Improving Road Safety - based on EUSKA accident analysis
Introduction
Despite the fact that the number of road accident victims has decreased in the European Union, it seems to be difficult to reach EU’s target of halving the number of road deaths by 2010. There are still too many car accident fatalities. Systematic road accident analyses help to take appropriate preventive measures. It is also essential to include road safety aspects in the traffic and transportation planning process.
Graphic analysis tool important contributors to efficient police work
- The police analyse accident data with EUSka.
Today, most of the police authorities in Germany rely on the road accident analysis system EUSka which allows them to geo-reference all accident data on a digital road map and to instantly analyse the information by means of the powerful database.
The police authorities used to store the accident data locally. EUSka’s central server solution contributes significantly to the improvement of road safety by providing data which can be used by all staff members of the authority to enhance road safety throughout the different states. Thuringia was the first state in Germany which implemented the graphic analysis system in all police departments in 2002. The states of Baden-Wurttemberg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and the Hanseatic city of Hamburg and Bremen have also chosen EUSka for fast and reliable road accident analysis. The users appreciate the system’s reliability.
EUSKA – Methodlogy and system architcture
An explanatory leaflet about recording and analysing road accident on maps explains how to analyse road accident data in Germany. This includes the classification of accident data and the analysis procedures for local accident investigations. EUSka was developed according to these requirements. However, EUSka provides major additional features thanks to advanced data processing. Key functionalities that are particularly helpful are:
Digital maps
The exact location is a decisive factor for accident data. Therefore, PTV has provided two options for data entry on the map - either by integrating a localisation module into an external records management system (the separate module automatically presents the map, computes the coordinate after a mouse click and transmits the information to the records management system), or by using a complete data completion module for post-localisation within EUSka. PTV maps are used by EUSka.
Additionally, it is possible to provide the authorities’ maps with the help of so-called WMS services and to integrate the data in the form of several layers.
Digital sketches of the accident
- An editor helps the user to draw digital sketches of the accident and create diagrams.
Analysis options
The system provides numerous data analysis options. A particular emphasis is placed on the accident analysis maps used by the police in Germany. They display the accidents on a road map over a period of 12 months or on maps covering a period of three years to record road accidents with fatalities and injuries which normally occur less frequently and often on other road sections than the accidents without injuries. The data is used for local accident investigation in order to identify obvious similarities in accidents in a black spot.
The georeferenced accident database provides additional analysis options which go far beyond conventional accident analysis mapping.
Numerous search options
- EUSka displays accidents with bicycles on workdays between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m.
- EUSKA displays accidents with Lorries outside built-up areas on workdays
Numerous search functions are particularly helpful. All search results can be directly displayed on additional maps on the screen. It is also possible to systematically search for patterns in the number and type of accidents and in problem sites. The accident data can be filtered according to almost any accident criteria: for example, all accidents occurring inside urban regions, involving cyclists and children between 6 and 14 years of age. Specific periods of time, such as school start times, or areas like school zones can also be included in the investigation. Additionally, there are unlimited possibilities to search for data on accidents occurring outside urban areas. Users can thus easily find details of all accidents caused by excessive speed, alcohol or drugs, depending on the age of the people involved in the accident and the time and date. The new method therefore promotes road safety and helps change driver behaviour by implementing specific traffic control measures.
Quality control and cooperation
This analysis technique sets a new quality standard. It creates a solid, verified database, using standardised digital maps and data which can be transmitted electronically to other authorities involved in road safety work.
High-quality road accident data is essentially based on two components: digital maps and plausibility checks.
Analysis of black spots
To avoid road accidents it is essential to analyse the accident black sports, which is a fundamental task of the accident committee. The so-called automatic search for black spots quickly and efficiently analyses the entire area by scanning parametrised squares. If the pre-defined limit values are reached, the accident black spots are directly visualised and can easily be used for further analysis. The local distribution of accidents is a decisive factor in order to find the locations where accidents often occur. The distribution might vary as it depends on the course of the route or the size of the intersection area. For each automatic search process the map section and the size of the basic square can therefore be defined very flexibly according to the type of accident. The key figures and results can be calculated and listed for all accident black spots detected by the system. The automatic prioritisation helps the police to quickly rank dangerous accident black spots and to analyse them accordingly.
EUSka automatically generates the lists required for the analysis. Soaring black spots can easily be identified by means of the time graph. The time graph also helps to analyse the impact of the measures taken to reduce the accident rate.
Visualising, analysing, taking measures
- EUSKA displays accidents and status of black spots in a built-up area.
- EUSKA displays accidents on intersections with trattic signal out of action.
The local accident investigation results will have to be analysed on the basis of accident prevention concepts developed for these accident black spots. These concepts have to be adjusted to the specific local requirements in order to be able to take concrete measures and tackle the problem at that location. To this end, an action plan based on these remedial measures will be worked out by all parties involved.
Road safety and accident analysis are becoming increasingly important. PTV supports these road safety efforts with the EUSKA software. With this solution for the identification and analysis of road network areas with black spots PTV would like to make a contribution to safer road networks and fewer road accidents.
Further information euska@ptv.de. Your contact person Andre Münch.
