Methodology for assessing the road traffic risk in urban areas

Abstract

In the assembly of concerns for reducing the negative effects of urban road traffic, special consideration is paid - both at the local and global level - to issues related to road traffic safety. Spotting urban zones vulnerable to traffic crashes, understanding the causes of crashes, identifying some directions of action to reduce the traffic risk and their application from the urban planning stage can improve road safety. In this framework, the paper presents a methodology for estimating the intrinsic risk linked to road traffic. The main objective is identifying the relationships between the crash frequency and the intrinsic factors contributing to their occurrence. The proposed methodology is particularized for Bucharest based on the disaggregated statistical data analysis on severe accidents recorded in 2017-2022. The resulting model allows the classification of risk levels and, further, identification, planning and scheduling measures to improve urban road safety.