Abstract:
ACCIDENT PATTERNS ON RURAL ROADS,
WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE FREE STATE
STUDY LEADER
FELLOW STUDY LEADER
FACULTY
DEPARTMENT
DEGREE
W. Joubert
C. Heckroodt
Engineering
Civil Engineering
Magister Technologiae: Engineering:
Civi l
It is in the best interest of any country to keep the costs involved in
road accidents as low as possible - more so for South Africa where
these costs represent a big portion of the country's national budget.
Intensive investigations and research are however necessary before
this goal can be aChieved.
This report contains the most important information regarding
accident patterns in the Free State. The information will to a great
extent correspond with accident patterns for the rest of South
Africa. The main purpose of this document is to provide potential
researchers with initial guidelines . The document also contains
information to give guidance in the process of the implementation of
law enforcement and accident elimination actions.
The most important aspects of accidents and factors contributing to
accidents were investigated. Summarized information for South
Africa can be found in the first part of the report. The second part
consists of detailed results regarding accident patterns in the Free
State. Useful information was obtained during the investigation . More
detailed information can be found at the end of the report, although
the most general findings and conclusions are listed below:
, accidents on urban roads are more of a problem than accidents
on rural roads, especially if accident frequencies and injuries are
taken into consideration;
.,. the Free State has had the highest accident rate of the four
provinces (of the previous regime) during 1996;
, more fatalities take place on South-Africa's roads when compared
with other big countries. The average number of fatalities per
100 000 people (11) for other big countries is less than half of
that of South Africa;
.,. head-on accidents (3,5% of total) and accidents where the
vehicles have overturned (41,4% of total) are too high . This can
mainly be blamed on high operating speeds and reckless driving;
, the widening of lanes and the provision of surfaced shoulders
lead to a decline in accidents;
, wet conditions increase accidents;
.,. accident rates are higher on the days with the higher traffic
volumes;
.,. accident rates are lower on roads with a higher average daily
traffic volumes;
.,. an increase in accident rates was found during Easter weekend
and the December holiday;
.,. the reduction of the speed limit contributes to the minimising of
accidents;
.,. accidents invo lving pedestrians contribute to the enormous
number of fatalities in accidents; and
.,. accident figures are high between 18:00 and 06:00 when
compared to the traffic volumes found during the same time
frame.