STUDY ON USERS CONSCIOUSNESS AND TRAFFIC SAFETY OF MOTORCYCLISTS ON INTERURBAN EXPRESSWAY

Abstract

This study discussed users consciousness and traffic safety of motorcyclists on interurban expressway by statistical analyses. First, we conducted a principal component analysis by using traffic accident data on Tomei Expressway, and summarized the characteristics in five components which are expressed by the change in lane usage from slow lane to fast lane, congested situation in straight section, crawler lane use by heavy vehicles, high speed situation in fast lane at left-hand curve section and bad weather condition. And we considered the characteristics of motorcyclists accidents on expressway from multiple viewpoints and proposed some traffic safety countermeasures by using these components. Second, we conducted an experimental survey at a black spot on Tomei Expressway as discussed above and analyzed the relationship among users consciousness, road geometries and traffic situation by regression analyses. As a result, it is found that the risk for surrounding vehicles have the biggest impact on the comprehensive evaluation for a road section and the road surface asperity has effect on the evaluation, secondarily. In addition, we confirmed the relationship between the users subjective evaluation and the accident rate by correlation analysis.