X International Symposium "ROAD ACCIDENTS PREVENTION 2010" Novi Sad, 21 st and 22 nd October 2010. THE COMMON FINDINGS FROM ROAD SAFETY AUDITS AND ROAD SAFETY INSPECTIONS IN THE WESTERN BALKAN REGION WION by Lutz Pfeiffer and Dejan Jovanov Road Safety Audit Experts 1
Content 1. Introduction 2. Results of the RSA pilots 3. Results of the RSI pilots 2
1. Introduction Human factors have a significant influence on accidents 3
1. Introduction European Union is forcing the road safety policy EU directive 2008/96 demands the usage of the following tools: Road safety impact assessment (RIA), Road safety audit for the design stages of roads (RSA), Safety ranking and management of the road network in operation, including management of high risks road sections (BSM), Road safety inspections for existing roads (RSI) and In-depth accident analysis (IDS) 4
1. Introduction Some first practical steps for the introduction of a RSA and RSI system in the Western Balkans were done as a part of a EU project in 2008 and 2009. EU project Support for Implementing Measures for South East Europe Core Regional Transport Network Multi Annual Plan 2008-2012 Europe Aid/125783/C/SER/MULTI 5
1. Introduction Pilots of RSA and RSI 14 available Road Safety Audits (RSA) and Road Safety Inspections (RSI) Reports, Done in: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo under UNHSCR 1244 and Albania 6
1. Results of the RSA pilots - 90 problems regarding the road safety were identified in the 7 pilots - The main deficiencies are typical design mistakes and with some minor differences in details, the problems were quite similar 7
Overview about about deficiencies 8
1.1. Road function - Few problems regarding the function of road - Typical situation is choice of the legal speed in intersection (legal speed to high) 9
1.2 Cross section - Unsafe cross section, carriageway to wide ore too narrow very serious problem, risk of speeding or head on collision 10
- Insufficient drainage in transition zones risk of aquaplaning - Shoulders not stable enough Source PIARC 11
1.3 Alignment - A lack of alignment consistency regarding the curve design was some times identified -unsafe because of speed differentials! - In one case of an audit, in a mountainous road section with steep gradients climbing lanes were missing - its not only a matter of safety, also negative for the level of service 12
1.4 Intersections, traffic lights, railway crossings - Lack of left turning lanes in high speed section risk of rear end collision - Inconsistency of the design principles with adjacent intersections - The design of the intersection does not support hierarchy of road and right of way - There are missing curbed islands at canalized junctions (only made by markings...) - Insufficient sight conditions - Difficult multilane roundabout solution can confuse the driver 13
1.5 Public and private services, service and rest areas - Facilities for rest areas were not included in any of the audited projects 14
1.6 Vulnerable road users needs - In some projects it was not quite clear if pedestrians have to walk along or cross the road or not! Its also a task for town an regional planning... - The needs of pedestrians from settlements near by or along the road are not in the focus of the Road Administration - In the future road design should provide more attention to the needs of vulnerable road users! 15
1.7 Traffic signing, marking and lighting - Missing regulating signs for speed limit, overtaking forbidden etc. - Contradictions between signing and marking - Missing warning signs like curve warning signs and chevrons. 16
1.8 Roadside features and passive safety installations - Missing guardrails in the case of high embankments severe consequences in the case of run off accidents - Missing guardrails in bridge sections - Lamp poles as fixed obstacles along high speed roads 17
- In general there is an urgent need to introduce the European Norms (EN 1317) with all its 5 parts!! - Its necessary in the way to harmonization with the EU - only in Croatia solutions were presented according to this EU norm 18
2. Results of the RSI pilots - Problems in the existing network are similar in the whole SEETO Region - The differences are obviously the result of the different effort which was done during the last decade to improve the road safety by improving the infrastructure 19
Overview about about deficiencies Most RSI challenges were identified in the RSI Manual categories Road Function, Operation, Marking and Signing as well as in Passive Safety Installations, Road Side Features. 20
2.1 Road function - Big contradictions between mobility and access - Lack of the access control is identified - Speed limits in subsections with pedestrian traffic are sometimes dangerous (60 70 km/h) and can lead to serious consequence of accidents with pedestrians 21
Examples 22
Examples 23
2.2 Cross section - Lack of superelevation in curves - Low long fall in section with turning direction of the cross fall - Road surface in bad conditions (ruttings, lack of skid resistance) - In one situation too narrow lanes in an interchange subsection 24
Examples 25
2.3 Alignment - Problems only in few pilots - Lack of alignment consistency regarding the curve design - Insufficient sight distances 26
Examples 27
2.4 Intersections, traffic lights, railway crossings - Unsafe length of acceleration and deceleration lanes as well as lack of turning lanes, missing signs, missing sight conditions - One roundabout with in some details insufficient solution (number of lanes, too low deflection, missing signs etc.) - In one pilot, traffic signals were included, the RSI pilot team made some suggestions to improve the visibility of the traffic signals. 28
Examples 29
Examples 30
2.5 Public and private services, service and rest areas - Lack of sufficient rest place (esp. for trucks) - Unsafe solution of access to petrol stations along interurban road sections 31
2.6 Vulnerable road user needs - Only in few pilots the inspected road section was in an area with pedestrian traffic - As common problems were identified lack of footpath connection and/or crossing facilities 32
Examples 33
2.7 Traffic signing, marking and lighting - Missing regulating signs - Missing directional signing or misguiding signing - Marking with bad performance especially at night 34
Examples 35
2.8 Roadside features and passive safety installations - Lack of passive safety installations at dangerous spots - Insufficient technical solutions (like usage of wrong connection bolts and welded connection of beams, dangerous end construction etc.) - Lack of maintenance after crashes - Lack of coordination between sufficient safety barrier solution along road sections and adjacent bridges - Obstacles along the road. 36
Examples 37
Examples 38
Thank you for your attention! Any Questions? 39