Volume :

4

Issue :

1

Abstract :

The growth in the number of vehicles is a direct result of rapid growth of population and increased economic and technological development. But unfortunately, the corresponding growth in the road network has not been commensurate with the huge growth in vehicular population. Without adequate and timely maintenance, roads deteriorate excessively leading to high vehicle operation costs and increase in number of accidents. The location where there is possibility of occurrence of accidents is known as blackspots. Identification of these blackspots on highway has always been challenge to highway engineers. Several methods have been tried to detect the locations with high rate of accidents in order to reduce the accidents. There are statistical methods, which are helpful in the identification of these blackspots, but fail to identify the reason behind it. The success of traffic safety and highway improvement programs hinges on the analysis of accurate and reliable traffic accident data .The study discuses the present state of traffic accident information on SH-85 from Tavarekere to Magadi Town in Karnataka State. It shall also discuss the identification of blackspots by using Weighted Severity Index method. GIS Software is used in analyzing and prioritizing the blackspots. An attempt is also made to mitigate the blackspots by some engineering measures to provide an improved traffic safety.