Accident

Overview
OverviewofofRoad
Black
Roadsafety Spots
safetyinitiatives
initiativesby
bynhai
nhaiand
and
its impact
Identification,itsInternational
impact

and Indian Practices

28-08-2019

H M Naqvi,
Chief General Manager (Tech)
Road Safety Cell & Bridge Cell
National Highways Authority of India
Accidents
Key factors in a road accident occurrence are:
•Road User
•Vehicle
•Road
•Environment

Accidents are random events with multiple causes:

partly of a deterministic nature (possible to act on
them) and partly stochastic (uncontrollable).

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 2

 Safe System Approach

Road Infrastructure Continual

Systems designed Safe Road monitoring of
from historical Infrastructure road operational
knowledge from
similar road
Design and safety
environments conditions

For reducing the road accident deaths, the country should have safe road users
operating a safe vehicle on a safe road network (Safe System Approach).
28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 3
 How to Detect Dangerous Sites?
Existing roads New roads

Accidents Road Features Plans

- All accident data - Inspections - Audits

- Accident patterns - Audits

Safety Deficiencies

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 4

Objective and subjective safety

Proven hazard Measured objectively, based on accident statistics

(Objective safety)

Potential hazard: Scientifically assessed by measuring accident risk in relation to road characteristics
(objective safety) and traffic levels

Experienced hazard: Expressed subjectively by users, most often with a major deviation from proven or
(subjective safety) potential hazard

Intolerable hazard: Types of accidents that are considered intolerable by society, even: e.g. accidents
(subjective safety) involving children, a vehicle crossing a freeway median

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 5

Accident Blackspots?
• The term ‘blackspot’ is derived from the method that was originally
used to identify hazardous sites. Accidents were pinpointed on a
map using colour pins to represent the trauma severity of each of
these accidents.
• It was originally a road location of limited area with a high
concentration of accidents.
• Its correction is usually seen as a highly profitable action in terms of
accident reduction and cost-effectiveness.
• At the identification stage, the objective is to identify those sites that
have an abnormal accident concentration, with this number likely to
be efficiently reduced through road safety engineering actions, rather
than those sites that have a high number of accidents for reasons
that cannot be changed.

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 6

ACCIDENT BLACKSPOT?

There is no universally accepted definition of an accident blackspot.

However, the literature review reveals:

An accident blackspot is a place where road traffic accidents have
historically been concentrated. It may have occurred for a variety of
reasons, such as
• a sharp drop or corner in a straight road, so oncoming traffic is
concealed,
• a hidden junction on a fast road,
• poor or concealed warning signs at a cross-roads.

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 7

Accident blackspot(s) – pedestrian and non-
motorized traffic movement
•Undefined crossing sites
•Narrow road
•Poor visibility
•High vehicle speed
•Rushing into the roadway
•Lack of non-motorized lane or pathway
•Disjointed cycle track
•Low quality shoulder surface
• Negligent crossing or walking

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 8

ACCIDENT BLACKSPOT?
• Research has shown that the numbers of accidents at a particular site will vary
widely from year to year, even if there are no changes in traffic or in the road
layout.

• In statistical terms, road accidents at individual sites are rare, random,

multifactor events. This means that comparisons between the numbers of
accidents at particular sites must be made with respect to a fixed time period,
typically one year. Furthermore, a single year's data will be subject to
considerable statistical variation. Ideally, several years' data are required, from
which a mean, annual accident rate can be calculated.

• Three years is generally regarded as a practical minimum period for which a

reasonably reliable annual average rate can be calculated.

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 9

Accident Based Identification

• Accident based identification method rely on accident analysis to

identify safety problems. These are often called “reactive methods”.

• 1. Accident frequency

• 2. Accident Rate

• 3. combination of Accident

• 4. Accident prediction models

• 5. Empirical Bayesian Methods

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 10

Accident Rate
An accident rate is a ratio between a number of accidents and an
exposure measure. In road engineering studies, traffic volume is the
most commonly used exposure unit (some of vehicles travelling in both
directions).

• Disadvantages of AR
• Traffic volume must be known at each site.
• Does not take into account the random nature of accidents.
• Bias towards low traffic roads.
• Does not take into account accident severity.
• Assumes a linear relationship between traffic volume and accidents.

Used in Austria, US (some states)

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 11

 Accident Frequency

• Accident frequency is the simplest identification criterion. Each accident is

located at its point of occurrence on the road network and a total number of
accidents reported at each site being considered is added up. Sites are ranked in
decreasing order of accident frequency.
• Advantages
• Site with a high frequency detected
• Disadvantages
• Bias towards high traffic volume sites
• Accident frequency and severity are not necessarily linked.
• Accident frequency varies between two observations periods.

Used in US (some states)

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 12

Combination of Accident Rate & Frequency

In this method, combination of AR and AF outputs

are used to rank dangerous sites on road.

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 13

Accident Prediction Models

•Linear Regression model

•Generalised linear models
•Poisson regression
•Negative binomial regression

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 14

 Empirical Bayesian Methods (1/2)

• In order reduce the extent of the problem (accident frequency

reported at site over a relatively short period of time & random
nature of accidents) that may introduce biases in the identification
results, researchers have proposed the use of empirical Bayesian
(EB) methods.

• EB methods are based on concepts similar to that of potential for

improvement, i.e. a site’s safety level is influenced by its
characteristics.

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 15

 Empirical Bayesian Methods (2/2)

• EB methods provide a way to combine a sites’ accident history with the accident history
of several sites having similar characteristics in order to calculate the site’s adjusted
accident frequency.

• EB-Method of moments
• EB-Regression method

• Advantages of EB methods
• Takes into account the random nature of accidents.
• Improve the accuracy of the estimated potential for improvement.
• Disadvantage of EB methods
• Relative complexity

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 16

Blackspots Identification:
Indian Practices
Blackspots on NHs in India

• Focus on Blackspots identification/defintion on NHs started

during 2014/2015 by MoRTH.

• Accordingly, MoRTH finalized blackspot definition for NHs in

2015 vide circular dated 28.10.2015

• MoRTH also identified blackspots on NHs through

accidents/fatalities data collected by Transport Research
Wing (TRW).

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 18

Accident blackspot-Definition by MoRTH

•Vide circular RW/NH/15017//109/2015/P&M (RSCE) dated

28.10.2015, MoRTH defined accident blackspot on NH as
follows:

•Is a stretch of NH of about 500 m in length in which either

•5 road accidents (in three years put together involving
fatalities or grievous injuries)
or
•10 fatalities (in three years put together)
took place during the last 3 calendar years.

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 19

 Blackspots Status
Identification on NHs on
of Blackspots in NHs
India (1/2)
(1/3)

Based on the severity of accidents & fatalities,

MoRTH identified:
I. 2011-2014:
• 789 black spots on all NHs across the country (506 falling under
NHAI) which are being investigated, analyzed and accordingly
mitigation measures are being implemented by NHAI & State Public
Works Departments (PWDs) on priority for its rectification.

28 August, 2019 NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY

H. M. Naqvi, OF INDIA
CGM(T), NHAI 20
(MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS)
 Blackspots
Identification Status on NHs
of Blackspots in India
on NHs (2/3) (2/2)

II. 2015-2018 (18-States):

• MoRTH identified total 8014 blackspots on NHs, SHs, ORs across 18
States of the country.
Blackspots reported B/spots =>10 fatalities in last 3 years

Road No. of blackspots Road No. of blackspots

NH 4677 NH 756

SH 2080 SH 157

OR 974 OR 69

Total 8014 Total 1046

28 August, 2019 NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY

H. M. Naqvi, OF INDIA
CGM(T), NHAI 21
(MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS)
 Blackspots in India (2015-2018):
List of 18 States (3/3)
State State State

Andhra Pradesh Madhya Pradesh Tamil Nadu

West Bengal Rajasthan Gujarat

Delhi Himachal Pradesh Uttrakhand

Arunachal Pradesh Bihar Chandigarh

Punjab Goa Haryana

Manipur Meghalaya Nagaland

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 22

 Steps to be Followed to Mitigate Blackspot(s)
•Verification of blackspot(s) on NHs:
• Regional Officer(s) to confirm that the identified blackspots on NHs, as reported by TRW section, actually falls on
National Highway or not through verification of spot(s) in field by concerned Project Director(s)/Independent
Engineer/Authority Engineer/Safety consultants/Local Police/State PWD.

•Cause of blackspot(s):
• Inspect each black spot on NHs under your jurisdiction, analyse the reason of accidents with respect to geometry and
other features of the highway, the cross roads and other reasons.

•Prepare Report and submit to the concerned Regional Office/technical

Division for approval
• with suggesting remedial measure(s).

•Take short-term remedial measures on Priority.

•Identify long-term measures after detailed study.

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 23

Typical Example of a Blackspot
on NHs in India
BLACKSPOT- Remedial measures

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 25

Approaches to reducing crashes by applying
engineering treatments
• single sites or black spots: Treating specific sites or
short sections of road;
• route action: Applying known remedies on a route
with an abnormally high crash rate;
• area-wide action: Applying several treatments over
a wide area; and
• mass action: Applying a known remedy to locations
with common crash problems or causal factors

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 26

 NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
(MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS)

Safety Measures

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 27

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
(MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS)

Crash Barrier
Unpaved Shoulder

Paved Shoulder
 NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
(MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS)

Crash Cushion at L&T-IDPL's, 6 Lane, Elevated Corridor on NH-1

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 29
 NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
(MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS)

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 30

 NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
(MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS)

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 31

28 August, 2019 H. M. Naqvi, CGM(T), NHAI 32