This paper reports on the findings of a series of recent studies carried out by the author which examined roadside crashes involving poles and reviewed methods of reducing these crashes. The studies included an analysis of detailed accident report forms which, are filled out by the police following every casualty crash, to determine causes of pole crashes and analysis of characteristics common to many of these crashes (age of drivers, time of day etc). A detailed review of police report forms related to fatal pole crashes between June 2003 and March 2004 was also carried out. The study of fatal crashes found that younger drivers were over represented in pole crashes and that these crashes commonly occurred in the early hours of the morning. They often included speed and most probably alcohol as a contributing factor. It is concluded that while identifying and treating ‘hazardous’ poles would reduce the number and severity of injury and non-injury crashes, that such application would make little difference to the number of fatal pole crashes being recorded. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E213531.
Abstract