Road Safety Engineering Code: No.

2742/CBCS

1. Write the Formula for Empirical Bayes Method?

• A) The empirical Bayes method assumptions are (1) a Poisson distribution for the accidents,
and (2) a Gamma distribution for the distribution of the averages in the population of systems.
• With these two assumptions, the number of systems with k accidents must obey the negative
binomial distribution. The expected number of accidents, a’k, in the after period on a system
that had k accidents in the before period is
a'k =(k+1)*N’(k + 1)/N’k

2. List out various computer applications for analysing accident data

• TEAAS-Traffic Engineering Accident Analysis System: a Software used to analyze the
accident data ( North Carolina)
• FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) and GES (General Estimates System) UK
• Road Accident Data Management System (RADMS) India
• Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS)

3. What do you mean by vehicle design factor?

Vehicle design factors that affect road safety
Static factors
 Dimensions of road vehicles
 Axle configuration
 Power to weight ratio of vehicle
 Turning Radius and Turning Path
Dynamic factors
 Speed and acceleration
 Stability of vehicle
 Breaking distance

4. Discuss various safety counter measures in design of road

Any four (4) of following points can fetch 2marks.
 Design speed
 Must have minimum stopping sight distance
 Provide suitable overtaking sight distance if not proper signage to prohibit overtaking
 Avoid sharp horizontal curves, large radius permit safe maneuvering
 Proper transition curves
 Adequate super elevation
 On long sections of roads with steep gradients, separate (Auxiliary) climbing lanes are
desirable for smaller vehicles to overtake heavily loaded trucks/busses
 Texture of pavement surface should be sufficiently rough to prevent skidding
 Providing road signs should be made part of road design
 Road markings reflectorized for night visibility
 Reflectorized road delineators are especially useful at night time
 Safety barriers are intended to prevent vehicles going off the road and deflect them back
 Roads should be illuminated adequately (4 lux-30 lux secondary-main roads)
 Raised pedestrian sidewalks, kerbs and guard rails
 Junction designs should incorporate good features such as channelization, acceleration and
deceleration lanes, separate right turning pockets, signage and markings
 Traffic impact attenuators or crash cushions should be provided wherever warranted

5. What are the various factors affecting signal design?

The conflicts arising from movements of traffic in different directions is solved by time sharing
principle
 A traffic control signal is a signal, which through its indications, directs the traffic to stop and
permits it to proceed alternatively
 width of approach in meters
 Traffic flow in each approach
 saturation flow rate in vehicle/hr/lane
 The ratio of effective green time to the cycle length (gi/C) green ratio
 Capacity of a lane

6. Bring Out the Points B/w Fixed and Vehicle Actuated Signal?
Fixed time signal Traffic actuated signal
set to repeat fixed cycle of red-yellow-green time cycle/green time distribution as per the
lights demand of traffic flow
not flexible/ fixed signal timing flexible signal timing
no sensors need sensors
simple and easy to install systems not so simple and complex systems
relatively cheaper equipments costlier equipment

7. Write short notes on traffic calming schemes?

 Traffic calming has two main objectives: the reduction in numbers of personal injury
accidents and improvement in the local environment for people living, working or visiting the
area.
Traffic calming techniques can be broken down into eight broad categories:
1. legislation and enforcement
2. surface treatment and signing
3. vertical deflection (rumble strips, humps…)
4. horizontal deflection ( raised medians, divided lanes, check barricades, etc.)
5. gateways and entry treatment
6. 20 mph zones
7. home zones
8. Lorry control schemes.

8. Explain briefly legislation & enforcement in traffic management

Legislation: motor vehicle act, stipulation of tests for issuance of vehicle fitness certificate, stipulation
of requirements for issuance of driving license
Enforcement
– Speed control
– Traffic control (one ways, no right turns, no parking)
– Training and supervision
– Medical check (vision checks, breath analysis)
– Compulsion to wear Helmet, seat belt

9. List out Various Characteristics of Traffic Incidents?

Incident severity, Incident type, Towing requirements, Type of involved vehicles, Number of
casualties, Number of lanes blocked and Incident location

10. Applications of ITS in Incident management

 Traffic incident management reduces fuel consumption
 Traffic incident management reduces incident duration
 Reduces secondary crashes

11.(a) Explain about the classification of traffic signs with neat sketches?
Mandatory/Regulatory signs
 ‘Stop ‘and ‘Give Way’ signs
 ‘Prohibitory’ signs
 ‘No Parking’ and ‘No Stopping’ sign
 ‘Speed Limit’ and ‘Vehicle Control’ signs;
 ‘Restriction Ends’ sign; and
 ‘Compulsory Direction Control’ and other signs.
 These signs are used to inform road users of certain laws and regulations to provide safety
and free flow to traffic. These include all signs which give notice of special obligations,
prohibitions or restrictions with which the road user must comply. The violation of these
signs is a legal offense.

Cautionary/Warning signs

• These signs are used to warn road users of the existence of certain hazardous conditions either
on or adjacent to the roadway, so that motorists are cautious and take the desired action.

Informatory signs
 Direction and Place Identification Signs
 Facility Information Signs
 Other Useful Information Signs;
 Parking Signs; and
 Flood Gauge
11. (b) discuss travel demand management
Travel demand management are aimed at reducing the traffic flows, especially during peak hours.
Some of the techniques commonly adopted are
 Car pooling
 Ride sharing programs
 Peripheral parking schemes
 Transportation facility by institutes or employers
 Office working hours staggering or flexible working hours
 Work from home
 Parking restrictions
 Priority for high occupancy vehicles or BRTs
 Increasing road taxes and road user pricing
 Entry fee for some special lanes

12. (a) Enumerate various statistical methods of analysis of accident data. Explain any two
methods.
1. Regression method
2. Poisson method
3. Chi-square test for comparing accident data
4. Quality control method

12. (b) Discuss the parking enforcement and its influence on accidents
1. Congestion:
– Parking takes considerable street space leading to the lowering of the road capacity.
Hence, speed will be reduced, journey time and delay will also subsequently increase.
The operational cost of the vehicle increases leading to great economical loss to the
community.
2. Accidents:
– Careless manoeuvring of parking and un-parking leads to accidents which are
referred to as parking accidents. Common type of parking accidents occur while
driving out a car from the parking area, careless opening of the doors of parked cars,
and while bringing in the vehicle to the parking lot for parking.
3. Environmental pollution:
– They also cause pollution to the environment because stopping and starting of
vehicles while parking and un-parking results in noise and fumes. They also affect the
aesthetic beauty of the buildings because cars parked at every available space creates
a feeling that building rises from a plinth of cars.
4. Obstruction to fire fighting operations and other emergency services:
– Parked vehicles may obstruct the movement of fire fighting vehicles. Sometimes they
block access to hydrants and access to buildings

13. Explain the relevance of systems of ITS in the present scenario

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is the application of
•Computer, •Electronics, and communication technologies and •Management strategies
It is relevant in the present scenario
  To provide traveller information
 To increase the safety and efficiency of the transportation systems.
 For Improving efficiency of regular traffic operations
 For Traffic management during maintenance
 For Improved incident management
 For Reduced environmental impact
 for better Enforcement
 for appropriate Road user charging

14. (a) Draw the typical collision diagrams od road accidents. Specify all the relevant details to
analyze it.
1. Rear end collision

2. Head-on collision.

3. Angular collision

Accident data analysis

The purpose is to find the possible causes of accident related to driver, vehicle, and roadway.
Accident analyses are made to develop information such as:
 1. Driver and Pedestrian - Accident occurrence by age groups and relationships of
accidents to physical capacities and to psychological test results.
2. Vehicle - Accident occurrence related to characteristic of vehicle, severity, location and
extent of damage related to vehicles.
3. Roadway conditions - Relationships of accident occurrence and severity to
characteristics of the roadway and roadway condition and relative values of changes
related to roadways.

14. (b) Discuss probable causes of road accidents

• Driver or Operator Action:
– Major contributing cause of many crash situations is the performance of the driver of
one or both
• Vehicle Condition:
– Mechanical condition of a vehicle can be the cause of transportation crashes
• Roadway Condition:
– The condition and quality of the roadway, which includes the pavement, shoulders,
intersections, and the traffic control system, can be a factor in a crash
• Environment:
– The physical and climatic environment surrounding a transportation vehicle can also
be a factor in the occurrence of transportation crashes

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 •
15. (a) Explain national importance of survival of transportation systems during and after all
natural disasters
 To evacuate and shift the livestock and habitants from risky or disastrous locations to safe
places
 To meet the requirements of logistical deployment, rescue equipment, goods etc.
 To provide emergency services such as first-aid kits, medical facilities, (ambulance) and
minimum requirements such as food, water, etc.
 To re-construct the infrastructure and re-establish public utilities
 To bring back the situation to normalcy

15.(b) What are the needs of traffic signal? Discuss various factors affecting signal design.
• Traffic intersections are complex locations on any highway. This is because vehicles moving
in different direction want to occupy same space at the same time. In addition, the pedestrians
also seek same space for crossing.
• Drivers have to make split second decision at an intersection by considering his route,
intersection geometry, speed and direction of other vehicles etc. A small error in judgment
can cause severe accidents. It also causes delay and it depends on type, geometry, and type of
control.
• The conflicts arising from movements of traffic in different directions is solved by time
sharing principle
• A traffic control signal is a signal, which through its indications , directs the traffic to stop and
permits it to proceed alternatively
It should be determined on the following lines according to the traffic requirements
• Cycle time should normally be from 40 to 60 sec. (best timing would be the shortest possible
under the traffic conditions). Maximum cycle time should be 120 sec.
• Determine pedestrian crossing time of all approaches based upon pedestrian walking speed
generally taken as 1 m/s. These values will be minimum green plus amber time for each phase
• Based on these minimum, compute green plus amber time in proportion to approach volumes
per approach lane. No phase should be less than 15 sec.
• Adjust cycle time (sum of all phases) to next higher 5 sec. interval and re-compute phase
values

16. (a) Discuss latest tools and various techniques used for road safety and traffic management

Road safety engineering measures Typical examples:

1. Single site treatment
– improved signing
– carriageway markings
– road surface treatment
– lighting improvements
– alterations to alignment, kerbs and islands
– introduction of signal control or mini-roundabouts.
2. Mass action plan
– lighting improvements
– anti-skid surfacing
– speed enforcement cameras
– red-light running cameras
– pelicans, zebras and pedestrian phases at signals.
3. Route action plan
– carriageway widening at junctions
– speed limits
– speed control measures
– side road closures or left-in, left-out only
– cycle routes.
4. Area action plan
– vertical deflection – humps and tables
– horizontal deflection – chicanes and narrowings
– mini-roundabouts
– road entry treatment
– road closures and banned turns
– 20 mph zones

16. (b) Explain parking enforcement and its influence on accidents

Same as 12. (b)

17. (a) Traffic impact attenuators

• Crash cushions are impact attenuators developed to prevent errant vehicles from impacting
fixed obstacles.
• The crash cushion should either decelerate the vehicle to a safe stop, such as in a head-on hit,
or redirect it safely away from the obstacle, in the case of a side hit.
• Crash cushions are typically used where fixed objects cannot be removed, relocated,
converted to a breakaway design, or shielded by a longitudinal barrier.
• Examples of application sites include exit ramp gores where a bridge rail end or bridge pier
presents a hazard, and the ends of longitudinal barriers.
• Most crash cushions are patented systems developed and tested by the manufacturer.
17. (b) Planning effective incident management program
Traffic Incident Management (TIM) is a systematic, planned, and coordinated effort to detect, respond
to, and remove traffic incidents and restore traffic capacity as safely and quickly as possible.
 Traffic incident management reduces fuel consumption
 Traffic incident management reduces incident duration
 Reduces secondary crashes
Most common ways to detect the traffic incidents include
•Video detection
•Service patrol
17. (c) Road Safety Audit
The evaluation of road schemes during design and construction, before the scheme is opened to
traffic, to identify potential safety hazards which may affect any type of road user and to suggest
measures to eliminate or mitigate those problems.
• RSA is the formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or
intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team
• It qualitatively estimates and reports on potential road safety hazards and identifies
opportunities for improvements in safety for all road users
• The auditor or audit team report to the client project manager who will instruct the design
team to respond with alternative designs
• RSA to ensure that new road schemes, improvements to highways and traffic management
measures are designed, and implemented to operate as safely as possible