The Evaluative Study For Improving Road Safety By Increasing The Visibility And Conspicuity Of Zebra Crossing Areas In Front Of Schools On Urban Roads

10.2478/bjlp-2023-0000025

Abstract

This research was aimed at studying and evaluating the improvement of Safety of Zebra Crossings in front of Schools (SZCS) Project by increasing the visibility and conspicuity of the crossings situated in urban area in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand, during the pre- and during SZCS Project. The total study period was 18 months, and the scope of study was on 4 aspects: 1) vehicle speed, 2) degree of road safety for pedestrians based on iRAP standard, 3) traffic accidents in the Project area, and 4) worthiness of investment. The research on vehicle speed was carried out by dividing the zones: namely, before reaching SZCS, the zebra crossing point, and the zone after passing SZCS both during peak and off-peak hours. The degree of road safety was based on the scores and sums of different factors from iRAP studies. The worthiness of investment was found by analyzing the Benefits-Cost Ratio. The findings indicate the followings: 1) Speeds can be significantly reduced at the SZCS point during the first 3 months; however, after 12 months, the average speed slightly decreased with no statistical significance. 2) The traffic calming measure in the Project area could augment the pedestrian safety degree from 3-star to 4-star level. 3) The number and severity of road accidents decreased. 4) The SZCS Project requires a low budget and is worth investing. The findings demonstrate both the direct and indirect efficiency of the improvement of the zebra crossings by increasing their visibility and conspicuity in front of schools.