Road Safety as a Key Element in Planning & Design

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Road safety as a key element in planning & design

 Sarika Panda BhattManager (Cities & Transport)

WRI-India

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Bridget Driscoll

• The victim:• On August 17, 1896 , she became the first road fatality in the world• 44 year old mother with two children come to London with her teenage 

daughter and a friend to watch a dancing display• The crash• The driver was going at 6.4 km/hr. • The witnesses described her at being hit by a car travelling at 

“tremendous speed”• The inquest• The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death”• At the inquest, the judge said, “This should never happen again”

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The vehicle

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Road safety worldwide: An alarming concern

Worldwide:

• In many countries, road accidents are the most common cause of death in the age group of 15-45.

• In 2020 road accidents are expected to be the third highest cause of death in the world.

Number of road accident deaths per year worldwide

1.3 million

Equivalent to 10 jumbo-jets crashing everyday

Everyday!

Source: World Health Organisation (2004). “World report on road traffic injury prevention”. 

Number of road accident injuries 

per year worldwide

50 million

Image Source: Carsten Wass, Consia

WHO causes of death

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Road safety scenario in India

India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Number of road 

accident deaths  per year

1.4 lakhs

Source: National Crime Records Bureau (2009) “Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India – 2007”. New Delhi, National Crime Records Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs.

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20090

20,00040,00060,00080,000

100,000120,000140,000

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20

40

60

80

100

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Road accident fatalities in India

Fatalities Fatalities / Million Population

Fatalities

Fataliti

es / Million 

Popu

latio

n

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Traditional approach to road safety

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Traditional focus: Making fast travel safe for passengers inside the motor-vehicle

But who is really vulnerable on urban roads

In Delhi, 63% of road fatalities are of pedestrians & bicyclists!

Analysis of road accident data

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Who are the vulnerable road users?

Common statements of the accident problem

About drivers: “In India, no one follows traffic rules.” “In most cases, drivers are at fault. They deliberately drive

recklessly, showing little regard for other road users.”

…and about pedestrians: “There are just too many people on the road – accidents are bound

to happen.” “People are always in a hurry. They do not value their lives, and

hence take unnecessary risks.” “No matter what infrastructure is put in place, people will still break

traffic rules to save a few minutes of their time.”

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The consequence of coincidence of probabilitiesEg. A car hits a pedestrian crossing a roadFactors involved include:• Drivers attention• Pedestrians attention• Car’s braking system• Skid resistance• Visibility

Why does a crash happen?

Driver / Pedestrian

External environment

Vehicle characteristics

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An accident is a rare, random, 

multi-factor event 

If one of the factors is corrected, it is likely that the accident would not happen, or at least, its severity would be reduced

Components of Road Safety

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ENGAGEMENTEDUCATIONENGINEERING

FIVE E’s OF

SAFETY

ENFORCEMENT EMERGENCY

What are the external environment factorsRoad geometry• Road width, continuity, curvature, elevation, etc. • Junction type, lane alignment, channelization, etc.

Pavement conditions• Potholes, debris, dust, water-logging, etc.

Signage & lane marking

Facilities• Crossings, U-turns, parking, auto-rickshaws

Weather

Lighting

Visibility

…and finally, Traffic

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Signs and markings must be regular and clear

Credit: CONSIA

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Road safety in the urban Indian context

Mixed land use with direct plot access

Diverse modes of transport

High pedestrian volume

Informal street activity / vendors

Lack of traffic discipline

Road design principle:Considers how people will behave rather than how people should behave

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A poor  pedestrian crossing

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Unmarked, with no indication to pedestrians or motorists

Narrow width, not consistent with footpath width

No physical treatment to slow down speeding vehicles

Not at level height. Can potentially be a tripping hazard as pedestrians try to cross quickly

Is this really disabled friendly??

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WRI EMBARQ NMT infrastructure design work

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One Way Galleria Road – Present

One Way Galleria Road – After

Road Near Max Hospital – Present

Road Near Max Hospital – After

Courtesy: Nikhil Chaudhary, EMBARQ India 

Road To Galleria – Present

Road To Galleria – After

Courtesy: Nikhil Chaudhary, EMBARQ India 

Death risk

Probability of pedestrian getting killed

Speed km/h

%

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1000

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80

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The 30 – 50 – 70 kmph rule

Speed Management

50%40%30%20%10%0%

-10%-20%-30%-40%-50% -10% -5% 0% 5% 10%

Change in Speed

Change in Casualties

All Injuries

Fatalities

Serious Injuries

A change in approach: Vision Zero

• Towards Zero fatalities or serious injuries in road traffic.  

• Life can never be exchanged for other benefits

• Providers & regulators of the road system are as responsible for safety as users

Vision and principles

• Every accident goes through a rigorous investigation process

• Causes are studied and improvements are immediately implemented 

• Results are monitored

Process

Year Fatalities

1997 541

1998 531

1999 580

2000 591

2001 583

2002 532

2003 529

2004 480

2005 440

2006 445

2007 471

2008 396

2009 355

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Fatalities in Sweden since the adoption of Vision Zero

Started in Sweden in 1997 Policy replicated across many countries in Europe

Any Questions