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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISIONS UTILIZING ORIGINAL POLICE ACCIDENT REPORTS

The very fact that in 1996 every third person killed in a road accident outside built-up areas (in Hungary) was the victim of a frontal collision shows that greater efforts should be made in order to prevent such accidents or to moderate their outcome. The authors undertook a detailed analysis of documents concerning frontal collisions which occurred in Pest Country, Hungary. All the important data was collected, systematized and analyzed by means of an evaluation sheet which was prepared for this purpose. When studying these documents the authors attempted to discover and collect data which was not recorded in the accident registration forms, and in this way was necessarily left out of the statistical evaluations. The accident cause indicated by the police on the accident registration forms is intended to clarify legal responsibility, and therefore they attempted to achieve as detailed an assessment as possible of the accident situation, the events directly preceding the accident, and all other contributory factors. Of the 35 frontal collision accidents investigated, in the majority driving over onto the left-hand side was unintentional (23 accidents, 66%). The car went onto the left-hand side of the road due to drifting out, skidding, inefficient correction of driving onto the hard shoulder, mechanical failure, the driver falling asleep, and previous collision. The majority of accidents in this category occurred because of improper choice of speed, or the improper correction of the movement of the car, which had become unstable. Prior to six accidents, the driver causing the accident had made a serious error in decision-making: he began overtaking in a situation (on a right-hand bend, or in dense fog, respectively), where it was impossible to receive information on the presence of an oncoming vehicle. Whether the lights of the oncoming vehicle were switched on or not did not play a role in the accident, the visible road section being too short for the driver to avoid the accident. Two accidents occurred because a bicycle approaching from the opposite direction was unlit. The data on the accidents analyzed so far has confirmed the authors assumption that the majority of frontal collisions occurring outside built-up areas is not due to the lack of, or disturbance in, visual perception, but to other factors. It appears that it would be of crucial importance to focus on the dangers of speed, its correct choice, the driving characteristics of the vehicle, and its effect on accidents, both during driver training and in road safety publicity. Tiredness and lack of sleep should be given greater emphasis in accident activities. In addition, the improvement of risk perception and risk evaluation by drivers could do much to prevent situations which in many cases endanger life (e.g. overtaking on blind bends).

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  • Corporate Authors:

    PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

    Glenthorne House, Hammersmith Grove
    London W6OL9,   England 
  • Authors:
    • Hollo, P
    • Siska, T
  • Conference:
  • Publication Date: 1998

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00766123
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: VTI konferens 9A part 6
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jul 30 1999 12:00AM