Victorian study of single vehicle rural accidents

The paper describes a study of rural accidents carried out in Victoria during 1987 and 1988 and the steps taken to implement its findings. The aim of the study was to examine single vehicle, rural accidents with a particular emphasis given to the roles of roadside hazards, vehicle speed and driver fatigue in such accidents. The sample of accidents studied included all serious casualty, single vehicle accidents which occurred on chosen roads in Eastern Victoria between June 1987 and July 1988. One hundred and fifty five accidents fitting the criteria were reported and site details were collected for 147 accident sites. The study took the form of a team of investigators visiting accident sites soon after an accident had occurred. They collected site data, examined the involved vehicle and discussed the accident with the attending police. Site measurements were also made at chosen control (non-accident) sites. Additional data about accident involved drivers and vehicles were obtained from registration and licence databases and the Victoria Police. At the conclusion of the study a committee was formed to ensure the results of the study were taken into practice. The results of the study showed that the road factors which most commonly contributed to accident occurrence or severity were trees close to the traffic lanes, the presence or condition of unsealed shoulders and steep cut or fill batter slopes. Driver fatigue was also shown to be a major problem. This first section of the paper describes briefly the study procedures and data collected; the main findings of the study are then outlined and the final section describes the processes used to implement the findings of the study (A).