Saving lives through safer roads
The case studies of implementation were prepared using star ratings methodology to track performance profiling some major road improvement works.
- Belgaum – Yaragatti State Highway-20 in Karnataka
- Mehsana – Himmatnagar State Highway-55 in Gujarat
- Safer Road Design for LBS Marg in Mumbai
- More illustrations of roads improved with safer infrastructure
- School Zone Safety Improvement using SR4S
Get the 2-page case studies brochure here.
Belgaum – Yaragatti State Highway-20 in Karnataka
Under Safe Corridor Demonstration Project (SCDP) of the World Bank funded Second Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project (KSHIP-II) the 56.4km long Belgaum – Yaragatti road was upgraded. In addition to the World Bank supported assessments, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) supported safety activities on SH20 by engaging an independent review of the safety treatments identified in the iRAP baseline assessments. The road safety engineering interventions were completed by end of 2016. In addition to the engineering measures, other non-engineering measures have been implemented as part of the SCDP which include enhanced police enforcement and improved post-crash medical response. Post construction assessment of this section was carried out in April 2019.
Key features of the road infrastructure upgraded on Belgaum – Yaragatti, SH-20 Karnataka are:
- Major intersections improved with provision of separate lane for right turning vehicles and physical median in the intersection area
- Traffic calming measures such as yellow painted rumble strips and table-top crossings in the intersection area
- Traffic calming measures such as table-top crossings and/or speed hump in the urban area
- Provision of overtaking zone in the hill road section
The Star Ratings show significant improvement in the 3-star or better road length for all road users post construction of countermeasures. 3-star or better road length for pedestrians at road sections where significant pedestrian movement is present (urban area and major intersections areas) has significantly increased as treatments like pedestrian crossings, footpath and speed management have been provided. The chart shows a comparison of % road length with 3-star or better ratings for SH20 before and after improvement.
Improved intersection and pedestrian facility, Km 43.5
The safer roads infrastructure built on SH-20 included improved facility for pedestrian that includes bus stop with lay-bye and raised pedestrian crossing with refuge space in the median. The 4-leg intersections are improved by providing additional lane for right turning vehicles and median/splitter islands. The raised/table-top crossing on each side of intersection and the yellow painted strips across the road proves to be effective speed management measure that brings down the vehicle speeds in intersection area to about 40kmph. The before and after improvement Star Ratings of the road stretch from Km 43.4 to 43.9 improved road gets 3-star or better for all the four road user groups.
Improved road with 2+1 lane and curve delineation, Km 19.5
The road section from Km 18 to 20 is hill road with bends and sharp horizontal curvatures. This part of road has been improved with improved road and curvature delineation and provision of 2+1 lanes. The smooth Star Ratings of this section shows improvement from 2-star to 3-star for vehicle occupant and motorcyclist. Due to very low numbers of pedestrian and bicyclist in this section, Star Rating results are not produced for them (example image on the left).
Safer Intersections
Major intersections on SH20 are improved by providing the traffic calming measures, right-turn lane, physical median (splitter islands), adequate road markings and signs, and pedestrian crossing facilities. The Star Ratings for all road users increased to 3-star for intersection at Km 46.9.
On both the approaches of such major intersections, 4-sets of yellow painted rumble strips and a raised pedestrian crossing are provided as traffic calming measures. This set of treatment seems to be effective as the vehicle speeds in such intersection area was observed to be around 40kmph. The uniform application of such traffic calming measures on all major intersections of SH20 helps the driver to recognize the given road situation and adapt to it by reducing the speed of vehicle. See short video below,
KSHIP, the implementing road authority, collected road crash data for this corridor and compared the number of crashes and number of deaths before and after improvement and observed that,
- the annual number of crashes reduced from 179 to 85, and
- the annual number of persons killed reduced from 50 to 23
This shows over 50% reduction in fatalities. This achievement in reduction of crashes and saving lives is achieved due to implementing targeted road safety interventions and the non-engineering measures adopted.
*Source:
1. “Implementation of Safe Corridor Demonstration Program in Stretch of SH-20 from Yaragatti to Belgaum”, Paper No. 682, Journal of the Indian Roads Congress, Vol. 79-3, July-September 2018. Author: Dr. Masood Sharief and Dr. K.S. Krishna Reddy.
2. Human lives need not be lost in road crashes—much less at current levels. https://blogs.worldbank.org/transport/human-lives-need-not-be-lost-road-crashes-much-less-current-levels-0
Targeted safety improvements on SH-20 Belgaum-Yaragatti in Karnataka helped to save over 50% of deaths in road crashes each year
Mehsana – Himmatnagar State Highway-55 in Gujarat
The Mehsana – Himmatnagar road in Gujarat, which is 59km long, and was designed and constructed under world Bank funded Gujarat State Highway Improvement Project-II (GSHP-II). The road has been upgraded from single carriageway to dual carriageway. The construction began in February 2017 and finished in August 2018. Post construction assessment of this section was carried out in April 2019.
Key features of the road infrastructure upgraded on Mehsana – Himmatnagar road are:
- Upgrade from 2-lane to 4-lane road with provision of concrete median barrier separating the two direction of traffic flows
- Provision of paved shoulder in some sections of road
- Improved road markings, traffic signs and intersections
- Streetlights, pedestrian markings, bus bays in the urban area and major intersections in rural area
Post improvement, the Star Ratings show significant improvement in the 3-star or better road length for all road users except pedestrian, however there is significant reduction in road length rated 1-star from 82% in baseline to 33%. Urban areas where significant pedestrian movement is present, through provision of footpath, pedestrian fence, crossing facilities at intersections and traffic calming have achieved better Star Ratings for pedestrians.
Dual road with concrete barrier in the median
The new improved road facility is 4-lane wide road with concrete barrier in the median which eliminates the risk of head-on collision. The improved road has got adequate delineation (road markings and signages), paved shoulders and earthern shoulders which reduces the run-off crash risk.
4-leg intersection improved as roundabout
The four-leg intersection at Km 126.9 has been replaced by a well-designed roundabout with splitter islands and crossing facility for pedestrian. The roundabout is safe treatment for an intersection as it reduces the vehicle-vehicle conflict points and also the vehicles approaching a roundabout need to slowdown. The roundabouts on this road are provided with streetlights and blinkers to catch attention of approaching drivers.
Improved delineation on curved road sections
All horizontal curvatures (example image on the right), have been provided with better delineation. The chevron signs provided on the outer edge and improved road markings reduces risk of run-off crash on such curvatures. The concrete barrier in the median eliminates head-on risk thus minimizing overall risk on road sections having such curvatures.
Improved pedestrian facilites at intersections
The image on the left shows improved facility for pedestrian at an intersection. All such intersections are provided with marked pedestrian crossing with median refuge and streetlights which reduces the risk of pedestrian being hit by vehicle while crossing the road. Bus bays and thermoplastic painted strips as traffic calming measure are also provided few meters before such intersections on both carriageways of the road.
Safer Road Design for LBS Marg, Mumbai
The 10km stretch of LBS Marg In Eastern suburbs of Mumbai has been developed as a safety demonstration corridor under the BIGRS (Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety). This road was assessed by iRAP as part of more than 200km of urban roads in Mumbai. Incredibly, around 13 people were being killed on this road each year. The majority of people killed are pedestrians, motorcyclists or those in auto-rickshaws. The iRAP assessments showed that, for example, very little of the road had formal sidewalks or effective pedestrian crossings, despite the fact that pedestrian flows were very high.
Following a series of iterations of design, prepared by WRI, to ensure that it really fits the local context, the final design included:
- Wide sidewalks and pedestrian crossings with traffic calming.
- Adjustments to car parking, bus stops, and intersections to especially make better use of “dead space” for pedestrians.
The final design shown significant increase in 3-star or better road length for pedestrians and bicyclists from baseline. The chart shows a comparison of % road length with 3-star or better ratings for LBS Marg in baseline and as per design.
It is estimated that, post improvement the annual number of road deaths and serious injuries would reduce by 50% on this stretch of LBS Marg.
More illustrations of roads improved with safer infrastructure
Gujarat State Highway Project - II (GSHP-II)
Second Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP-II)
School Zone Safety Improvement using SR4S
Government of Haryana, MG Motor and TRAX are developing a safer culture around schools through road upgrades, research and training involving students, teachers and the community, supported by SR4S.
At the Government High School Sahupura in Sector 65 Faridabad, the school zone has been upgraded with a marked pedestrian crossing, speed humps, delineation improvement and school zone warning signage. As a result, pedestrian safety has increased from 2- to 3-stars ensuring a safer journey to and from school for local children.
The Government Boys Senior Secondary School in Gurugram was assessed using the SR4S tool. Road infrastructure issues were identified that increased risk in locations around the school, including sidewalk encroachment by vendors. With IndiaRAP guidance and in consultation with the local authorities, TRAX initiated recommended infrastructure improvements. These included improved speed limit signage and school zone warnings, as well as the addition of pedestrian fencing and sidewalk improvements. It is now a “Safe School Zone”, recording a before and after Star Rating improvement from 2- to 3 Stars.
