This study of single-carriageway and dual-carriageway trunk roads of modern design aims to provide information which will help reduce road accidents. The results of the study are applicable to new schemes and to improvements to the alignment and features of existing roads. The study aimed to quantify the relationships between the numbers of injury accidents that occur, and the traffic and road layout variables that determine them, using the technique of generalised linear modelling to develop predictive relationships. The study also examined trends in accident numbers and rates over time, both on the modern rural trunk road schemes used in the models, and also on the network of all non-built-up trunk and principal roads, to determine how these trends could be explained by changes in design standards, on-going minor improvements, improvements due to vehicle design and driver behaviour, and increasing traffic flows. (A)
Abstract