Taxonomy for Highway Safety Information System - Case Study Example

A taxonomy for a highway safety information of an automobile drive: Analysis for type of car crashes, unsafe driving acts and management of road safety Name: University affiliation: Professor: Date: Introduction A taxonomy is simply defined as a method for identifying and classifying things. It is applied to a high risk organization in an identification and classification of unsafe things that need attention. In the automobile sector, drivers use taxonomy as a guide especially when they embark on adventures in their own automobiles. It also assists to increase safety on roads as drivers are able to identify some of unsafe acts, when driving, from taxonomy. The information from taxonomy will assist highway officials in prioritizing areas to apply the existing measures as well as developing new countermeasures. Car crash analysis The main objective of a car crash analysis is to use a car crash data to identify critical combinations of accident that may produce the greatest amount of harm during an automobile adventure. Analyzing faults of cars and trucks in a car-truck crashes can provide important information to be used during an automobile adventure by drivers. It concentrates on investigating who is at fault between a driver of a truck and a driver of a car. Most of these faults are done by careless drivers that engage on unsafe driving acts on the roadways. For instance, a fault of leaving a vehicle in the travel lane due to inattentive driving behavior may cause a severe and costly accident. The research shows that crashes of cars and trucks are more fatal and severe than any other type of vehicle crashes and can be characterized either by low frequency of occurrence with high severity such as head-on crashes or by high frequency of occurrence with low severity like rear-end crashes (U.S. Department of Transportation, 1999). Table 1:shows a class of car-truck crash and types or examples of those crashes Class of the crash Examples or types of crash Low frequency of occurrence with high severity Head-on crash, angle crash, right turn and left turn crashes on the same roadway or on crossing traffic High frequency of occurrence with low severity Rear end crash, sideswipe crash and backing crash Analysis of unsafe driving acts Finding out unsafe driving acts commonly experienced on roads, due to careless and inattentive drivers, is a noble undertaking of any person embarking on an automobile adventure to test out a car. This will enlighten on some of hazards or traffic hassles that one might run into on the streets before taking a race. By ranking, these unsafe driving acts would help other drivers taking an automobile drive in a great way to identify and avoid these careless and costly acts. Table 2: Ranking of criticality of unsafe driving acts based on danger and frequency of occurrence (Stuster, 1999). Rank based on danger and frequency of occurrence Unsafe driving act Examples of unsafe driving act 1 Inattentive driving of the vehicle Driving while reading or talking on the phone 2 Improper merging into traffic Joining the road using wrong side 3 Failure to adhere to signs of the road Ignoring red or green light 4 Failure to slow down where there is a construction in progress Speeding on a road under repair 5 Unsafe speeding Approaching other vehicles too fast from rear 6 Failure to reduce the speed in response to poor environment Poor visibility due fog, rain or bright sun 7 Abrupt change of a lane in front of a truck A car changing a lane as the truck is following from behind 8 Driving in forbidden areas or lanes Right front quarter or left rear quarter 9 Unsafe turning and passing with insufficient headway 10 Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drug Drinking excess beer and drive afterwards 11 Driving in the dark without headlights Driving a car at night without headlights 12 Driving between larger trucks Driving a sport car between trucks 13 Driving the vehicle at the left of the center into opposing traffic 14 Moving to the right of a truck that is making a right turn The right turn squeeze 15 Crossing a lane line near the side of a trailer 16 Striking the rear of a vehicle slowing down A car bumping into a slowing down trailer 17 Leaving a vehicle in the travel lane A driver abandoning a car in the middle of the road during a traffic jam 18 Striking an unattended vehicle Knocking a parked truck while overtaking in a traffic jam 19 Failing to allow a truck to merge Moving fast when a trailer merges the traffic 20 Unsafe crossing Crossing as another car speeds along 21 Failure to look forward while driving Looking behind while driving forward 22 Inappropriate overtaking Overtaking before examining the traffic condition 23 Failure to slow down at the bump points A car speeding at bumps 24 Driving in a vehicle with tyres in bad condition Worn out tyres 25 Overloading the vehicle A trailer carrying excess weight Tools and techniques for management of road safety on highway Taking a safe automobile drive to test a car out on a highway will require a lot of discipline and caution. In this regard, ensure that your car is fitted with tools such as air bag and speed limit among others that are essential in reducing cases of injuries and death in case a road accident occurs. A driver needs to rest enough before driving, be alert and avoid alcohol or drug while driving. The headlights, signal lights, windows and taillights, should be well cleaned to allow visibility at night and in poor environmental conditions. It is prudent to buckle up, slow down at sensitive points and embrace caution at all construction zones. It is costless to follow rules and regulations of the road as well as being respectful of other motorists on a highway. Therefore, pay full attention to the road and avoid distractions such as looking behind and talking on phones while driving. Driving at very high speed can increase chances of being in a collision, thus, observe speed limits and make frequent stops if you feel extremely tired to continue driving for a long trip. Always keep a distant to avoid following another vehicle closely(Kostyniuk, April 2002). References Kostyniuk, L. F. (April 2002). . Identifying Unsafe Driver Actions that Lead to Fatal Car-Truck Crashes,. Washington, DC: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Stuster, J. (1999, february). The Unsafe Driving Acts of Motorists in the Vicinity of Large Trucks. Washington,DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Adminition. U.S. Department of Transportation. (1999). Traffic Safety Facts 1998— Large Trucks, Publication No. DOT HS 808 952. Washington,DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Read More