Indian Experience of Road Indian Experience of Road Safety AuditsSafety Audits

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R K R K BajpaiBajpai

CCentral entral RRoad oad RResearch esearch IInstitutenstitute

New DelhiNew Delhi

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Road Safety Audit Is a Road Safety Audit Is a Positive ProcessPositive Process

►►Road safety audit Road safety audit –– the earlier, the the earlier, the better better –– safer, cheapersafer, cheaper

►►Road safety audit may be the only Road safety audit may be the only time that road safety is explicitly time that road safety is explicitly considered in a project.considered in a project.

Road Safety Audit Is a Road Safety Audit Is a Positive ProcessPositive Process

►►Road safety audits are a small part of Road safety audits are a small part of the design cost (1the design cost (1--2% of total design 2% of total design costs)costs)costs)costs)

►►Road safety audits offer great Road safety audits offer great benefits … First year Rate of Return benefits … First year Rate of Return of 120% if audit recommendations of 120% if audit recommendations had been followed.had been followed.

Initial StepsInitial Steps

►►Manual for Safety in Road Design for Manual for Safety in Road Design for Highway Engineers (MORTH Highway Engineers (MORTH -- 1998)1998)

►►Manual for Road Safety Audit Manual for Road Safety Audit

(MORTH (MORTH -- 2003) 2003) (MORTH (MORTH -- 2003) 2003)

Design Stage AuditsDesign Stage Audits

►►NHNH--2 Agra2 Agra––Dhanbad (NHAI)Dhanbad (NHAI)

►►NHNH--28 Lucknow28 Lucknow--Muzaffarpur (NHAI)Muzaffarpur (NHAI)

►►NHNH--3 near Indore (SMEC)3 near Indore (SMEC)

Chittorgarh Bypass (NHAI)Chittorgarh Bypass (NHAI)►►Chittorgarh Bypass (NHAI)Chittorgarh Bypass (NHAI)

PrePre--opening Stage Auditsopening Stage Audits

►►NHNH--3 Bypass near Indore (SMEC)3 Bypass near Indore (SMEC)

►►DND Flyway (NTBC)DND Flyway (NTBC)

Operational Stage AuditsOperational Stage Audits

►►Mumbai Mumbai PunePune Expressway (MSRDC)Expressway (MSRDC)

►►Western Transport Corridor (NHAI)Western Transport Corridor (NHAI)

►►DelhiDelhi--GurgaonGurgaon Access Controlled Access Controlled NHNH--8 Section (NHAI)8 Section (NHAI)NHNH--8 Section (NHAI)8 Section (NHAI)

►►NHNH--4 and NH4 and NH--7 near Bangalore 7 near Bangalore (NHAI)(NHAI)

NH 2 Road Safety AuditNH 2 Road Safety AuditGeneral ItemsGeneral Items

►►Safety Culture In IndiaSafety Culture In India

►►Detail Design DrawingsDetail Design Drawings►►Detail Design DrawingsDetail Design Drawings

►►EmbankmentsEmbankments

►►Safety BarriersSafety Barriers

Safety Culture in IndiaSafety Culture in India

►►Fatality Rate 6 times UKFatality Rate 6 times UK

►►More People Die in India than any other More People Die in India than any other

country country country country

Safety Culture in IndiaSafety Culture in India

►►Drivers Poorly DisciplinedDrivers Poorly Disciplined

►►Traffic Mix of Motor Vehicles, NMVs, Traffic Mix of Motor Vehicles, NMVs,

Pedestrians & Animals Pedestrians & Animals

►► Big Speed DifferentialsBig Speed Differentials

Safety Culture in IndiaSafety Culture in IndiaBAD NEWSBAD NEWS

►►Poorly Maintained RoadsPoorly Maintained Roads

►►EncroachmentEncroachment

►►Ribbon DevelopmentRibbon Development►►Ribbon DevelopmentRibbon Development

►►Too Many AccessesToo Many Accesses

►►Poor Traffic EngineeringPoor Traffic Engineering

►►Lack of Design for Vulnerable Road UsersLack of Design for Vulnerable Road Users

Safety Culture in IndiaSafety Culture in IndiaBAD NEWSBAD NEWS

►►Lack of Enforcement on Rural Roads Lack of Enforcement on Rural Roads

►►Limited Road Safety EducationLimited Road Safety Education

►►Difficult Weather ConditionsDifficult Weather Conditions

Safety Culture in IndiaSafety Culture in IndiaGOOD NEWSGOOD NEWS

►►Growing Awareness of Importance of Road Growing Awareness of Importance of Road SafetySafety

MOST Road Safety ManualMOST Road Safety Manual►►MOST Road Safety ManualMOST Road Safety Manual

►►World Bank InitiativesWorld Bank Initiatives

►►GRSP BangaloreGRSP Bangalore

►►NHAI Rehabilitation ProgrammeNHAI Rehabilitation Programme

Safety Culture in IndiaSafety Culture in IndiaGOOD NEWSGOOD NEWS

►►Modern Standards of DesignModern Standards of Design

►►Modern Standards of ConstructionModern Standards of Construction

►►Corridor ManagementCorridor Management

►► NHAI Rehabilitation ProgrammeNHAI Rehabilitation Programme

Safety Culture in IndiaSafety Culture in IndiaBAD NEWSBAD NEWS

NH2NH2

►►Increase in VehiclesIncrease in Vehicles

►►Same mix of TrafficSame mix of Traffic►►Same mix of TrafficSame mix of Traffic

►►Increase in Top SpeedsIncrease in Top Speeds

►►Increase in Accidents?Increase in Accidents?

►►Increase in Severity?Increase in Severity?

►►Problems at CommunitiesProblems at Communities

Safety Culture in IndiaSafety Culture in IndiaRECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

NH2NH2

►► Liaison with CommunitiesLiaison with Communities►► Liaison with CommunitiesLiaison with Communities

►► Education & PublicityEducation & Publicity

►► Traffic CalmingTraffic Calming

►► Targeted EnforcementTargeted Enforcement

Safety Culture in IndiaSafety Culture in IndiaRECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

NH2 CORRIDOR MANAGEMENTNH2 CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT

►►Increased MaintenanceIncreased Maintenance

►►Increased Traffic PoliceIncreased Traffic Police

►►Control of Control of

Ribbon DevelopmentRibbon Development

EncroachmentEncroachment

AccessesAccesses

Detailed Design DrawingsDetailed Design Drawings

►► 15 Different Sections15 Different Sections

►► 5 Different Teams of Consultants5 Different Teams of Consultants

Lack of UniformityLack of Uniformity

Specific ProblemsSpecific Problems

Detailed Design DrawingsDetailed Design Drawings

Specific ProblemsSpecific Problems

►►Poor Traffic Engineering:Poor Traffic Engineering:

Major JunctionsMajor JunctionsMajor JunctionsMajor Junctions

Minor JunctionsMinor Junctions

Pedestrian FacilitiesPedestrian Facilities

TransitionsTransitions

Service RoadsService Roads

Signs & markingsSigns & markings

Detailed Design DrawingsDetailed Design Drawings

Specific ProblemsSpecific Problems

►►Inadequate Details:Inadequate Details:►►Inadequate Details:Inadequate Details:

Guard RailsGuard Rails

Construction Safety & ManagementConstruction Safety & Management

General Notes to Contractor General Notes to Contractor

EmbankmentsEmbankments

1:2 Side Slopes1:2 Side Slopes1:2 Side Slopes1:2 Side Slopes

No Guard RailsNo Guard Rails

EmbankmentsEmbankmentsRecommendationsRecommendations

1:4 Side Slopes1:4 Side Slopes

Add Guard RailsAdd Guard Rails

EdgelinesEdgelines, Warning Signs, Delineators, Warning Signs, Delineators

Guard RailsGuard Rails

Behind Kerbing (No!)Behind Kerbing (No!)Behind Kerbing (No!)Behind Kerbing (No!)

Instead of Parapets Instead of Parapets

(No!)(No!)

Guard RailsGuard Rails

Approaches to BridgesApproaches to BridgesApproaches to BridgesApproaches to Bridges

Appropriate Stiffening & ConnectionAppropriate Stiffening & Connection

Appropriate Safe EndsAppropriate Safe Ends

Adequate MaintenanceAdequate Maintenance

MORE TO FOLLOWMORE TO FOLLOW--------MORE TO FOLLOWMORE TO FOLLOW--------

Consulting Services for Road

Safety Audit

Western Transport Corridor & Western Transport Corridor &

East – West Corridor

Location PlanLocation Plan

KISHANGARH

NH-8

JAIPUR

KISHANGARH

NASIRABADNH-79A

NH-79

NH-76NH-8

MANGALWARUDAIPUR

CHITTORGARH

Package A SectionsPackage A SectionsNo.No. SectionSection NH NH

No.No.LengtLengt

hhStatus of Status of SectionSection

Stage of AuditStage of Audit

11 Delhi to Jaipur Bypass Phase IIDelhi to Jaipur Bypass Phase II 88 177.2177.2 4 lanes4 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

22 Jaipur Bypass Phase II & Phase IJaipur Bypass Phase II & Phase I 88 47.647.6 4 /6 lanes4 /6 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

33 Mahapura (near Jaipur) to KishangarhMahapura (near Jaipur) to Kishangarh 88 91.191.1 6 lanes6 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

44 Kishangarh to NasirabadKishangarh to Nasirabad 79A79A 36.236.2 4 lanes4 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

55 Nasirabad to Bhilwara Bypass JnNasirabad to Bhilwara Bypass Jn 7979 106.0106.0 4 lanes4 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

66 Bhilwara Bypass Jn to Chittorgarh Bypass JnBhilwara Bypass Jn to Chittorgarh Bypass Jn 7979 39.039.0 4 lanes4 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

77 Chittorgarh BypassChittorgarh Bypass 7979 29.629.6 4 lanes proposed4 lanes proposed Detailed DesignDetailed Design

88 Chittorgarh Bypass Junction to MangalwarChittorgarh Bypass Junction to Mangalwar 7676 41.041.0 4 lanes4 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

99 Mangalwar to Udaipur Bypass JunctionMangalwar to Udaipur Bypass Junction 7676 58.258.2 4 lanes4 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

1010 Udaipur BypassUdaipur Bypass 88 10.610.6 2 lanes2 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

1111 Udaipur Bypass JnUdaipur Bypass Jn to Kesariajito Kesariaji 88 62.962.9 4 lanes4 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

1212 Kesariaji to RatanpurKesariaji to Ratanpur 88 48.548.5 4 lanes4 lanes Existing RoadExisting Road

TotalTotal 747.9747.9

The Audit ProcessThe Audit Process

►► Initial drive of entire route (5 days)Initial drive of entire route (5 days)

►► Conduct detailed audit inspectionsConduct detailed audit inspections

�� Teams of three auditorsTeams of three auditors

�� Record safety issues referenced by Record safety issues referenced by kilometrekilometre postsposts�� Record safety issues referenced by Record safety issues referenced by kilometrekilometre postsposts

►► Tabulate audit findings and develop proposed actionsTabulate audit findings and develop proposed actions

►► Conduct check auditsConduct check audits

�� Review safety issues and amend as necessaryReview safety issues and amend as necessary

►► Prepare estimates and Prepare estimates and prioritiseprioritise recommendationsrecommendations

Key Findings Key Findings

►► Issue:Issue: Roadside Safety Roadside Safety –– Side SlopesSide Slopes

►► Side slopes on fill embankments are too steepSide slopes on fill embankments are too steep

►► High fill slopes not adequately shielded High fill slopes not adequately shielded –– current standard current standard of installing crash barrier when fill height exceeds 3 of installing crash barrier when fill height exceeds 3 metres is not always followedmetres is not always followedmetres is not always followedmetres is not always followed

Key Findings Key Findings

►► IssueIssue: Roadside Safety : Roadside Safety –– Open DrainsOpen Drains

►► Open drains both on the left of the roadway and in the Open drains both on the left of the roadway and in the median are common roadside hazardsmedian are common roadside hazards

►► Drains are too deep and / or have steep side slopesDrains are too deep and / or have steep side slopes

Key Findings Key Findings

►► Issue:Issue: Roadside Safety Roadside Safety –– Fixed HazardsFixed Hazards

►► Poles, trees and sign support structures too close to the Poles, trees and sign support structures too close to the edge of the roadwayedge of the roadway

►► Unshielded culvert and bridge parapetsUnshielded culvert and bridge parapets

Key FindingsKey Findings►► Issue:Issue: Crash BarriersCrash Barriers

►► Inappropriate or lack of safe end terminalsInappropriate or lack of safe end terminals

►► Unsafe transitions between WUnsafe transitions between W--beam crash barriers beam crash barriers and concrete barriers, particularly at bridge and and concrete barriers, particularly at bridge and culvert parapetsculvert parapets

►► Too many gaps in WToo many gaps in W--beam crash barriersbeam crash barriers►► Too many gaps in WToo many gaps in W--beam crash barriersbeam crash barriers

►► Delays in repairing damaged or stolen componentsDelays in repairing damaged or stolen components

Key Findings Key Findings

►► Issue:Issue: ShouldersShoulders►► Observed high incidence of Observed high incidence of

crashes involving trucks stopped crashes involving trucks stopped on the shoulderson the shoulders

►► Use of shoulders by trucks for Use of shoulders by trucks for activities for which they are not activities for which they are not intendedintendedintendedintended

►► Encroachment of parked trucks Encroachment of parked trucks into the adjacent traffic laneinto the adjacent traffic lane

►► Effective width of paved Effective width of paved shoulders reduced by Wshoulders reduced by W--beam beam crash barrierscrash barriers

Key Findings Key Findings ►► Issue:Issue: IntersectionsIntersections

►► Inadequate control at major intersections, particularly Inadequate control at major intersections, particularly in habitationsin habitations

►► Absence of sheltered right turn lanes at many Absence of sheltered right turn lanes at many locationslocations

►► Complex intersection with high number of potential Complex intersection with high number of potential conflict points, particularly where service roads existconflict points, particularly where service roads existconflict points, particularly where service roads existconflict points, particularly where service roads exist

Key Findings Key Findings

►► IssueIssue: Pedestrian Safety: Pedestrian Safety

►► Inadequate provision for Inadequate provision for pedestrians to safely cross the pedestrians to safely cross the Highway in town and villagesHighway in town and villages

►► High vehicle speeds put High vehicle speeds put pedestrians at riskpedestrians at risk

►► High vehicle speeds put High vehicle speeds put pedestrians at riskpedestrians at risk

►► Zebra crossings are ignored by Zebra crossings are ignored by driversdrivers

►► Pedestrian crossing obstructed Pedestrian crossing obstructed by crash barriers and fencingby crash barriers and fencing

►► Pedestrian crossings not Pedestrian crossings not continuous across both continuous across both carriagewayscarriageways

Key Findings & Key Findings & RecommendationsRecommendations

Urban Junction / Pedestrian

Zebra Crossing.

- May also include traffic

signals or a roundabout to

control traffic

Low profile speed reduction

device

S3

100m

Varies

S1

S2 S3

S2

S1

Kotpulti

Slow Down

- Or a speed limit sign for

the adjacent road section

Typical traffic calming treatment

Key Findings Key Findings

►► Issue:Issue: Accident Data and RecordsAccident Data and Records

►► Accident data are difficult to getAccident data are difficult to get

►► Reliability and accuracy of dataReliability and accuracy of data

are questionableare questionable

Recording format isRecording format is►► Recording format isRecording format is

inconsistentinconsistent

►► Analysis is difficultAnalysis is difficult

Other IssuesOther Issues►► Service Roads Service Roads –– TwoTwo--way service roads with narrow outer way service roads with narrow outer

separators create safety issues.separators create safety issues.►► Median Openings Median Openings –– Often poorly located because of lack of Often poorly located because of lack of

planning and understanding of local movements. Can result planning and understanding of local movements. Can result in wrong way traffic movements.in wrong way traffic movements.

►► Delineation Delineation –– Not Not consideredconsidered adequate for a National adequate for a National Highway network, particularly for night time driving.Highway network, particularly for night time driving.Highway network, particularly for night time driving.Highway network, particularly for night time driving.

►► Speed Limits and Speeding Speed Limits and Speeding –– Speed limits are poorly signed Speed limits are poorly signed and there is no visible enforcement. The development of a and there is no visible enforcement. The development of a speed management strategy for National Highways is speed management strategy for National Highways is recommended.recommended.