THE IMPACT OF HORIZONTAL CURVES ON THE OCCURRENCE OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS USING THE METHOD OF INDEPENDENT ROAD IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Abstract
Traffic accidents significantly hinder the economic progress and development of a country by requiring the allocation of substantial resources for mitigating their consequences. Traffic accidents are predominantly caused by errors, inattention, improper actions, and other mistakes made by drivers, i.e., the human factor within the H-V-R-E system (Human, Vehicle, Road, Environment). In addition to the influence of the human factor, the road factor also plays a significant role, both in the occurrence of traffic accidents and in the severity of their consequences. Recognizing the road as one of the key contributing factors to traffic accidents, increasing attention has been devoted to improving road infrastructure and roadside environment through the development and implementation of the concepts of self-explaining and forgiving roads. Particularly critical road segments are changes in road alignment, such as horizontal and vertical curves, which require increased driver attention and specific road design and roadside treatment. The aim of this paper is to identify the main deficiencies and influential road-related factors contributing to the occurrence of traffic accidents in horizontal curves, through the application of an independent road impact assessment tool in cases of fatal traffic accidents.
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