Saving Lives through
Accident Research
Scientific Analysis of
Road Traffic Accidents
Requirements and Training Needs
SAFE Annual Convention 25 April 2013
Shimla
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Overview
Importance of In-Depth Accident Data (the feedback loop)
Requirements for Crash Investigations
Crash Data Documentation
Sample Analysis and Results
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Transportation in India – An Open System
25 April 2013
Safe, efficient and
comfortable travel
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Transportation in India – An Open System
The reality : Highest road accident deaths in the world
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Need for closing the loop!
25 April 2013
Crash Investigations
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Methodology
Crash Notification
Crash Investigation
Crash Reconstruction
Injury
Analysis
25 April 2013
Examination
Crash Scene
Crash Vehicles
Engineering Data
PC Crash
Speed Estimations
Delta - V
Injury Data
AIS (AAAM)
ICD-10 (WHO)
Injury Severity & Correlation
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Requirements for Crash Investigations
25 April 2013
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Most important requirement!
To be “on the spot”
Why?
Vehicle final rest positions (before towing)
Volatile evidence on the scene (skid marks, debris, etc.)
Understanding the events
This requires – “Immediate notification of accidents.”
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Crash scene … on the spot!
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One day later…
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Determining scene evidence is very difficult
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Tools required for Crash Investigation
On-scene:
GPS Logger
Measuring wheel and other length measuring instruments
High resolution camera with flash
Scene evidence marking chalk, spray paint, magnetic arrows
Safety equipment (reflective jackets, gloves, masks, torches, etc.)
Coding Forms and Stationary
Most importantly… an open mind!
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Tools required for Crash Investigation
Back at the office:
CAD software for creating to-scale scene diagrams.
Software for resizing/editing/storing photos.
A database to store all the data.
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Tools required for Crash Investigation
Absolutely important:
Standardized procedures for data collection.
Clear documentation of procedures and methodologies.
Accident scene and vehicle photography
Scene inspection procedures
Vehicle examination procedures (Motorcycles, Trucks, Buses, Cars, etc.)
Checking use of safety systems (Helmets, Seatbelts, Pre-tensioners, Airbags, etc.)
A coding manual explaining each and every variable coded.
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Crash Data Documentation
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Documentation
Crash Scene (Road)
Road infrastructure – design and condition
Roadway categorization
Traffic conditions, Weather, Lighting, etc.
Compliance with standards
Crash Vehicle(s)
Damage documentation
Compliance with MV Act and CMVR
Safety System availability and use (Seatbelts/Airbags/ABS/ESP)
People Involved
Age, Sex, Medical condition, Injury severity and Injuries
Driver Documentation
Alcohol/Drug Use
Distraction/Vision Obstruction
Avoidance Maneuver
25 April 2013
RASSI
Database has
over 500
variables.
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Basic Coding Form to start with…
Date and Time of Accident
Location (GPS Log: Latitude and Longitude)
Injury Severity – Fatal, Serious, Minor, No Injury
Roadway Type: NH, SH, Other
Location Type: Urban, Semi-urban, Rural
Most affected Road User Type
Pre-Crash Event
Kind of Accident
Crash Configuration
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Pre-crash event
Describes the event that occurred just before the crash.
Each event is a 3 digit code.
Divided into 7 major types:
Type 1: Driving Accident
Type 2: Turning off Accidents
Type 3: Turning in / Crossing Accident
Type 4: Pedestrian Crossing Road Accident
Type 5: Accident with Parking Traffic
Type 6: Accident in Lateral Traffic
Type 7: Other Accident
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Pre-crash event - Example
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Kind of Accident
1. Collision with another vehicle which starts, stops or is stationary
2. Collision with another vehicle moving ahead or waiting
3. Collision with another vehicle moving laterally in the same direction
4. Collision with another oncoming vehicle
5. Collision with another vehicle which turns into or crosses a road
6. Collision between vehicle and pedestrian
7. Collision with an obstacle in the carriageway
8. Leaving the carriageway to the right
9. Leaving the carriageway to the left
10. Other accidents
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Crash Configuration
Multiple-Vehicle Accidents
Head-On Sideswipe Front-Rear Front-Side
Single-Vehicle Accidents
Pedestrian Rollover Fire Object
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Use/Effectiveness of Safety Systems
Use of Helmets (including pillion riders and children)
Seatbelts (including rear occupants)
Airbags
Are effective only with seatbelt use.
Can result in serious injuries if seatbelts are not used.
Under-run protection
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Handling Urban crashes
Traffic movement is given priority.
Hence, “on-the-spot” may not be possible.
Alternative approach:
Using CCTV camera footage (Intersection cameras)
Coding from detailed accident records Historical police records
City buses
Fleets
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Using CCTV Camera
25 April 2013
NDTV Video: Woman escapes truck accident
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Data collection using accident video
Vehicles Involved – Scooter and Truck
Affected road user – Scooter
Injury Severity – Minor
Safety System Use
Helmet use? No
Underride accident? – Yes
Road Structure – Intersection (GPS Latitude/Longitude???)
Other factors:
Driver vision obstruction
Overtaking from left side
25 April 2013
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Data collection using accident video
Pre-Crash Event
Type 2: Turning off Accidents
Kind of Accident:
Collision with another vehicle which turns or crosses the road
Crash Configuration: Front-Side
“Front” of the truck and right “Side” of the scooter
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Coimbatore project
iRAP project
Mumbai-Pune Expressway project
Sample analysis and results
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Pre-Crash Events
25 April 2013
Distribution of Crashes by Pre-Crash Event Source: RASSI database Coimbatore (2011-2013)
Total no of accidents=377
47%
11% 11% 10% 9% 8% 4% 0%
100%
Accidents in
Lateral traffic
Other
accidents
Turning In
accidents
Turning Off
accidents
Loss of
Control
accidents
Pedestrian
Crossing
Collisions with
or Avoiding
Parked traffic
Pe
rce
nta
ge
of A
cc
ide
nts
Pre-Crash Event
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Kind of Accident
25 April 2013
Distribution of Crashes by Kind of Accident Source: RASSI database Coimbatore (2011-2013)
Total no of accidents=377
37%
18%
10% 8% 7% 6% 5% 5% 2% 0% 0%
100%
Kind Of Accident
Pe
rce
nta
ge
of
Ac
cid
en
ts
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Crash Configuration
25 April 2013
Distribution of Crashes by Crash Configuration Source: RASSI database Coimbatore (2011-2013)
Total no of accidents=377
31%
15% 13.5% 13% 11% 10% 5%
1.5%
0%
100%
Head-on Front-side Front-rear Sideswipe Pedestrian Object Rollover Other
Pe
rce
nta
ge
of
Ac
cid
en
ts
Crash Configuration
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Contributing Infrastructure Analysis
In 2011-12 JPRI conducted a project for iRAP
The project was funded by World bank
To understand the infrastructure factors influencing accidents
25 April 2013
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Contributing Infrastructure Factors (SH17)
25 April 2013
Crash Configurations Pre-crash Event Contributing Infrastructure
Factor
Percentage
contribution
(out of 23 accidents
examined)
Front-Rear Collisions Slowed down vehicles
Speed Breaker 12%
Gap-in-Median 8%
4%
Stopped Gap-in-Median 4%
Front-Side Collisions Taking U-turn Gap-in-Median 8%
Turning in/off/crossing over Intersection 12%
Rollovers/Loss of
Control Loss of Control
Speed Breaker 4%
Gap-in-Median 4%
Pedestrian Impacts Walking alongside Or Standing on
road side Poor pedestrian infrastructure 8%
Head-On collision Loss of Control during avoidance
maneuver Gap-in-Median 4%
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Contributing Infrastructure Factors (SH6)
25 April 2013
Crash Configurations Pre-crash Event Contributing Infrastructure
Factor
Percentage
Contribution
(out of 152
accidents in 3 years)
Front-Rear Collisions Parked vehicles Insufficient shoulder width 17.10%
Slowed down vehicles Junction/Gaps-in-median 12.50%
Pedestrian Impacts Walking alongside and crossing
the road Poor Pedestrian Infrastructure 15.13%
Head-On Collisions Traveling in wrong lane Junction/Gaps-in-median 9.21%
Loss of Control Unknown 1.30%
Rollovers
Loss of Control/Avoiding vehicle
in wrong direction Junction/Gaps-in-median 3.94%
Infrastructure issues Road Under Construction 3.94%
Front-Side Collisions Vehicles crossing Junction 3%
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Preliminary Accident Study on Mumbai-Pune Expressway
25 April 2013
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Causal and Contributing Factors
25 April 2013
The 87 accidents examined have been distributed by their contributing factor(s) and shown in the figure alongside.
The numbers in the figure are percentage of the total number of accidents examined.
Hence, the influence of each factor is:
Human : 70%
Vehicle : 30%
Infrastructure : 33%
39%
4% 23%
4%
18% 2%
4%
vehicle
human
infrastructure
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Conclusions – Top 3 Causes
HUMAN VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE
Sleep / Fatigue Brakes failed Lack of road-side & median barriers
Over speeding Tyre defect Lack of traffic control
Loss of control Steering defect Lack of road signage
25 April 2013
Note: The above is based on only 87 accidents examined from 8th October 2012 to
31st March 2013 and the order may change as more and more accidents are
examined in the following months.
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Use of Data
25 April 2013
Median barriers need to be placed:
• At high speed straight stretches
• At sections with concrete structures
This will prevent or significantly reduce the possibility of vehicles crossing over
to the other side and also object impacts with median structures.
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Accident Research is an on-going process
Thank you! [email protected]