Scientific Analysis of Road Traffic Accidents. Requirements and Training Needs. Saving Lives through Accident Research

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1 Saving Lives through Accident Research Scientific Analysis of Road Traffic Accidents Requirements and Training Needs SAFE Annual Convention Shimla

2 Overview Importance of In-Depth Accident Data (the feedback loop) Requirements for Crash Investigations Crash Data Documentation Sample Analysis and Results

3 Transportation in India An Open System Safe, efficient and comfortable travel

4 Transportation in India An Open System The reality : Highest road accident deaths in the world

5 Need for closing the loop! Crash Investigations

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7 Methodology Crash Notification Crash Investigation Examination Crash Scene Crash Vehicles Crash Reconstruction Engineering Data PC Crash Speed Estimations Delta - V Injury Analysis Injury Data AIS (AAAM) ICD-10 (WHO) Injury Severity & Correlation

8 Requirements for Crash Investigations

9 Most important requirement! To be on the spot Why? Vehicle final rest positions (before towing) Volatile evidence on the scene (skid marks, debris, etc.) Understanding the events This requires Immediate notification of accidents.

10 Crash scene on the spot!

11 One day later Determining scene evidence is very difficult

12 Tools required for Crash Investigation On-scene: GPS Logger Measuring wheel and other length measuring instruments High resolution camera with flash Scene evidence marking chalk, spray paint, magnetic arrows Safety equipment (reflective jackets, gloves, masks, torches, etc.) Coding Forms and Stationary Most importantly an open mind!

13 Tools required for Crash Investigation Back at the office: CAD software for creating to-scale scene diagrams. Software for resizing/editing/storing photos. A database to store all the data.

14 Tools required for Crash Investigation Absolutely important: Standardized procedures for data collection. Clear documentation of procedures and methodologies. Accident scene and vehicle photography Scene inspection procedures Vehicle examination procedures (Motorcycles, Trucks, Buses, Cars, etc.) Checking use of safety systems (Helmets, Seatbelts, Pre-tensioners, Airbags, etc.) A coding manual explaining each and every variable coded.

15 Crash Data Documentation

16 Documentation Crash Scene (Road) Road infrastructure design and condition Roadway categorization Traffic conditions, Weather, Lighting, etc. Compliance with standards Crash Vehicle(s) Damage documentation Compliance with MV Act and CMVR Safety System availability and use (Seatbelts/Airbags/ABS/ESP) People Involved Age, Sex, Medical condition, Injury severity and Injuries Driver Documentation Alcohol/Drug Use Distraction/Vision Obstruction Avoidance Maneuver RASSI Database has over 500 variables.

17 Basic Coding Form to start with Date and Time of Accident Location (GPS Log: Latitude and Longitude) Injury Severity Fatal, Serious, Minor, No Injury Roadway Type: NH, SH, Other Location Type: Urban, Semi-urban, Rural Most affected Road User Type Pre-Crash Event Kind of Accident Crash Configuration

18 Pre-crash event Describes the event that occurred just before the crash. Each event is a 3 digit code. Divided into 7 major types: Type 1: Driving Accident Type 2: Turning off Accidents Type 3: Turning in / Crossing Accident Type 4: Pedestrian Crossing Road Accident Type 5: Accident with Parking Traffic Type 6: Accident in Lateral Traffic Type 7: Other Accident

19 Pre-crash event - Example

20 Kind of Accident 1. Collision with another vehicle which starts, stops or is stationary 2. Collision with another vehicle moving ahead or waiting 3. Collision with another vehicle moving laterally in the same direction 4. Collision with another oncoming vehicle 5. Collision with another vehicle which turns into or crosses a road 6. Collision between vehicle and pedestrian 7. Collision with an obstacle in the carriageway 8. Leaving the carriageway to the right 9. Leaving the carriageway to the left 10. Other accidents

21 Crash Configuration Multiple-Vehicle Accidents Head-On Sideswipe Front-Rear Front-Side Single-Vehicle Accidents Pedestrian Rollover Fire Object

22 Use/Effectiveness of Safety Systems Use of Helmets (including pillion riders and children) Seatbelts (including rear occupants) Airbags Are effective only with seatbelt use. Can result in serious injuries if seatbelts are not used. Under-run protection

23 Handling Urban crashes Traffic movement is given priority. Hence, on-the-spot may not be possible. Alternative approach: Using CCTV camera footage (Intersection cameras) Coding from detailed accident records Historical police records City buses Fleets

24 Using CCTV Camera NDTV Video: Woman escapes truck accident

25 Data collection using accident video Vehicles Involved Scooter and Truck Affected road user Scooter Injury Severity Minor Safety System Use Helmet use? No Underride accident? Yes Road Structure Intersection (GPS Latitude/Longitude???) Other factors: Driver vision obstruction Overtaking from left side

26 Data collection using accident video Pre-Crash Event Type 2: Turning off Accidents Kind of Accident: Collision with another vehicle which turns or crosses the road Crash Configuration: Front-Side Front of the truck and right Side of the scooter

27 Sample analysis and results Coimbatore project irap project Mumbai-Pune Expressway project

28 Percentage of Accidents JP Research India Pvt Ltd Pre-Crash Events 100% Total no of accidents=377 47% 11% 11% 10% 9% 8% 4% 0% Accidents in Lateral traffic Other accidents Turning In accidents Turning Off accidents Pre-Crash Event Loss of Control accidents Pedestrian Crossing Collisions with or Avoiding Parked traffic Distribution of Crashes by Pre-Crash Event Source: RASSI database Coimbatore ( )

29 Percentage of Accidents 10% 8% 7% 6% 5% 5% 2% 0% JP Research India Pvt Ltd Kind of Accident 100% Total no of accidents=377 37% 18% 0% Kind Of Accident Distribution of Crashes by Kind of Accident Source: RASSI database Coimbatore ( )

30 Percentage of Accidents JP Research India Pvt Ltd Crash Configuration 100% Total no of accidents=377 31% 0% 15% 13.5% 13% 11% 10% 5% 1.5% Head-on Front-side Front-rear Sideswipe Pedestrian Object Rollover Other Crash Configuration Distribution of Crashes by Crash Configuration Source: RASSI database Coimbatore ( )

31 Contributing Infrastructure Analysis In JPRI conducted a project for irap The project was funded by World bank To understand the infrastructure factors influencing accidents

32 Contributing Infrastructure Factors (SH17) Crash Configurations Front-Rear Collisions Pre-crash Event Slowed down vehicles Contributing Infrastructure Factor Percentage contribution (out of 23 accidents examined) Speed Breaker 12% Gap-in-Median 8% 4% Stopped Gap-in-Median 4% Front-Side Collisions Taking U-turn Gap-in-Median 8% Turning in/off/crossing over Intersection 12% Rollovers/Loss of Control Pedestrian Impacts Head-On collision Loss of Control Walking alongside Or Standing on road side Loss of Control during avoidance maneuver Speed Breaker 4% Gap-in-Median 4% Poor pedestrian infrastructure 8% Gap-in-Median 4%

33 Contributing Infrastructure Factors (SH6) Crash Configurations Front-Rear Collisions Pre-crash Event Contributing Infrastructure Factor Percentage Contribution (out of 152 accidents in 3 years) Parked vehicles Insufficient shoulder width 17.10% Slowed down vehicles Junction/Gaps-in-median 12.50% Pedestrian Impacts Walking alongside and crossing the road Poor Pedestrian Infrastructure 15.13% Head-On Collisions Traveling in wrong lane Junction/Gaps-in-median 9.21% Loss of Control Unknown 1.30% Rollovers Loss of Control/Avoiding vehicle in wrong direction Junction/Gaps-in-median 3.94% Infrastructure issues Road Under Construction 3.94% Front-Side Collisions Vehicles crossing Junction 3%

34 Preliminary Accident Study on Mumbai- Pune Expressway

35 Causal and Contributing Factors The 87 accidents examined have been distributed by their contributing factor(s) and shown in the figure alongside. The numbers in the figure are percentage of the total number of accidents examined. Hence, the influence of each factor is: Human : 70% Vehicle : 30% Infrastructure : 33% vehicle human 39% 4% 23% 4% infrastructure 4% 18% 2%

36 Conclusions Top 3 Causes HUMAN VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE Sleep / Fatigue Brakes failed Lack of road-side & median barriers Over speeding Tyre defect Lack of traffic control Loss of control Steering defect Lack of road signage Note: The above is based on only 87 accidents examined from 8 th October 2012 to 31 st March 2013 and the order may change as more and more accidents are examined in the following months.

37 Use of Data Median barriers need to be placed: At high speed straight stretches At sections with concrete structures This will prevent or significantly reduce the possibility of vehicles crossing over to the other side and also object impacts with median structures.

38 Accident Research is an on-going process Thank you!