Citation

Sarkar A. Proc. Road Saf. Four Continents Conf. 2007; 14: 10p.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Conference Sponsor)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the year 2000, the Government of India initiated a program, popularly known as Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), for the construction of all-weather roads for connecting all the villages having population over 500 by the end of 2007. This has changed the traffic scene considerably as high speed and heavy motorized vehicles are able to reach villages. However, in the process the traffic safety level in rural areas has gone down considerably. The problem of safety is particularly prominent among school-going children, who travel long distances to reach schools. Keeping in view the above facts, a study was conducted in a few selected villages in Neemrana Block of Alwar District of Rajasthan (India) with an objective to quantify the Accident Potential Index (API) along PMGSY roads of high school-going children. The parameters considered were: Geometric characteristics of roads; width and quality of shoulder; distances need to be traveled along PMGSY; mode of transport used by the student and traffic volume and mix on road. The relative weights of the parameters were determined through an expert opinion survey and the score on different parameters were collected from the students through a questionnaire survey. The API value thus determined would help the decision makers to prioritize the stretches so as to identify the most unsafe ones and then take measures for improvement to enhance the safety standards. It also helps to identify the parameters which need up-gradation and then appropriate steps could be suggested to ameliorate the situation.