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Accident Scenarios on Indian Roads: A Study of Driver 2017-26-0002
Behaviour and Road Infrastructure, Based on Data Collected
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Published 01/10/2017
by ADAC
Sitikantha Padhy
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NATRIP
Pradeep Agrawal
Ministry of Heavy Industries & PE
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Yoginder Yadav
NATRIP
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CITATION: Padhy, S., Agrawal, P., and Yadav, Y., "Accident Scenarios on Indian Roads: A Study of Driver Behaviour and Road
Infrastructure, based on data collected by ADAC," SAE Technical Paper 2017-26-0002, 2017, doi:10.4271/2017-26-0002.
Abstract
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between 2-3 percent of GDP (Gross domestic product) every year. In
the year 2012, the Planning Commission had assessed the economic
Most of the time in motor vehicle accidents, the driver of the vehicle
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cost more than 1 lakh crore on account of road accidents in India.
(especially driver of the larger vehicle in case of collision involving
Therefore, In India, there is a dire need to carry out analysis of road
multiple vehicles) is held responsible for rash and negligent driving.
accidents through scientific and systematic approach.
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But in-depth study and statistics, points out several external or
environmental factors playing crucial role in these unfortunate
In many low-income and middle-income countries, systematic efforts
incidents. In some cases these factors directly influence an accident/
to collect road traffic data are not well developed and underreporting
crash and in some cases these factors influence the behavior pattern of
of deaths and serious injuries are very common. There is, therefore,
the driver, which increases risk of unsafe practices. Based on the real
an important responsibility on the state to ensure that the necessary
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time data collected by ADAC on the Gurgaon - Jaipur Stretch of NH-8
systems are established and the effective precautionary measures on
and others parts of India, some of the factors that directly or indirectly
the main injury problems are communicated to a wider audience.
influences the drivers behaviour, are illustrated in this paper.
On
Only by systematic and data-led management of the leading road
injury problems significant reductions in exposure to crash risk and in
Introduction the severity of crashes can be achieved.
Road crashes deserve to be treated as a strategic issue for any
Moving in the right direction the Accident Data Analysis Center
countrys public health, safety and security of its citizen failing which
(ADAC) facility of National Automotive Testing and R & D
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it can lead to overall growth crisis. The global statistics[01] reveals
Infrastructure Project (NATRiP) is a unique initiative by Government
that Road traffic crashes kills more than 1.2 million people every year
of India in the field of scientific research and analysis of accident
and injures more than 50 millions. Over 90% of the worlds fatalities
data. ADAC is envisaged to be state of the art national center with
on the roads occur in low-income and middle-income countries, which
capabilities on accident data collection, analysis and research for
have 48% of the worlds registered vehicles. Beyond the enormous
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policy formulation by the Government of India as well as ensuring
suffering they cause, road traffic accidents can drive a family into
safe vehicle and highways design to reduce number of accidents,
poverty as crash survivors and their families struggle to cope with the
fatalities and losses.
long term consequences of the event, including the cost of medical
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care and rehabilitation and the loss of the family breadwinner.
For making the government exercise in this direction, meaningful and
strengthening the accident data collection methodology, ADAC in
In 2015, 1.46 lakh deaths and 5.01 lakh injuries (cumulative) in road
association with Ministry of Road Transport & Highways,
traffic crashes were registered in India[02]. At almost every 4 minute
participated in the Pilot Project for cashless treatment of accident
one death and every minute one injury and one accident occur in
victims on the Gurgaon-Jaipur Highway; which was launched by
India due to road accident. Estimates of the Planning Commission of
joint effort of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Haryana
India and the World Bank have put the social cost of accidents
State Government, Rajasthan State Government, ICICI Lombard point where the truck rolled over a 5 meter wide, 25cm deep pothole
General Insurance Co. Ltd., Ziqitza Health care Limited and NATRiP was found on the shoulder right on the edge of the road [as shown in
on the Gurgaon-Jaipur National Highway stretch of NH-8. picture-1: (c)].
In this project two teams of ADAC engineers and IIT-Delhi
representatives equipped with various equipments for scientific
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accident data collection and Mobile Crash Lab (MCL) vehicles; were
deputed on the 198kms stretch of the National Highway-8 for further
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research and analysis for a period of two years. With the cooperation
from the state police department and empanelled hospitals, valuable
raw data from various serious motor vehicle accidents were collected
on regular basis.
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Sample Case Studies
The following case studies illustrates some of the factors that directly
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or indirectly influence the driver's behaviour on the road.
1. Damaged/Under Construction Road
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Picture-1: (a) shows an accident site where a truck has rolled over.
First impression of the sight may hint towards the over laden cargo Picture-1 (b). Multiple Roads at the intersection
that might be the cause of roll over. But in depth observation pointed
otherwise. The truck was loaded with 15 tonnes of chaff and the
loading capacity of the truck was 15 tonnes. This accident happened
at a place of an intersection between a National Highway and a rural
road. Apart from that, a semi construction new highway road was
running parallel to the existing old highway road, that merges with
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the existing one at the intersection [as shown in Picture-1: (b)]. Due
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to absence of any signages or blockade, traffic was open for both the
road. Further, 50 meters ahead of the intersection, a narrow bridge lay
ahead with a road width of 8 meters (no prior signage for the narrow
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bridge ahead was present).
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Picture-1 (c). 5 meter wide, 25cm deep pothole on the Shoulder of the road
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Also the pothole had partially damaged the road surface at the contact
point, creating a height difference of 35cm at the road edge. As the
resulting scratches were analysed, over-speeding of the vehicle was
ruled out.
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From the preliminary observation it could be found out that the
presence of a narrow bridge ahead may have resulted in a traffic jam
and multiple merging of traffic through various sides of roads could
have influence the driver to drive the truck on the shoulder. When the
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right side wheel of the rear axle fell in the pothole, due to the height
Picture-1 (a). Accident Site
difference, the vehicle might have inclined to the right and because of
high inclination angle the vehicle might have rolled over to the side.
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Due to the narrow bridge, at times, it leads into a traffic jam which
influence drivers (coming from various roads/lanes) to drive their
vehicle parallel to each other (as per witness, the accident took place Picture-2: (a) shows a similar kind of accident site where a dumper
at the time of a traffic jam). Just a few meters after the intersection it truck has rolled over on another side by passenger [Link] accident
was found that the road was heavily damaged on its right. At the took place on the service road of the NH-8 in an urban and industrial
location at around 03:00 AM in the morning.
