Polish accident mortality rates are 14% against 3.4% average in EU. Two types of reason can be identified: 1. social explanations, 2. increasing traffic density, maintenance of roads and vehicles, traffic regulations. Comparative studies indicate that Polish road geometric design conforms to international standards but there is lack of detailed traffic safety guidelines. In-depth analysis of accident characteristics was made in the Gdansk and Elblag regions in North Poland. Total length of analysed roads was 1973 km. Analysis comprised road geometry, accidents, road section productivity (vehicle km), accident rates. 51.7% of all accidents, 62.6% of fatalities and 57.4% of all injuries occur on national roads outside urban areas, mostly on straight sections, on horizontal curves and at intersections. 46% of accidents involve vehicle hitting pedestrian and 16% hitting stationary obstacle. Factors which have greatest effects are traffic volume, type of cross section, urban or rural area, horizontal curve radius. An attempt has been made to build a model for the total effects of the most essential road and traffic factors. Work on this continues.
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