ACCIDENT ANALYSIS AND IDENTIFICATION OF BLACK SPOTS ON MOTORWAY (M-1) SECTION ISLAMABAD TO PESHAWAR

Abstract

Developing nations including Pakistan are faced with new dimension of highway safety challenges after the advent of motorways Safety management of motorways demand more meticulous addressal of safety issues due to involvement of high speed dynamics Factors that affect the risk of accident occurrence include human error, mechanical fault, roadway condition and environment. Accidents can be unintentional and sometimes can be random but are generally found to occur or pile up along some hazardous locations called black spots and more often accidents are occurred due to peculiar causes. In this research work the highway safety scenario on motorway MI (sections Islamabad to Peshawar) is studied in detail. For the purpose, accident data analysis is carried out to determine the causes of accidents and black spot identification. Analysis of accident data helped quantifying accidents due to contributory factors, vehicle category and causes of occurrence. Analysis reveals that accident occurrence trend of M1 is on increase with high rate of fatality. Private category of vehicles is responsible for maximum accidents and causing maximum fatalities. Same category of vehicles remained highest in having mechanical faults, committing human errors and being effected from environment. Human error figures out as primary contributory factor in causing accidents followed by mechanical faults. Large number of goods categories accidents are caused due to mechanical faults. Tyre burst is emerged as leading cause of accidents followed by over speeding. Identified black spots on M1 in order of priority are near motorway toll plaza (MTP) Peshawar, MTP Rashakai and CB-356. Suggested remedial measures in this thesis can help in reducing the number of accidents on M1.