Towards Promotion of Road Safety: Crash Diagnosis for the Odumasi-Oterkpolu Road, Ghana

Abstract

Crashes in road curves contribute significantly to road traffic fatalities in developing countries. The crash risks increase when there are multiple vertical and horizontal curves on the road section. In this study, we diagnose the crash-contributing factors along the crash-prone and curvy Odumasi-Oterkpolu road in Ghana and propose countermeasures. Spot speed counts were done using radar guns in addition to manual traffic counts, field inspections, and victim self-reports. Secondary police crash data (from 2015 to 2019) were collected from the Building and Road Research Institute of Ghana. Multiple regression and descriptive analyses were computed to identify crash-contributing factors. Vehicle brake failure and driver inattention were identified as the main driving errors that contribute to crashes in the road curves. Notably, the majority of crashes involved movements in left-turning lanes, in other words towards drivers’ left sides. Speed, traffic volume, and the volume of motorcycles and medium trucks had the strongest association with fatalities. Overall, the road lacks street lights, guardrails, road signs, road markings, posted speed limits, and durable pavement. This is the first empirical investigation of the studied road; therefore, the findings and proposed countermeasures will help to improve road design and safety measures.