Research Priorities for the Research Priorities for the Transportation and Traffic Safety Transportation and Traffic Safety

Center in KuwaitCenter in Kuwait

Dr. Fahad AL-RukaibiDr. Fahad AL-RukaibiDirectorDirector

Transportation & Traffic Safety CenterTransportation & Traffic Safety Center

Faculty of Engineering & PetroleumFaculty of Engineering & Petroleum

Kuwait UniversityKuwait University

44thth International Gulf Conference on Roads International Gulf Conference on Roads

Doha – Qatar 2008Doha – Qatar 2008

Background about Background about

KuwaitKuwait

Traffic Safety IssuesTraffic Safety Issues

Research PrioritiesResearch Priorities

Agenda

Transportation in Transportation in

KuwaitKuwait

Background about Background about

KuwaitKuwait

StateState of Kuwait of Kuwait

Population:Population:

1 Million Kuwaiti

2 Millions non-Kuwaiti

Coastal State ~ 200KM coast line

Urban Area concentrated around the

East coast

Urban Area in Urban Area in

state of Kuwaitstate of Kuwait

Transportation in Transportation in

KuwaitKuwait

Main Organizations in Transportation Main Organizations in Transportation

IndustryIndustry Transportation and Traffic Safety Transportation and Traffic Safety

Center, Kuwait UniversityCenter, Kuwait University Traffic Department, MOITraffic Department, MOI Ministry of Public Works (MPW) Kuwait Municipality Higher Traffic Council

Urban TransportationUrban Transportation

Modern network of roadsModern network of roads 5000 KM paved roads5000 KM paved roads 1000 KM non-paved roads 5 Ports 7 Airports 66,000 Driving License each year Number of vehicles ~ 1,250,000

Traffic Safety Traffic Safety

IssuesIssues

Safety IssuesSafety Issues

in 2005 ~ 47,000 accidentsin 2005 ~ 47,000 accidents in 2006 ~ 52,000 accidentsin 2006 ~ 52,000 accidents in 2007 ~ 58,000 accidentsin 2007 ~ 58,000 accidents Death toll ~ 500 persons / yearDeath toll ~ 500 persons / year Injuries toll ~ 5000 persons / year Severe accidents ~ 5000 accidents (2005) Severe accidents ~ 6000 accidents (2006) Traffic penalties ~ 3 millions / year

Accidents/monthAccidents/month

20052005 20062006

Major number of accidents is done by males in Major number of accidents is done by males in

age 18-30age 18-30

Accidents relation to age and gender Accidents relation to age and gender

for year 2005for year 2005

Accidents relation to age and gender Accidents relation to age and gender

for year 2006for year 2006

Major number of accidents is done by males in Major number of accidents is done by males in

age 18-30age 18-30

Severe Accidents (Death Severe Accidents (Death

Accidents) Accidents) in 2005, 90 personsin 2005, 90 persons in 2006, 110 personsin 2006, 110 persons Information System established Information System established

for analysis of severe accidents for analysis of severe accidents

for Engineering Department, MOIfor Engineering Department, MOI

Manual system in recording severe

accidents

Proposed information system for recording

severe accidents

Research Research

PrioritiesPriorities

Transportation Challenges in Transportation Challenges in

Kuwait (1) Kuwait (1) Level of service is low at peak Level of service is low at peak

hourshours High toll of deaths and fatal High toll of deaths and fatal

injuriesinjuries Full dependence on private cars Full dependence on private cars

and taxi as unique mode of and taxi as unique mode of

transportationtransportation

Transportation Challenges in Transportation Challenges in

Kuwait (2)Kuwait (2) Role of transportation in the Role of transportation in the

national strategic development national strategic development

plan (Kuwait as international plan (Kuwait as international

financial center by 2020)financial center by 2020) Different organizations have to Different organizations have to

unify under single umbrella for unify under single umbrella for

transportation managementtransportation management

Research Priorities (1) Research Priorities (1)

Implementation of transit solutions as Implementation of transit solutions as

strategic direction in facing transportation strategic direction in facing transportation

challengeschallenges Enhance decision process in the Enhance decision process in the

transportation industry inside Kuwaittransportation industry inside Kuwait Benefit from the coast in depending on Benefit from the coast in depending on

marine transportation as alternative to marine transportation as alternative to

land transportationland transportation

Research Priorities (2) Research Priorities (2)

National strategy for transportation and National strategy for transportation and

traffic safety in Kuwaittraffic safety in Kuwait Information system for transportation Information system for transportation

researches performed in Kuwaitresearches performed in Kuwait Enhance performance of Traffic Enhance performance of Traffic

department in MOI :department in MOI : System for accidents data collectionSystem for accidents data collection Update traffic counts and surveyUpdate traffic counts and survey

Thank YouThank You