Page 38 - TT mag April 2024 Digital Edition

ROAD SAFETY

Fatal accidents on Samruddhi
Expressway, Lucknow Agra
Expressways, Mumbai Pune
Highways are examples.
The environment of the new
expressways is different. They
do not have trees, or visual
features, which would lead to
highway hypnosis where drivers
tend to show more fatigue, as
driving becomes duller. In such
situations, the brain switches
to a less-alert mode and begins
to pay less attention to visual
provocations.

On the one hand, highways
engineering should take into

lanes for PTWs in Malaysia on through vehicle and road design, consideration the phenomenon
highways, this approach was improving driver behaviour will of human psychology, and on the
strongly recommended for remain an essential priority until other, drivers need to be trained
consideration by nations where safer roads and vehicles are put on what measures to be taken
PTWs comprise a large proportion in place. Factors like the increased while driving on these roads.
of the overall vehicle fleet. number of motor vehicles, gadgets, According to Dr Paolo Perego,
non-standard road environments
The question of motorcycle Researcher at the Traffic
filtration between lanes of four- and technological advancement in Psychology Unit of Università
wheeler traffic is also important. active and passive safety systems Cattolica del Sacro Cuore,
The provision for filtration of have altered the landscape of safety professional drivers are exposed
vehicles was added in India’s for vehicle occupants and also to a unique set of psychological
Motor Vehicle Driving Regulations pedestrians. The curricula required challenges that demand
2017 for urban roads that have a for driver training should be standardised psychological
updated to include such knowledge
speed limit of 40km/hr. Adopted and awareness. assessments. There is a need for
from the Belgian legislation, training on cognitive skills and for
this concept requires that four- When we speak of highways as dedicated education on hazard
wheelers and three-wheelers high-speed roads, the data reveals perception to promote a safety
adhere to designated lanes, while that national highways are just culture in the transport sector.
two-wheelers can filter through. 2% of the country’s road network Dr Perego also stressed the
but are responsible for over 36% need for emotional intelligence
It was recommended that of the total road fatalities. The
filtration be an optimal solution issue with highways is lack of training for professional drivers
where ample segregated spaces traffic engineering, mixed traffic to improve their resilience and
cannot be provided, like urban conditions, too many accesses reduce the likelihood of impulsive
roads. However, enforcement is and so on. When it comes to or risky behaviour.
needed to ensure that all road Expressways, the creation and The science and understanding
users comply with lane usage rules.
management are two concerns. of driver psychology should be
Road accident data indicated Expressways allow the speed limit understood by driver trainers,
that 85% or more of all fatal and of 120 kmph for LMVs, however the accident investigators and traffic
serious crashes are a result of drivers try to reach higher speeds. engineers. It is time that we
drivers’ errors. While the philosophy During the summer months, due ensure that the science of human
of the Safe System Approach is to to rise in temperatures, tire bursts psychology forms a part of driver
accommodate some of these errors are also common. training in defensive driving. TT

38 TRAFFICINFRATECH / April 2024 / www.trafficinfratech.com