The Statistical Analysis of Highway Crashes in Taiwan

Abstract

This research provides information about traffic safety in Taiwan and programs implemented to improve traffic safety. A reportable traffic crash data covering different classes of roads in different geographical areas in Taiwan under various weather, environmental, and roadway conditions were examined. The elements that were investigated in this study were fatalities and injuries, distribution of the main causes and contributing factors as well as the association between them. Further analysis involved modeling the effect of the contributing factors on injury rates. The previous analysis indicated that speeding, use of alcohol or drugs, and defective traffic control devices or safety devices produces more injury related crashes than normal. Poor sight distance and environmental conditions such as bad weather and poor light conditions were found associated with higher injury rates than normal as is night time and Saturdays. This research could provide insight into the areas where more emphasis is needed for effective safety programs. Basically, there are several different ways in which improvements in highway traffic safety can be approached and requires consideration of three elements-the driver, the vehicle, and the roadway. Policy level safety efforts address driver behavior issues such as speeding and alcohol/drug related crashes that cause more fatal and severe injuries. Such policy programs include programs such as vehicle-inspection programs, driver licensing, testing, and training programs, minimum drinking age, and penalties for drunk driving. Policy level programs are usually supported by legislation at governmental level. However, they should be based on well-founded research that such programs potentially improve safety. Traffic accidents are one of the critical reasons to cause deaths in Taiwan based upon the Interior Department 147 analyses. The major task in this research is to study crashes on our nation’s highway system to improve safety. The occurrence of crashes and their interactions of factors as well as their magnitudes, i.e., the relative proportions of the various crash types, are analyzed in this study. Besides, the contributing factors as well as the injury rates are closely examined. By doing so, effective corrective measures to mitigate the different crash types can be assembled to improve highway safety.