Evaluation of Road Safety Hazardous Conditions in a Road Network

Abstract

The paper presents a methodology to evaluate safety hazardous condition in a road network. Poor and delayed maintenance of roads leads to road accidents. Several maintenance components like poor surface condition (pothole, rutting, shoulder drop-off), improper traffic signs, road marking, poor lighting etc. affects road safety. Road maintenance is generally limited to improving carriageway surface condition like filling pothole etc. without replacing missing traffic signs, road marking and other safety features essential for a safe road network. Maintaining the roads in safe condition require huge resources in form of man machine and materials. Thus, Identification and evaluation of maintenance components effects on road safety is very important task for assessing the maintenance needs for improving road safety. Limited studies are available on identification of effects of maintenance components on road safety. A methodology is developed based on the identification of effect of poor maintenance on road safety and by considering inter-relationship between various maintenance components. Also a methodology is developed to evaluate the effects of these components on road safety. It is expected that this study will be useful in assessing the maintenance needs and effectiveness of various maintenance components in improving road safety.

Keywords: Road Maintenance, Road Safety, Maintenance Components, Safety Hazardous Conditions.