Different Approaches in Detecting Hazardous Road Locations: Land Use and Road Safety

Abstract

Road traffic collisions represent one of the major public health problems among the leading causes of deaths globally. This paper examines several approaches in detecting hazardous road locations, and discusses the spatial distribution these locations as well as their relationships with different land uses in Hong Kong. Two most commonly used methodologies in detecting hazardous road locations are used: the hot spot and hot zone methodologies. Both methodologies are performed using raw collision count, excess collision count and Empirical Bayes (EB) estimations. The EB approach uses land use characteristics near the road network in defining the reference groups. Finally all the approaches are compared by three methodological tests to assess their reliability and consistency. The result shows that land uses with higher average traffic collisions may not be more dangerous road locations. The mixture of land uses also plays an important part in accounting for road safety performances. The findings are useful in understanding the complex interrelationships between land use and road safety, and in facilitating planners and policy makers to build saver cities.