- Published: January 17, 2022
- Updated: January 17, 2022
- University / College: Birkbeck, University of London
- Language: English
- Downloads: 50
According to Munteanu’s publication on “ Human and Environmental Factors Contributing to Fatal Road Accidents in a Romanian Population”, the study conducted a research about the contributions of human and environmental factors to the road accidents in Romania. The study analysed the possible climatic factor involved in road accidents, specifically, the presence of wet roads, winter condition, fog, and darkness. They found out that among the climatic factors, the most frequent factor was darkness. The risk increases if the roads do not have proper lights.
(PICS – wet roads, winter conditions, fog, darkness)While on Lankarani’s “ The Impact of Environmental Factors on Traffic Accidents in Iran”, the study revealed that environmental factors are major causes of road accidents. It was established that dusty weather had the highest death rate compared to other weather conditions. This roadway geometry limits the driver’s vision and causes difficult control of vehicle at crash time with subsequent increase in fatal road traffic accidents risk. According to the study of Shankar et.
al. (1995), rainfall plays a significant role in road traffic accidents. They argued that higher rates of fatalities resulting from road traffic crashes in poor weather could be explained by poor visibility due to rainy or snowy weather and the road surface which may be more slippery thereby reducing the vehicle-roadway friction. In addition, Hijaret.
al. (2000) in Mexico supported the findings of this study. They showed a definite association of adverse environmental conditions such as rain, fog, and wet pavement as well as driving in daylight with traffic crashes. Based on Olawole’s Impact of Weather on Road Traffic Accidents in Ondo State, Nigeria: 2005 – 2012″, the study has examined the role of temperature and rainfall as it affects road traffic accidents in Ondo State, Nigeria. The study has particularly highlighted the dual roles of temperature and rainfall.
The effect of rainfall on accidents seems to be related non-linearly with accident rates. Studies have found negative or non-significant correlations between rain and accidentsThe climatic and environmental condition is a factor that contributes to vehicle crashes on Ondo state roads according to the study of Aiyewalehinmi on “ Analysis of Road Traffic Crashes/Collision in Ondo State Roads”. Weather contributes to the wetting of pavement that reduces friction between the asphalt road surfaces and moving vehicles. A few percentage of severe crashes occurred on Ondo State roads due to effects of weather.