Road Safety: Analysis of Current Research and Improvement Strategies

This report provides an in-depth analysis of road safety, drawing from a literature review of three research articles. The introduction highlights the inherent dangers of road transport and the critical role of human behavior in preventing accidents, emphasizing the need for road safety campaigns, policies, and metrics. The methodology section details the qualitative and quantitative approaches used in the studies, including the examination of road campaign strategies, analysis of traffic data, and speed data. The report then compares and contrasts the different approaches to improving road safety, focusing on speed monitoring, addressing poor driving practices, and developing effective road safety campaigns. It also explores the challenges faced by road safety authorities, such as implementing speed-governing policies and selecting effective strategies. The limitations of each study are also discussed, including data reliability, outdated data, and the selection of representative roads. The report concludes by synthesizing the key findings and implications for improving road safety.

Improving Road Safety 1
IMPROVING ROAD SAFETY
By (Name)
The Name of the Class (Course)
Professor (Tutor)
The Name of the School (University)
The City and State where it is located
The Date

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Improving Road Safety
Introduction
By its very nature road transport is considerably dangerous; especially if you take into
consideration other modes of transportation where safety was taken in as the central factor. As
such, in 98% of all situations involving road transportation it is the humans who control the
balance between hazard and safety. Not ignoring the factor that there is very little to keep the
driver or passengers from harm in the event of a catastrophic error (Tamara & Wegman 2011).
Contrary to transportation modes like air and water where there are numerous fallbacks,
procedures, and safeguards to mitigate the effects of human error; on the other hand, road
transportation is significantly dependent on the ability of drivers to prevent the occurrence of
accidents. A firm understanding of human behaviour is crucial tool for road safety professionals
given that individuals are prone to commit traffic violations and basic judgement mistakes.
Therefore, there is a need to implement proper safeguards such as road safety campaigns,
policies, and metrics that will enhance road safety by addressing issues created by human
behaviour (Tamara & Wegman 2011).
Methodology
In this literature review, both quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques were
observed in the three research articles. A qualitative research methodology was employed by
Tamara, and Wegman (2010), under which they examined the pros and cons of popular road
campaign strategies. In addition, the researchers explored new and innovative road safety
campaigns and methods that show considerable success in the improvement of road user
behavior. On the other hand, Teferi, Yemane, Alemayehu, and Abebe (2014) utilize a
quantitative research methodology that analyzes traffic data collected by 16 traffic officers

Improving Road Safety 3
between 2002 and 2011 (Teferi et al. 2014). The data is evaluated with regard to a segmented
linear regression method: The purpose of the regression analysis is to determine the impact of
improved road safety policies on reduced cases of road accidents in Ethiopia. Similarly, a
quantitative research approach is favored by Shakil, Mosabbir, Mahmudul, Sajidur, and
Kamruzzaman (2015), the researchers collected and analyzed speed data for different vehicles at
different time intervals of the day on a section of the Mirpur road. The investigation is centered
on the aspect of speed monitoring and policing as a way to improved road safety in developing
nations like Bangladesh. A t-test hypothesis analysis at 90% confidence level was employed in
the analysis.
Driving Improvements into Road Safety
In spite of the different approaches utilized in the three studies, there are similarities
relating to how improved road safety can be achieved. Shakil, Mosabbir, Mahmudul, Sajidur,
and Kamruzzaman (2015) are interested in improving road safety through the monitoring and
restriction of over-speeding; especially on winding roads (Shakil et al. 2015). Similarly, Teferi,
Yemane, Alemayehu, and Abebe (2014) focus on how improvements to road safety can be
realized through the introduction of feasible solutions to poor driving and road use practices.
Lastly, researchers Tamara and Wegman (2010) are interest in improving road safety through the
development and adaptation of traditional and new road safety campaign practices.
Alternative Ways of Enforcing Road Safety
Each of the three studies is unique; largely due to the approach they employ in the
improvement of road safety. For instance, the focus on controlling over-speeding as a way of
realizing improvements in road safety by Shakil, Mosabbir, Mahmudul, Sajidur, and
Kamruzzaman (2015) is unique to this particular study and void in the other two. The evaluation

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of how improvement to road safety can be made through effective campaigns sets Tamara and
Wegman (2010) research apart when it is compared to the other two literature material. Lastly,
Teferi, Yemane, Alemayehu, and Abebe (2014), are focused on understanding how
improvements to road safety can be made using historical road accident data. The researchers
therefore concentrate on policy formulation to mitigate road accidents and resultant cases of
property loss, human fatalities, and bodily injury.
Challenges to improving road Safety
According to researchers Shakil, Mosabbir, Mahmudul, Sajidur, and Kamruzzaman
(2015) one of the greatest challenges faced by road safety authorities is the implementation of
speed governing policies and measures (e.g. speed restriction signs) that will not negatively
affect road transportation quality. The researchers therefore need to provide realistic solutions
that will mitigate over-speeding in red zones (areas where accidents are rampant) without
creating traffic congestions. On the other hand, researchers Teferi, Yemane, Alemayehu, and
Abebe (2014) are presented with the challenge of selecting road safety policies that will
effectively reduce incidents of vehicular accidents and human causalities. Their research showed
that human causalities had indeed reduced between 2002 and 2010; but, the number of accidents
had not diminished. Lastly, Tamara and Wegman are challenged when it comes to selection of an
ideal strategy from current and developing road safety policies. An ideal strategy is viewed as
one that will effectively control the behavior of road users in a way that is advantageous to the
improvement of road safety. As such, there is a need to find a strategy or a set of strategies where
the pros greatly outweigh the cons.
Limitations

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There are limitations to each of the three research articles in terms of data collection,
reliability of results, and overall interpretation of results. With regard to Teferi, Yemane,
Alemayehu, and Abebe (2014) research study, the greatest limitation here is the reliability and
lack of biasness in the data collected by the sixteen traffic officers. Biasness in data collection
can result in sample data that is not a true representation of the total population. The main
limitation with Tamara and Wegman (2010) research is the use of outdated quantitative data
from literature written before 2001 (Tamara & Wegman 2011). The development of road related
technology and infrastructure between 2001 and 2011 is considerably large making any road
safety campaign strategies utilized in the 1990s obsolete in the 21st century. Lastly, Shakil,
Mosabbir, Mahmudul, Sajidur, and Kamruzzaman (2015) research has a chief limitation is in the
selection of an appropriate road that is a true representation of traffic patterns in Bangladesh
(Shakil et al. 2015).

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References
Shakil, MR, Mosabbir, P, Mahmudul, HS, Sajidur, RN & Kamruzzaman, HL 2015, 'Comparative
Speed Study: A Way to Improve Road Safety Condition', Journal of Engineering and
Technology (JET), vol XII, no. 1, pp. 41-50.
Tamara, H & Wegman, F 2011, 'Improving the effectiveness of road safety campaigns: Current
and new practices', IATSS Research, vol XXXIV, no. 1, pp. 80-87.
Teferi, A, Yemane, B, Alemayehu, W & Abebe, A 2014, 'Effectiveness of an improved road
safety policy in Ethiopia: an interrupted time series study', BMC Public Health, vol XIV,
no. 539, pp. 2-7.