This article presents some of the main findings of a detailed study of 161 fatal road accidents in Denmark by the Danish Road Directorate. The study was made to examine in detail the causes of serious accidents on rural roads. The accidents studied were run-off and head-on accidents on two-lane 80kph rural roads, occurring in 1995. For each accident, a basic report was compiled, as a summary of its police report, containing a short description and certain statistical data. Of the 77 run-off accidents, there were 63 with cars, six with vans, eight with motorcycles. Only three of the drivers were known to be using safety belts at the time of the accident, and 35 were reported not to be using them; in some other accidents, drivers were thrown out of their cars. In about 40% of the accidents, no caused were assigned, but the causes of the others were alcohol (in nearly half the accidents), excessive speed, wheels entering the verge or soft shoulder, and objects on or near the road. In the 84 head-on accidents, 33% were known to be using safety belts, and 24% were reported not to be using them. Causes included excessive speed, performing an overtaking manoeuvre, and wheels entering the verge or soft shoulder. Nine measures that could have reduced the number and severity of run-off and head-on accidents are listed.
Abstract