ROAD DESIGN ASPECTS FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY

Master Program in Transportation System and Engineering Gadjah Mada University

Dr. Ir. Sigit Priyanto, M.Sc

Jan 2008

Aspect to Road Design

1. Road Geometry adequate sight distance adequate road lamp 2. Pavement and Drainage good skid resistance texture adequate drainage ditch

Design Process

When roads are rehabilitated or new road are being built, specific effort are made to minimize the disbenefits to communities along the road so that through traffic as it passes through the community, does not cause problems or dangers to pedestrians and local traffic High speed interurban traffic causes
danger to pedestrians and local traffic as it passes through small communities

Problem: 1. Traffic conflict between mayor road and minor road 2. Conflict between pedestrian and vehicle, caused by high speed

Existing interurban road results in considerable conflict between through traffic and local traffic

Solution: BYPASS

SPEED DESIGN
Involved by: 1. Vehicle Type and Condition 2. Driver Characteristic 3. Road Geometry 4. Other vehicle speed 5. Speed Control Problem: Relationship between speed, geometry and accidents are generally poorly understood, and the effects of intersection between different design features is difficult to predict: e.g. is a straight narrow road more or less safe than a tortuous but wide road?

Design class standards are used which link road function, traffic flow and geometry in order to develop an economic design. Consistency is ensured by comparing estimates of actual speeds with those inherent in each of the design class standards. If the design is found to be inadequate on the basis of this comparison, a new alignment is adopted and the process repeated

Schematic relationship between speed horizontal curvature

Solution

1.
2.

Use comprehensive design standard

Estimate the reduction of free flow speed which is caused by road wide, type, and road condition

Design to Sight Distance

Sight distance involved by: 1. Vehicle speed 2. Assume drivers eye 3. Object height

- Poor sight distance - Note also U-type drain which poses potential hazard

Solution
Good sight distance in Kenya

Horizontal Curvature
Horizontal Curvature Design :

1. 2. 3. 4.

Radius Curve Speed Road Marking Warning Device

Design speed and friction factors

Design Speed / curvature relationship

Poorly signed and road bends through 90o to right Mountain Road in Jordan showing appropriate design in difficult condition

The substandard bend after low cost treatment of chevron board and bar line road marking

Vertical Curves
- There are two type of vertical curve: sag curve and crest curve
sag curve

crest curve

- Design of vertical curve based on sight distance for comfort and parabolic function which is used to connect the gradient - Poor visibility due to sag curve in Papua New Guinea

Solution: Determine the minimum value based on design speed and the number of lane

Roller Coaster Road in Papua New Guinea

Combination of Horizontal/Vertical Curves

Horizontal and vertical alignments should not be considered independently

Examples of bad combinations of horizontal and vertical curvature

Good coordination between vertical and horizontal alignment

Example: Good coordination between vertical and horizontal alignment in Korea (adequate sight distance and consistent)

Transition Curve, Superelevation and Pavement Widening

Simple circular horizontal curve are normally used for road design. In order to facilitate the gradual transition of steering from straight section of road to the curves, transition curves are often provided. The characteristic of a transition curve is that it has a constantly reducing radius, as in a spiral Super elevation is often applied over the length of a circular curve to reduce a sideway frictional requirement between the tyres and road surface and to increase comfort. In such situations, the transition curve length may be used to introduce the super elevation The widening of traffic lane is often necessary on lower radius curves o allow for the offset of the rear axles of heavy vehicles following a smaller radius curve than the steering axle

Horizontal Curve

Vertical Curve

Superelevation design curve

Solutions: - A maximum superelevation of 8 or 10 % will generally eliminate overturning and sliding problem - The length of a translation curve should be the sum of the length required to remove adverse chamber and the length needed to increase this crossfall to the full superelevation requirement - Drainage conditions should be checked to ensure that combinations of fall along and across the road are adequate to remove water from potential flat areas - Increase width over a complete section to offer a more consistent aspect to driver

Superelevation on road in Papua New Guinea

Gradient and Criteria for Climbing Lanes

- Danger for heavy vehicle - Ineffective and not economical - Gradient Design - Estimate speed increase with climbing lane

Solution:
Clear signal, marking and barrier Climbing lane start before the gradient and end after it Consider the contra flow

Additional climbing lane in Papua New Guinea

Cross Section
Generally, consist of shoulder or kerbs, carriageway, drainage features, and earthwork profile May also include facilities for pedestrians, cyclists or other specialist user groups Cross sections types in urban area

Problem
Not uniform (danger for accident and erosion) Drainage facility is not available

Solutions
Uniform elevation Clear marking Use the barrier to separate drainage and shoulder Slope is less than :6 (1:10 in flat to rolling terrain and 1:4 in mountainous terrain) Adequate space in shoulder to turning, parking, or maneuver

Severe unprotected side slopes being surveyed

Road with shallow slide slope

Drainage
Drainage ditches must, first and foremost, be design to accommodate the expected rainfall and run-off and are required to prevent structural damage to the road

Problem - Pedestrian facility is not available, cause pedestrian walk in drainage ditch as shown in figure 1 - Separated block is not available between road and drainage ditch cause vehicle cause potential hazards for traffic as shown in figure 2 - In adequate drainage ditch

Figure 1

Figure 2

Solutions: - Hydrological study must be made using all available data, including discussions with local inhabitants, aerial photographs of areas upstream and personal reconnaissance - Culvert are required to reduce the risk of flow damaging the roadside ditches - Use drainage type I and J than U and V
Picture 1

Note: - Picture 1. Shallow slope to drainage channel gives room for recovery in Kenya - Picture 2. Covering drainage channels as in Thailand can reduce the risk of accidents
Picture 2

Overtaking Zones
Overtaking is an inherently dangerous maneuver, especially on single carriageway roads where it creates the potential for head on collisions Problem in developing countries: - In adequate space to overtaking - Unclear marking - Sign is not provided - Not well maintained

Dangerous overtaking on a steep winding in Indonesia with many HGVs and buses but no clawler lane

Solution: - Adequate space for overtaking (such as: more lane in overtaking area as shown in Figure 2 - Clear marking - Traffic sign installation - Adequate road length for overtaking as shown in Figure 1

Figure 1

Figure 2

Pavement Aspect
Skidding is a contributory factor in many accidents, particularly on wet roads on the approach to intersection
A
Rough Harsh

Aggregate Texture

Problem: There is frequently a lack of standards laid down for road surface texture. Often good quality aggregates and binders are not readily available and inadequate materials are used Even where abrasion and resistance to polishing criteria have been considered in the design procedure, they are often not give the importance they deserve in maintenance activities

Rough

Poli shed

C D

Smooth Harst

Smooth

Poli shed

Solution: - Choose good skid resistance texture - Skid resistance measurement in field

Road Construction Aspects

1. Sign and Marking Used to show that this area is under constructing 2. Sign Lamp if must available, sign used must clear
3. Other Equipment Special clothes for worker, traffic cone, etc.

Safer Road Works Ahead Video

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