The effect of roadway geometry on road traffic safety in Ethiopia: analysis of black spots. (R-5401)

Traffic accident claims 1.2 million lives and disables more than 50 million annually. However, the problem is worse in low-income countries with an acute increasing trend. As a low-income developing country, Ethiopia is also facing the same problem. According to WHO estimate, the fatality rate was 386.5 fatality/10,000 vehicles which is one of the highest fatality rates in Africa. Furthermore, analysis on the reported traffic accident showed that, both fatality and total crash doubled only in the last ten years. Despite the serious problem, the whole blame for the accident cause focus on driver behaviour without in-depth investigation. However; different researches in developed countries showed that, roadway environment do have significant contribution for the road traffic accident and also easily treated or mitigated. Hence, this research will be dedicated to investigate the effect of the roadway geometry on road safety in Ethiopia case by focusing on black spots. Empirical-bay and before-after analysis will be used for identifying, prioritizing and investigating effects.

Keywords:risk and evaluation studies, road user behavior, traffic safety

Disciplines:Animal experimental and comparative psychology, Applied psychology, Human experimental psychology, Applied economics, Economic history, Macroeconomics and monetary economics, Microeconomics, Tourism