Browsing by Author "Addis, Yayeh"

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    The Extent, Variations and Causes of Road Traffic Accidents in Bahier Dar
    (Addis Abeba University, 2003-06) Addis, Yayeh; Belachew, Mekete (PhD)
    A study was conducted to assess and describe the extent, variations and associated causes of road traffic accidents in Bahir Dar. Based on the understanding and appreciation of the problems, the study has come up with suggestions some remedial measures. The research was conducted based on the archive of traffic police data between 1995/6 and 2001/02. A questionnaire survey and field observations were also carried out to collect the required data to be preformed as complement to accident analyses in this research. Statistical analysis (Karl Pearson Linear Regression Equation) was used to decide the relationship of dependant and independent variables. A study analyses include comparison of Accident Rates and Densities among different streets of the town. Results indicate that road traffic accident is a serious problem in the town of Bahir Dar. The numbers have been following an increasing trend throughout the study period and the rate of increase has been rising rapidly due to high population number (increase in road users) and high traffic mixes (increased of wheeled vehicles of all kinds on the town roads).The relationships derived indicates that the increase in vehicles and population will bring an increase in road traffic accidents in the town of Bahir Dar. Study analyses show that the number and density of road traffic accidents occurring on the main roads were very high with figure ranging 80-90 percent of the total. Mixed allocation of land use type, high volume of traffic flow, poor nature of the road, lack of road facilities, poor traffic management and low level of enforcement contribute to these problems. In the study, pedestrians are the road users most affected by road accidents. On the average 52 percent of traffic casualties are pedestrians. Passengers, drivers and two-wheeled vehicles riders are also frequently involved in traffic accidents. The risks are higher among males, particularly those who are economically active age group of 18-50 years. The high accident rates of these groups of population are mainly attributed to low level of understanding of traffic rules and low level of observance. All safety measures introduced to protect the road users are disregarded by the large proportion of drivers, pedestrians, school children and cyclists; and that the majority of them have a tendency in complete ignorance of the dangers encountered by traffic accidents. The study recommends that in striving the road traffic safety improvements in Bahir Dar town needs to adjust human behavior to the environments of the traffic stream and fixed facilities which carry it and would seek to contrive ways and means of better traffic accommodation with planning, education, administration, data capturing, regulation, enforcement, and making capital investments in a new transport facilities and services