Identification of factors in road crashes through accident investigation and reconstruction in Thailand | |
| Author | Islam, Mouyid Bin |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.TE-04-06 |
| Subject(s) | Traffic accident investigation--Thailand Roads--Thailand--Crash cushion |
| Note | A thesis submitted in pai1ial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Civil Engineering |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. TE-04-06 |
| Abstract | The socio-economic development, level of motorization and alarming rate of road crashes have strong interrelationship in Thailand. Statistics show that every year over 12,000 fatalities occur from road crashes. This figure indicates on average two Thai people die per hour due to road crashes and estimated economic losses amounting over 12 million Baht per hour. Thus, the seriousness of road crashes has been considered as one of the major causes of premature death and disabilities among Thai people over the last two decades. Unfortunately, road crash investigation and reconstruction to carry out in-depth study in systematic approach has yet to be conducted in practice in Thailand. This problem was addressed by conducting such in-depth study in this research. Subsequently, this research also investigates the factors which contributed to the crashes. Specifically, it aims to describe how and why vehicle crashes in Thailand. Detailed information were collected during investigation process for identification of these factors to reconstruct the crash scenarios. It is believed that this research is the first of its kind to carry out accident investigation and reconstruction in Thailand. Data were collected through the assistance of an accident investigation team of the Thailand Accident Research Center, TARC. Also, knowledge to carry out the accident investigation and reconstruction was obtained mainly through the training courses offered by TARC. Three crash cases were used for analysis and reconstruction due to their completed details collection process. Analyses were carried out by simulating these three cases through PC-Crash simulation software. Conventional hand calculations were carried out to support simulation of the crash scenarios. The findings of this study comprise of over speeding for heavy vehicles (i.e. trucks) in the first case with slight injury, rollover of single vehicle (i.e. sedan) running-off the road in the second case with minor injury and incompatible crash between vehicles (i.e. bus and pick up) in the third case with fatalities. Application of Event Tree to focus on the events prior to crashes in all three cases demonstrated complex human interaction with vehicle, and road and environment. Overspeeding was determined in the first case. In the second case, difficulty in steering and unforgiving roadway were identified for rollover accident. Inadequate road lighting facility, lack of median barrier, careless driving and mismatched in vehicle weights resulting in fatalities were determined in the third case. Finally, the possible countermeasures were proposed considering the factors contributed by road and environmental aspect of the three cases covered in this research. |
| Year | 2005 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. TE-04-06 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Civil Engineering |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Transportation Engineering (TE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Yordphol Tanaboriboon; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Hanaoka, Shinya;Pisut Koomsap; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 |