1. Analysis of Road Traffic Accidents on NH 45 (Kanchipuram District)
Ravishankar Rajaraman
Dr. Ahamedali M. Hassan
Jeya Padmanaban
JP Research India Pvt. Ltd.
A wholly owned subsidiary of JP Research, Inc.

2. Introduction Real-time crash investigation
75 km stretch of NH 45 (Otteri to Acharapakam)
45 days - 1st September to 15th October 2008
Intimation support from Kanchipuram District Police
Objectives:
Develop a framework and methodology
Study accidents on NH 45
Proprietary information, such as names/addresses of accident victims and vehicle registration numbers, was NOT included in the research.

3. Overview
Methodology
Results
Conclusions
Future Work
Significance

4. Methodology Accident Intimation Crash Scene Examination
Vehicle Examination
Exterior Examination
Interior Examination
Injury Coding and Correlation

5. Accident Intimation Base camp: Chengalpattu
Single dedicated contact number
Researchers on call – 24/7
In the event of an accident
Receive call from police
Identify location
Rush to scene within 30 minutes
Post examination
Collect police records/documents

6. Scene Examination Crash scene pictures GPS log Scene measurements
Final vehicle position
Point of impact
Vehicle trajectory
Skid marks, debris, etc.
Scene diagramming

7. Vehicle Examination Exterior Examination Interior Examination
Recording direct and indirect damages
Crash Severity
Regulatory/Legal compliance
Interior Examination
Measurement of interior intrusions
Occupant contact points with vehicle interiors
Safety systems use

8. Collision Deformation Classification
To classify the location and extent of vehicle damage.
Provides visualization of a crash’s configuration and severity.
J224, MAR 1980, Collision Deformation Classification, SAE
J1301, AUG 2003, Truck Deformation Classification, SAE

9. Collision Deformation Classification
CDC: 01FZEW3
01 : PDOF
F : Area of deformation
(Frontal)
Z : Specific lateral area
(Right and Centre of Frontal Area)
E : Specific vertical area
(Below windshield)
W : Type of Damage Distribution (Wide)
3 : Maximum Extent of Crush from Front Bumper towards Windshield

10. Crush Jig developed by JPR India
Crash Severity
Impact Speed
Crush Profiling
Max Crush
Delta V/Barrier Equivalent Speed
Stiffness Coefficients?
Manufacturer crash test data
ARAI crash test data
Electronic aids?
Crush Jig developed by JPR India

11. Vehicle Interior Examination
Occupant contacts
Passenger Compartment Intrusion
Comparison of measurements with exemplar vehicle

12. Vehicle Interior Examination
Safety System Use
Seatbelt use
Pre-tensioner firing
Airbag deployment
Seatbelt stretch marks
Airbag deployment
Seatbelt loose
Seatbelt tight

13. Injury Coding and Correlation
Obtain Medical Records of injured persons
Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS)
Developed by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM)
7 digit code
1 Body Region
2 Type of Anatomical Structure
3/4 Specific Anatomical Structure
5/6 Level
7 Severity Score

14. Injury Coding and Correlation
Correlation (Biomechanics) – an example
Mr. Co-passenger suffers head laceration in accident. Says he was belted.
Injury report: Head Laceration
Vehicle Inspection Report:
Occupant contact on windshield
No marks on seat-belt
Dust line on seat-belt
Conclusion:
Head laceration caused due to windshield contact. No belt use.
Injury
AIS code
Head Laceration
Occupant contact point

15. Results: General Overview
Type of Injury
Type of Road User
Time of Day

16. Results: A little more in-depth!
Multiple-vehicle accidents
No head-on collisions
Front-Rear collisions only
Highest accident type
Single-vehicle accidents
Pedestrian Impact
Object Impact
Rollover

17. Front-Rear Collisions
Leading vehicle
Low injury severity
Usually trucks
Following vehicle
High injury severity, especially for smaller vehicles
Wider variety of vehicles

18. Front-Rear Collisions
Pre-accident vehicle condition
Slowdown
Driver decision making.
Stopped
Driver/occupants human requirements
Breakdown
Tyre punctures
Overtaking
You may know better!

19. Front-Rear Collisions - Causes
Infrastructure
U-turn design
Separate lanes for entry/exit
Insufficient shoulder width
Poor signage and driver facilities
Vehicle
Non-functioning tail lamps
No reflective markers
Poor tyre tread depths
Human
Lack of safety training
Emergency situations
Poor use of indicators, helmets, seat-belts
One picture says it all…

20. Object Impacts Man made Road side objects
Life threatening when vehicle is stopped abruptly
Need for “forgiving” design

21. Pedestrian Impact and Rollovers
Pedestrian Impacts
4 of the 5 cases involved high speeds in excess of 50 kmph.
Absence of pedestrian warning signals or pedestrian crossings.
Commercial vehicles on duty (taxis/ on hire)
3 accidents in broad daylight
Rollovers
Only 2 cases, no injuries
Night time, wet roads
Poor tyre tread-depths

22. Conclusions Methodology works
In-depth accident data collection with police support is very much possible
Data capture with readily available tools
Not financially prohibitive
Framework can be extended to all India
Front-Rear Collisions (59%) biggest contributor to NH 45 accidents
Reason: Pre-accident condition of leading vehicle
Slowing down, stopping, breaking down or overtaking

23. Future work!
More in-depth data studies are required to understand the causes of heavy truck accidents on highways.
Analysis of Heavy Truck Accidents on NH45 and the Urgent Need for In-depth Truck Accident Data Collection on National Highways.
Jeya Padmanaban, Ravishankar Rajaraman, Greg Stadter
JP Research India Pvt. Ltd.
Networking with accident hospitals is essential to obtain injury data for coding injuries and for detailed injury analysis.
Coimbatore Project (Aug – Oct 2009)

24. Significance of In-depth Data
Understanding location specific problems/weaknesses
Implementing safety systems/strategies (vehicle/highway/road user) based on real-world research
Increasing public awareness about traffic safety issues through convincing evidence and examples
Anticipating injury trends by EMS and doctors to prepare and treat patients accordingly
Concrete evidence based decision making
Auditing and realizing Better Returns on Investment

25. Thank you!