Identification and Prioritization of Accident prone Areas using Accident Information. A Case of Study of Metehara-Dengego Road Segment in Oromia Regional State, West Hararghe Zone

Abstract

Abstract The Road traffic crashes particularly in West Hararghe Zone along Metehara- Dengego road segment on main asphalt has not been studied. Hence, in this study road traffic data of three years (2018–2021) were obtained from five (Gumbi Bordode, Mieso, Chiro, Tulo and Doba) towns of traffic police department and West Hararghe Zone transport Authority in Oromia Regional State. The crash severity index developed by the Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales was utilized for ranking and prioritizing of hotspot areas based on accident information. The latest instrument, Global Positioning System was used to collect X, Y, Z coordinates of hot spot areas based the Crash Severity Index (CSI) value. The point data obtained using Global Positioning System and crash severity index value were added to road network data using ArcGIS. The results of finding indicates a total of 263 Road traffic crashes were occurred in the five towns from which about 120 fatal occurred on people, 74 injuries and 69 damaged properties. Based on the value of Crash Severity Index and Crash Frequency (CF) of RTCs top nine hot spot areas were identified and ranked which requires high attention to protect road user and property from damage and loss life. Thus, the government and other concerned stakeholders should provide public education, installing road infrastructure, road marking, traffic signs, improving sight distance and awareness creation to reduce threat of fatalities, injuries and property damage due to RTCs along towns in which the main roads passes in West Hararghe Zone.