Citation

Bhatt BV, Chandpa KC. Journal of civil engineering technology and research 2014; 2(1): 513-524.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Delton Books Publisher)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

Road traffic crash deaths are under the radar of major causes of unnatural loss of human lives world over. In year 2004, projections of World Health Organization predicted that the number of people dying in road accidents will acquire third position by 2020 among causes of un-natural deaths worldwide which was by than that of on 8th position. It was reported in India that a total of 1,39,091 persons died on roads during year 2012. Surat is a vibrant city of Gujarat that had been declared as fastest growing during Census of India, 2001 with a rate of 88% after which in 2011 the reported rate was around 65% showing yet growing population with national populous city rank 7. The city has its economic and social magnets that serves as a reason of increasing urbanization. Having increased population (4.46 million in 2011), the demand for transportation has been increased and in absence of effective mass transportation, the citizens opt for personal mode of travelling often. Out of 2 million registered vehicles, MTW share 79% and cars as 10% by year 2013. This paper discusses over pattern and distribution of vehicular growth and road traffic crashes being observed in Surat. On an average, fatal cases shared 19.63% of total accidents in an overall volume of 2500 crash cases in recent past. 62.43% of accidents occur at location of staggered and T intersections of two-lane roads. Almost 60% victims of road fatality belong to the age-group between 25-44 years who are the economy contributors for the city and the country as well. Major reason thereof being effective law enforcement due to limitation of government staff with addition from lack in public awareness and road discipline. It was also observed that the City Development Plan has no inclusion of strategies to reduce road accidents and fatalities though deaths of bread-winners of families causing large economic and social losses. Overall, the road traffic accidents in Surat are alarmingly becoming threat for the development and must be addressed to reduce. The paper also trends the accident severity index, vehicle-accident proportionality index, vehicle involvement, occurrence nature of accidents, ages of victims and locational distribution of crashes. Keyword: Fatality, Road accident analysis, Surat, Road crashes, Severity index,

Language: en