for motor cycle riders. The NWP should also be targeted for speed enforcement programs.

11 Trends Time based patterns All Accidents 20 Accidnets with Time of Day (2002) All Accidents > 3, < Fatal Accidents No. of Fatal Accidents > <

12 Trends weekly and yearly Migration of Vulnerability Close to Colombo, the fatalities reduce over the weekend. However there is a corresponding increases during this time on the main truck roads leading from Colombo. There is also monthly increases associated with festivals and holiday season (e.g. Nuwera Eliya 60% higher in April)

13 Trends- Type of Roads and Time (fatalities 2002 by time period in Western Province) Road Time Range (Hrs.) Class Total A A A A Other A Roads B C M Uncoded roads

14

15 Most Dangerous Roads in Sri Lanka: The Police Divisions of Kelaniya, Gampaha, Colombo, Nugegoda, Kegalle and Chilaw have the highest number of serious accidents. These are also areas where the main trunk roads to Colombo are located. Thus a road safety audit and improvements of the following four trunk roads is seen as deserving the highest priority as these 400 kms of roads are host to over 1,200 (or nearly 60%) of all the fatal accidents. A special police enforcement program together with steps of improving road markings, particularly centre median markings, separations and intersection improvements would have a marked effect on reducing the number of serious accidents. Colombo Kandy Road A1 (up to and including Kegalle Police Division) Colombo Galle Road A2 (up to and including Kalutara Police Division) Colombo Puttalam Road A3 ( up to including Chilaw Police Division) and Colombo Ratnapura Road A4 ( up to and including Ratnapura Police Division) Since this area is relatively small compared to the 100,000 kms of road network spread throughout the country, a focused program on these 400 kms could easily reduce fatalities by as much as 200 to 400 per year. On the basis of an effective strategy these roads qualify for urgent attention.

16 Identifying Offending Vehicle Types Vehicle Type Fatal Injury Damage Only Total # Rank # Rank # Rank # Rank Motor Cycle , , ,519 5 Bus , , ,076 3 Light Vehicle , , ,456 1 Lorry , , ,264 4 Bicycle , , Wheeler , , ,360 6 Car , , ,527 2 Other Vehicles , ,112 8 Land Vehicle ,967 24,391 65,252 92,610

17 Faulty Rate for Fatal Accidents by Vehicle Type Vehicle Type No of Vehicles involved in Fatal Accidents Total Faulty Drivers/ Rider Faulty Rate for Fatal Accidents No of Vehicles involved in Fatal Accidents Total Faulty Drivers/ Rider Faulty Rate for Fatal Accidents Bicycle % % Motor Cycle % % 3 Wheeler % % Car % % Light Vehicle % % Land Vehicle % % Forces Vehicle % % Private Bus % % SLCTB Bus % % Lorry % % Other Vehicles % % 2,967 2,041 69% 2,891 2,006 69%

18 Faulty Rate for Fatal Accidents by Vehicle Type 24% Bicycle 22% % Other Vehicles 62% Motor Cycle 3 Wheeler 62% 63% 67% 67% SLCTB Bus 71% 78% Land Vehicle Lorry Private Bus Light Vehicle 79% 75% 82% 81% 84% 82% 83% 85% Car 79% 85% Forces Vehicle 79% 92% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Figure 1 : Faulty Rate for Fatal Accidents by Vehicle Type

19 Faulty Rate Fatality Rate per 000 Vehicles Fatality Rate per mn veh kms per 000' vehicles per mn veh kms Private Bus Lorry SLCTB & Other Light Vehicle Land Vehicle Motor Cycle Car 3 Wheeler 0

20 Fatality Rate (contd.) Fatality Rate per 000 Vehicles Fatality Rate per mn veh kms Composit e Rank Bicycle Motor Cycle Wheeler Car Light Vehicle Lorry Private Bus SLCTB & Other Land Vehicle

21 Conclusions & Recommendations Conclusions Contrary to common belief, Light Vehicles and Cars are among the vehicles that are recorded as being the most involved in road accidents. However, the private buses are by far the most dangerous and most lethal vehicles on our roads in terms of the severity of accidents. In 2002, private buses were involved in 413 fatal accidents out of which the drivers of those buses were held responsible in 349 instances. The bus is the most dangerous vehicle for other road users, especially pedestrians and cyclists. The motor cycle is found to be the most dangerous vehicle to use. There have been 339 fatal accidents involving the riders themselves. Thus the bus is the most dangerous vehicle for non-motorized road users. Recommendations Training and monitoring program for bus drivers appears urgent. The emphasis on the use of safety equipment such as the use of the safety helmet and other general safety measures should be directed at cyclists and motor cyclists.

22 No. of Casualties & Fatalities by casualty type Casualty Type All Casualties % Fatalities % Pedestrian 7, Rider 4, Driver 3, Pax. SLCTB Pax. Pvt Bus 1, Pax (Other) 5, Cyclist 2, ,303 2,175

23 Who is at fault? Casualty Type All Casualties Fatalities Total Fault Faulty Rate (%) Total Fault Faulty Rate (%) Pedestrian 7, Rider 4,095 2, Driver 3,280 2, Pax. SLCTB Pax. Pvt Bus 1, Pax (Other) 5, Cyclist 2, ,303 5, ,

24 Faulty Rate of Casualties Driver 69% 65% Rider 53% 54% Cyclist 24% 26% Passenger - Pvt Bus Passenger (Other) Pedestrian 6% 5% 3% 5% 6% 22% 95% of motorists responsible for pedestrian deaths Faulty Rate (Fatalities) Faulty Rate (All Casualties) Passenger - SLTC Bus 4% 6% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Faulty Rate

25 How important are single vehicle accidents? Class of Accidents Total Fatal Grievous Non- Grievous Damaged Only Single Vehicle 1,180 1,527 6,459 9,784 18,950 Accidents 58% 47% 51% 27% 35% Two Vehicle Accidents Multi Vehicle Accidents 794 1,666 6,036 25,869 34,365 39% 51% 47% 70% 63% ,209 1,596 3% 3% 2% 3% 3% Total 2,308 3,286 12,725 36,862 54,911

26 Pedestrian Casualties in Single Vehicle Accidents Pedestrian Casualties All Fatal Bicycle Motor Cycle 1, Wheeler Car Light Vehicle 1, Private Bus SLCTB Lorry Land Vehicle Other Vehicles Total 6,

27 Are experienced drivers safer? > 12 yrs 18% Not known 4% No DL 23% 9-12 yrs 5% DL not required 8% 6-9 yrs 8% 3-6 yrs 9% 0-3 yrs 25% Experience of Faulty Drivers Involved in Fatal Road Accidents

28 Hit & Run Accidents 1 in 11 serious accidents are hit & run The victims in most instances are pedestrian & cyclists In the case of serious pedestrians casualties nearly 1 in 6 are hit & run The running away vehicles in most cases are motor cycles & light vehicles

29 Common movement of Pedestrians that results in accidents Pedestrian Activity Injury Type Total Fatal Grievous Non- Grievous Walking on shoulder or sidewalk ,742 2,462 Walking on road carriageway Crossing road not on a marked crossing ,659 3,646 Crossing road on a marked crossing Playing on Road Pedestrian after drinks/drugs Any other action Total 815 1,147 5,271 7,233

30 Conclusions & Recommendations Conclusions In general it is seen that the bigger vehicle (or road user) is generally responsible for an accident with a smaller road user. Of the offending vehicles, for pedestrian casualties, the motor cycle is the most dangerous vehicle. This is possibly due to riders trying to weave in and around pedestrians, without reducing speed. Light vehicles too appear to cause many pedestrian deaths, possibly due to the high speeds at which many of them are driven and possibly due to the nature of impact on the frontal face of a van as opposed to a car or three wheeler, which may be less sympathetic to the pedestrian in an impact. Recommendations As such, campaigns that focus attention on driving habits of motor cyclists and van drivers which appear to jeopardize the pedestrian appears to be an important strategic intervention. Thus special care must be taken in all driver/rider training and testing programs as well as general awareness campaigns to highlight the need for more defensive driving/riding habits that ensure a higher respect for the rights of road users who are less conspicuous or are relatively smaller in physical size. Half of pedestrian accidents had occurred while the pedestrian was crossing the road. While jay walking may be attributed to some accidents, the absence of marked crossings where necessary is another probable cause. The absence of safe walking areas is also a major obstacle to road safety. Clearing of unauthorized structures that occupy walking areas should be made mandatory for all the road authorities.