Ongelukspatrone op buitestedelike paaie, met spesifieke verwysing na die Vrystaat

Abstract

ACCIDENT PATTERNS ON RURAL ROADS, WITH SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE FREE STATE STUDY LEADER FELLOW STUDY LEADER FACULTY DEPARTMENT DEGREE W. Joubert C. Heckroodt Engineering Civil Engineering Magister Technologiae: Engineering: Civi l It is in the best interest of any country to keep the costs involved in road accidents as low as possible - more so for South Africa where these costs represent a big portion of the country's national budget. Intensive investigations and research are however necessary before this goal can be aChieved. This report contains the most important information regarding accident patterns in the Free State. The information will to a great extent correspond with accident patterns for the rest of South Africa. The main purpose of this document is to provide potential researchers with initial guidelines . The document also contains information to give guidance in the process of the implementation of law enforcement and accident elimination actions. The most important aspects of accidents and factors contributing to accidents were investigated. Summarized information for South Africa can be found in the first part of the report. The second part consists of detailed results regarding accident patterns in the Free State. Useful information was obtained during the investigation . More detailed information can be found at the end of the report, although the most general findings and conclusions are listed below: , accidents on urban roads are more of a problem than accidents on rural roads, especially if accident frequencies and injuries are taken into consideration; .,. the Free State has had the highest accident rate of the four provinces (of the previous regime) during 1996; , more fatalities take place on South-Africa's roads when compared with other big countries. The average number of fatalities per 100 000 people (11) for other big countries is less than half of that of South Africa; .,. head-on accidents (3,5% of total) and accidents where the vehicles have overturned (41,4% of total) are too high . This can mainly be blamed on high operating speeds and reckless driving; , the widening of lanes and the provision of surfaced shoulders lead to a decline in accidents; , wet conditions increase accidents; .,. accident rates are higher on the days with the higher traffic volumes; .,. accident rates are lower on roads with a higher average daily traffic volumes; .,. an increase in accident rates was found during Easter weekend and the December holiday; .,. the reduction of the speed limit contributes to the minimising of accidents; .,. accidents invo lving pedestrians contribute to the enormous number of fatalities in accidents; and .,. accident figures are high between 18:00 and 06:00 when compared to the traffic volumes found during the same time frame.