scholarly journals Identification and Analysis of Problems in the Implementation of Road Safety Audit in Lithuania

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-126
Author(s):  
Aja Tumavičė ◽  
Igoris Kravcovas ◽  
Vilma Jasiūnienė

Road Safety Audits have already been tightly incorporated in the road design process throughout the world. It has proven to be an effective way of increasing road safety without requiring many resources. The cost-benefit-ratios of Road Safety Audits in developed countries are rather high. In Lithuania, the procedure on Road Safety Audits is fairly new, and the direct links between different problems and their occurrence frequency throughout the years are yet to be determined. In this paper, several audits on road safety, performed between the years 2011 and 2017 by the Road Research Institute of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, is analysed. The trends of most relevant problem types identified in those audits throughout the years for different types of roads and streets are presented. Based on those trends, the causes of some common problems are being recognised. Recommendations on possible solutions are suggested.

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donatas Čygas ◽  
Vilma Jasiūnienė ◽  
Mantas Bartkevičius

Traffic safety situation in Lithuania, despite the progress made in 2008, is still not good enough compared to the other European Union countries. Therefore, Lithuania implements the traffic safety improvement measures affecting all the elements of the traffic safety system “Road user‐road‐vehicle”. In 2008 Lithuania started implementing the road safety audit procedure which substantially contributes to the improvement of safety situation on Lithuanian roads. This article gives the analysis of road safety audits of special plans and technical designs for road construction and reconstruction in Lithuania, makes the analysis of the main deficiencies of plans and designs and gives recommendations for their elimination. Santrauka Eismo saugumo situacija Lietuvoje, nepaisant 2008 m. pasiektos pažangos, vis dar yra nepakankamai gera, palyginti su kitomis Europos Sąjungos šalimis. Atsižvelgiant į tai, Lietuvoje įgyvendinamos eismo saugumo gerinimo priemonės, darančios įtaką visiems eismo saugumo sistemos „Eismo dalyvis–kelias–transporto priemonė“ elementams. Lietuvoje 2008 m. buvo pradėta taikyti kelių saugumo audito procedūra, kuri prisideda prie eismo saugumo gerinimo Lietuvos automobilių keliuose. Straipsnyje pateikta Lietuvoje atliktų specialiųjų planų ir automobilių kelių tiesimo bei rekonstrukcijos techninių projektų kelių saugumo auditų analizė, išanalizuoti pagrindiniai planų ir projektų trūkumai, pateiktos rekomendacijos jiems šalinti.


Author(s):  
Cumhur Aydin ◽  
Nura Balla

As a consequence of increasing traffic volume and mobility, road accidents have been a serious problem especially in low and middle-income countries. The number of road accidents in such countries tends to increase every year. Considering different contributing factors to the road accidents, road and its environment have played an important role. Road safety audits and road safety inspections have been worldwide used tools to monitor and to evaluate road projects and existing road sections from the safety perspective. In this study, through the evaluation of different safety auditing techniques applied in the world, a case study on a Nigerian Road Section has been implemented. The expectations from such a study are: (i) To show the main safety deficiencies of the Nigerian road sections; and (ii) To introduce a new tool to the local road authorities to further use it for monitoring their road sections. Based on this study, the audit report was prepared to summarize findings with possible countermeasures.


Author(s):  
Aja Tumavičė ◽  
Juratė Vitkienė ◽  
Svaja Kaniušėnienė ◽  
Igoris Kravcovas ◽  
Ineta Lingytė

In order to reduce accident rate on roads and streets more and more various road safety measures are being imple- mented each year. Nevertheless, road safety problem exists in most countries. For example, even though accident rate in Lith- uania was almost halved (6372 to 3161 yearly accidents) from years 2004 to 2015, fatality rate is still quite high – 8.3 per 100000 people. New regulations, approved in 2008, dictate the need of carrying out road safety audits and road safety inspec- tions for all road and street design projects. This paper presents most common road design errors and methods of fixing those errors based on Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Road Research Institute road safety auditors’ experience from years 2011 to 2016. Most common safety problems are organized and presented in groups ordered by their importance. Recommen- dations on how to improve road safety audit and inspection procedures in the future are formulated, as well as suggestions on improving road project design stage by taking most common flaw priority into consideration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5899
Author(s):  
Yeonsoo Jun ◽  
Juneyoung Park ◽  
Chunho Yeom

This paper evaluates experimental variables for virtual road safety audits (VRSAs) through practical experiments to promote sustainable road safety. VRSAs perform road safety audits using driving simulators (DSs), and all objects in the road environment cannot be experimental variables because of realistic constraints. Therefore, the study evaluates the likelihood of recommendation of VRSA experimental variables by comparing DSs experiments and field reviews to secure sustainable road safety conditions. The net promoter score results evaluated “Tunnel”, “Bridge”, “Underpass”, “Footbridge”, “Traffic island”, “Sign”, “Lane”, “Road marking”, “Traffic light”, “Median barrier”, “Road furniture”, and “Traffic condition” as recommended variables. On the contrary, the “Road pavement”, “Drainage”, “Lighting”, “Vehicle”, “Pedestrian”, “Bicycle”, “Accident”, and “Hazard event” variables were not recommended. The study can be used for decision making in VRSA scenario development as an initial effort to evaluate its experimental variables.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2039
Author(s):  
Juan F. Dols ◽  
Jaime Molina ◽  
F. Javier Camacho-Torregrosa ◽  
David Llopis-Castelló ◽  
Alfredo García

The analysis of road safety is critical in road design. Complying to guidelines is not enough to ensure the highest safety levels, so many of them encourage designers to virtually recreate and test their roads, benefitting from the evolution of driving simulators in recent years. However, an accurate recreation of the road and its environment represents a real bottleneck in the process. A very important limitation lies in the diversity of input data, from different sources and requiring specific adaptations for every single simulator. This paper aims at showing a framework for recreating faster virtual scenarios by using an Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)-based file. This methodology was compared to two other conventional methods for developing driving scenarios. The main outcome of this study has demonstrated that with a data exchange file in IFC format, virtual scenarios can be faster designed to carry out safety audits with driving simulators. As a result, the editing, programming, and processing times were substantially reduced using the proposed IFC exchange file format through a BIM (Building Information Modeling) model. This methodology facilitates cost-savings, execution, and optimization resources in road safety analysis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 170 ◽  
pp. 06008
Author(s):  
Prashant Awsarmal ◽  
S. L. Hake ◽  
Shubham Vaidya ◽  
P. K. Bhandari ◽  
M. P. Wagh

Efficient road network is a part-n-parcel of rapid industralization, urbanization and development of nation. While designing roads and highways, main emphasis is given on speed which will help to reduce time of journey and save fuel. But safety of drivers and passengers travelling along road is also important. In past, it was observed that while travelling, due to excess speed passengers safety was compromised. It will lead to accidents. It may cause severe injuries and loss of human life. Therefore it is important to check every aspect of vehicles as well as road during its design, construction and throughout the life of the road. Road safety audit is conducted to check performance of new road projects on grounds of offering maximum safety. Also checks are applied to study performance of existing roads to suggest repairs, rehabiliatation and maintenance work in order to improve condition of roads. During audit process, accident prone locations are identified. Past accident record from traffic department, Police department, hospitals etc are referred to understand damage that had occured. Even road geometry is investigated on technical basis. In present investigation, particular stretch of Beed Bypass Road passing through Aurangabad city in Maharashtra state, India was selected. On this road, accident sites where major accidents occurred in past were identified and investigated for different parameters. Based upon study, different causes of accidents and thereafter preventive methods were recommended during research work.


2003 ◽  
Vol 1819 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene M. Wilson ◽  
Martin E. Lipinski

Practical tools for improving transportation safety are needed worldwide. It has been estimated that motor vehicle–related crashes account for more than 1 million fatalities each year, and the number of serious injuries far exceeds fatalities. Local and low-volume roads are significantly overrepresented in crash statistics. Globally, the road safety audit (RSA) concept has been recognized as an effective tool in identifying and reducing the crash potential of roadways when used to analyze the safety aspects of project plans and designs before completion. In the local rural road arena, many safety issues are associated with existing roadway networks. Many of these networks have developed over time with little or no planning or design. There is a critical need for a practical tool that focuses on the safety of the existing as-built local road network. The RSA review (RSAR) process has been developed for this purpose, giving specific recognition to the functionality of the road being evaluated for safety issues. Significant numbers of safety improvements are needed, and practical approaches to address these needs are crucial. The RSAR tool has the potential to be particularly beneficial to local governments in systematically addressing safety deficiencies on existing rural road networks. In addition, it is a proactive safety tool that has the potential to protect agencies from tort liability since it establishes a record of the organization’s safety agenda. An RSAR methodology that can be adapted by local agencies is presented. A case study illustrating the application of this process is included. Also highlighted is a local rural training program that has been presented in several states for county applications. The focus is on U.S. county applications, but it is recognized that the process has utility for other agencies and has application in other countries. The necessity for training as a key component in the development of a sustainable safety program is emphasized.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-120
Author(s):  
Hamed Seddighi ◽  
◽  
Ibrahim Salmani ◽  
Saeideh Seddighi ◽  
◽  
...  

Background: Volunteering has great economic and social benefits, but it is neglected due to the nature of the work. This study aimed to assess the monetary aspect of the voluntary activities in the National Plan of Safety and Health of Nowruz Passengers and analyze the cost of the implementation of this plan, regarding youth volunteers. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 1574 volunteers outlined in the plan were analyzed with the wage replacement and replacement cost approach for the monetary evaluation of voluntary activities. Also, the cost-benefit analysis of the Red Crescent voluntary plan was calculated by the volunteer investment and value audit technique. Results: In the mentioned road safety plan, the sum of the economic values of volunteering work was multiplied by the number of working hours of youth volunteers per day. Thus, the number of young people was determined, considering the average wage per hour for these people, the monetary value of $69 885.6 was obtained for the voluntary activities. Also, the volunteer investment and value audit rate was $10.6; it means that every dollar spent by Red Crescent would cost more than $10 if it were not voluntary.  Conclusion: According to the present findings, it seems that the National Plan of Safety and Health of Nowruz Passengers had been economically profitable for the Red Crescent population and the government because of its high revenue, compared with its cost.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Masahiro Nishimura

Road safety audits (RSAs) have been applied in many developing and developed countries as a way to enhance the safety of road infrastructure since they were first introduced in the late 1980s in the United Kingdom. RSAs have proven to be an effective tool to enhance the design of both new and existing roads from an overall safety perspective. In the early 2000s, the Government of Japan (GOJ) reviewed RSAs as well as new public management (NPM) (both viewed as good practices in the United Kingdom and other countries) and now promotes RSAs in developing countries through its bilateral and multilateral official development assistance. However, although NPM has been applied within Japan, RSAs have not been applied on Japan’s domestic road projects. This article reviews factors that may explain why the GOJ has not applied RSAs from the organizational culture perspective of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT), which administers the Japanese road transport subsector. The article also reviews an RSA pilot project started in 2013 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan and a nation-wide pilot program started in 2015. Factors that may influence how the GOJ can apply RSAs successfully are discussed in line with the MLIT’s absorptive capacity.


1952 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dietrich G. Stechert ◽  
Thomas D. Bolt

Abstract The observed existence of a linear log-log relationship between nonskid loss and mileage in a great number of widely different types of tests may be exploited in order to realize substantial savings in the road testing of tires for tread wear. In many evaluations it is common practice for the Gates Rubber Co. to test tires to one half initial nonskid depth or to some arbitrary mileage only. The regression line and mileage to baldness are then determined. Of course, the greater the amount of data, and the more accurately controlled the conditions of testing, the more reliable will be the mileage to baldness. If in tread wear evaluations tests were terminated prior to baldness, about $180 could be saved for each passenger tire tested, and $490 for each truck tire, for every 10,000 miles. One investigation, to determine the effect of three different tire designs on tread wear, was made at a total cost of $2200. If all tires had been tested to baldness, the cost would have been approximately $4600. In comparison with former common practice, the application of the proposed method of analysis of tire wear measurements can result in more reliable tread wear evaluations, more economical utilization of the tire test fleet, and a more rapid turnover of ideas.


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