An innovative method for categorising the contributing factors to intersection crashes using fault tree modelling

Abstract

The objective of this research was to develop a new technique for categorising the contributing factors leading to automobile crashes at intersections. Fault tree analysis was used to identify the individual roles played by the driver, vehicle and the road and roadside environment, as well as their interactions in intersection crashes. The application of a fault tree model to an Australian real-world crash data set identified the most common factors contributing to intersection crashes. The most common combination of contributing factors (minimal cut set) was ‘Misjudged speed/gap, No evasive action’, with a probability of occurrence of 0.15. More than one-third (37%) of the serious injury crashes examined were found to be the result of intentional behaviours. Some potential preventative measures were proposed to address these contributing factors.