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Research Report 039 System-wide road accident analysis

Published: | Category: Safety, security and public health , Research programme , Research & reports | Audience: General

A comparison of the road accident rates between five cities in New Zealand was undertaken between 1989 and 1991. Accident data from these cities were coded onto validated road networks prepared for transportation studies. Accident rates have been calculated using accident data and modelled traffic volumes, and significant differences in accident rates are apparent.

To determine the correlation between traffic volume and accident rate within the road classes and intersection types, detailed regression analyses were applied to the five cities. The analyses were also used to identify outliers (locations with significantly higher or lower accident rates than usual) and thus identify accident 'black spots'.

They can be used to estimate costs of accidents for inclusion in economic evaluation of projects, to ensure that proposals to change a traffic or road system, or to employ an accident reduction measure, will be the most economically effective.

Keywords: Christchurch, Hamilton, North Shore, Timaru, Whāngārei, New Zealand, accident analysis, accident rate, accidents, analysis, capacity, costs, intersection, investigation, link, model, regressions, roads, road accidents, safety, statistics, time, traffic, transport, volume

Publication details

  • Author:
  • Published: 1995
  • Reference: 39