International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM)
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 4, Issue 6, June- 2016
Analysis of Road Accidents on a Selected
Stretch of NH-1
Navneet
M. Tech. Civil (Transportation Engg.), Institute of Technology & Science, Bhiwani
ABSTRACT
The paper brings forth the results of an accident study conducted on a selected stretch of NH-1 (Panipat-Karnal). The road
accident data of four years of about 50 km long stretch of the road between RD 66 km to 116 km were analyzed to determine
various characteristics of road accidents taking place on the road. The study, therefore, also evaluates the impact of road
accidents. To study the accident characteristics, the selected stretch was divided into smaller segments of approximately 5 km
each. The characteristics of road accidents presented in the paper include their total number, cause of accidents, nature of
accidents and type of injury, type of vehicles involved and time of accidents. The study shows that accidents increased
tremendously on the road. The day time accidents are found to be more than night time accidents on all segments of the selected
road.
Keywords: Road Accidents; National Highway; Black spots, Accident Prone Location.
1.
INTRODUCTION
The rapid population growth and increasing economic activities have resulted in tremendous growth of motor vehicles. This
is one of the primary factors responsible for road accidents on National Highways in India. Road accidents are essentially
caused by improper interaction between vehicles and other road users and/or roadway features. Road traffic injuries account
for 2.1% of global mortality. The developing countries bear a large share of burden and account for about 85% of the deaths
as a result of road traffic crashes [1]. The problem of deaths and injuries as a result of road accidents is now acknowledged
to be a global phenomenon. The authorities in all countries of the world feel concerned about the growth in the number of
people killed and seriously injured on their roads. Each year 1.2 million men, women and children around the world lose
their lives as a result of road traffic collisions. In India the magnitude of road accidents and fatalities is alarming. This is
evident from the fact that every hour there are about 56 accidents (about one accident every minute). Similarly, every hour
more than 14 deaths occur due to road accidents. In 2012, 1, 25,660 fatalities take place making it 345 fatalities daily and
around 1 every 4.2 minute [2]. There is a great need to take up measures that can help improve road safety in the country.
As NHs are responsible for causing about 40% of fatalities on Indian roads, the present study has been undertaken to
analyze the road accident Stretch wise on RD-66-116km of NH-1.
Accident Scenario
The problem of deaths and injuries as a result of road accidents is now acknowledged to be a global phenomenon. The
authorities in all countries of the world feel concerned about the growth in the number of people killed and seriously injured
on their road. Each year 1.2 million men, women and children around the world lose their lives as a result of road traffic
collisions. Acc. To World Health Organization Report (Peden Magie, Scurfield Richard, Sleet David, Mohan Dinesh,
Hyder A Adnan, Jarawan Eva and Mathers Colin, 2012):
In 1990 road accidents as a cause of death or disability were by no means insignificant, lying in ninth place out of a
total of over 100 separately identified causes.
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International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM)
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 4, Issue 6, June- 2016

However, by the year 2020 forecasts suggest that as a cause of death, road accidents will move up to sixth place
and in terms of years of life lost (YLL) and ‘disability-adjusted life years’ (DALYs will be in second and third
place respectively).
Indian Road Safety
Safety scenario on Indian Roads is very poor. Between 1970 and 2015 the number of the accidents increased by 4.3 times
with more than 7 fold increase in injuries and about 8.7 times increase in fatalities in the backdrop of about 64 fold
increase in the number registered motor vehicles and threefold increase in road network. The magnitude of road accidents
and fatalities in India is alarming. This is evident from the fact that every hour there are about 56 accidents (about one
accident every minute). Similarly, every hour more than 14 deaths occur due to road accidents. In 2012, 1,25660 fatalities
take place making it 345 fatalities daily and around I every 4.2 minute. Table 1. shows number of accidents per 1000
vehicles on all roads from during 1970-2015 (MORTH).
Table 1.4 Numbers of Accidents per 1000 Vehicles during 1970-2015
Year
On All Roads
1970
81.44
1980
33.88
1990
1995
14.76
11.62
1999
8.61
2000
8.01
2002
6.92
2005
5.39
2010
4.96
2012
4.60
2015
4.23
Fig.1. Road Accidents and Fatalaties in India
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International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM)
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 4, Issue 6, June- 2016
METHODOLOGY OF STUDY
The study aims at analysis of characteristics of road traffic accidents on a 50 km long between RD-66 and RD-116 of NH-1
during 2012–2015. The accident data contains the information like date, time, location, injury type, person's dead/injured,
vehicles involved, probable causes of accident. On the basis of the study of characteristics of the road accidents suitable
improvement measures are suggested to reduce the accidents on the road.
Analysis of road accident characteristics
The road accident characteristics studied in this study include their total number, cause of accidents, nature of accidents and
type of injury, type of vehicles involved and time of accidents. Based on these characteristics of accidents, the analysis is
done in the following section.
According to the type of injury
Whenever a road accident occurs on the road, mainly four types of accidents i.e. fatal injury, serious injury, minor injury
and non injury are said to happen, depending upon the severity of injury. From Fig. 2, it is observed that as per type of
injury, maximum accidents fall in the category of non-injury (49%) followed by serious injury (28%), minor injury (17%)
and fatal accidents (5%). Serious Injury accidents are found to be more than minor injury.
Figure 2. Accidents based on type of Injury.
According to the nature of accident
The nature of road accidents that occur on the road can be due to vehicle overturning, head on/rear end collision, hit and
run, right turn collision, right angled collision, brush/side swipe, skidding of vehicle, etc. From the Fig. 3, it is clear that
maximum accidents (44%) are of the type head on/rear end collision, followed by hit and run (20%) and overturning (14%).
Figure 3. Accidents due to their Nature.
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International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM)
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 4, Issue 6, June- 2016
According to cause of accident
A road accident can occur due to many reasons, it can be the fault of driver of motor vehicle/driver of the other vehicle or
the accident can take place due to defect in the condition of motor vehicle/road condition. From Fig. 4, it is clear that
overspeeding/driver fault (87–88%) is found to be the main cause of accident.
Figure 4. Accidents due to particular cause.
According to the type of vehicles involved in accident
The severity of accident depends upon the type of vehicle involved in the accident. There are more chances of fatal accident
taking place in case of heavy vehicles involved in the accident as compared to light vehicles. The total accidents according
to type of vehicle involved are shown in Fig. 5. According to vehicle involved in accident, it is observed that
trucks/canter/buses are involved in maximum accidents (42%) followed by cars/jeeps (35%), 2-wheelers (13%) and others
(10%). Buses account for 6% of accidents.
Figure 5. Accidents according to vehicle involved.
According to time of accident
Mainly, we divide road accidents according to time period in two categories. The first one is from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.,
the second from 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. It is observed from Fig. 6 that more accidents take place during day time (61%) than
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International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM)
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 4, Issue 6, June- 2016
night time (39%). This may be attributed to less number of cars and 2-wheelers during night. Though total number of PCU's
remains almost the same during day and night, but total number of vehicles is less during night time.
Figure 6. Number of accidents according to time
Improvement measures
In the light of above mentioned noticeable characteristics/causes of accidents on studied stretch of the road the
improvement measures have been suggested as under:
As over speeding/driver's fault is found to be main reason for most of road accidents. The present speed limit of 90 kmph
for cars and 65 kmph for heavy vehicles is hardly followed which has not been revised since it was imposed about 10 years
ago. The speed limit of 65 kmph for cars and 40 kmph for heavy vehicles on the road passing through urban areas/built up
areas is not clearly and adequately indicated on the road. This leads to more accidents in these areas. It is suggested that:

Rational safe speed limits should be determined based upon 85th percentile speed of vehicles on the road.

To avoid rash and overspeed driving, steps like frequent breath analyzer test should be conducted to punish the
drunken drivers.

Enforcement measures should especially focus on trucks/canter/buses (42%) to bring down their involvement in
accident.

Proper safety measures including installation of proper signs, markings, signals and other traffic control devices in
the construction zone should be immediately followed.
CONCLUSIONS
The following are the main conclusions drawn from the study:
 Serious injury type accidents are found to be more than minor injury accidents.

Type of accidents include 46% as head on/rear end collision, 19% as hit and run type and about 14% as
overturning type accidents.

Over speeding/driver's fault (87–88%) should be checked by strict enforcement.

It is observed that trucks/canter/buses are involved in maximum accidents (42%) followed by car/jeep (35%), 2wheeler (13%) and others (10%). Buses account for 6% accidents. Enforcement measure should specially focus on
the road truck/canter/bus as they are found in maximum number of accidents.
More accidents take place during day time (61%) than in night time (39%). This may be attributed to less number
of cars and 2-wheelers during night.

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International Journal of All Research Education and Scientific Methods (IJARESM)
ISSN: 2455-6211, Volume 4, Issue 6, June- 2016
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