Software under the Microcomputer Accident Analysis Package (MAAP5) of the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has been in use in Bangladesh for storing data and analyses of accidents. While the prevailing methods in Bangladesh for accident and data recording and data base are still at a rudimentary level, under-reporting (accidents which are not reported) is estimated to be very high.
Moreover, upgrading of the MAAP5 software to Windows version is urgent. This software is designed for use in less developed countries. Therefore, this software has become obsolete and needs to be replaced with updated and more appropriate one, used by developed countries. The accident analysis software, which is being used in New Zealand known as Crash Analysis System (CAS) software, could be introduced in Bangladesh too. We have to improve all infrastructures related to road traffic environment to extricate ourselves from the clutches of one of the worst road safety records in the world.
Accident types are described by the road users' movement. These are represented by diagrammatic interpretations of various vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-other road user movements. Such interpretation has been proved to be a powerful tool for investigation of road accident problems, establishing counter-measures and evaluating the changes and effects of accident counter-measures. It is very useful in determining the particular nature of accident problems by distinguishing the types of accidents if these occur at intersection or at mid-block sections and the extent of casualties these mishaps cause.
In a study on accidents, it is important to define the three elementary variables: accident types, classified by movements of road users, accident locations, classified into intersections and links and road category, classified by functional classifications of roads.
In New Zealand, the CAS system is managed by the New Zealand Transport Agency. The CAS is an integrated computer system that provides tools to collect, map, query, and report on road crash and related data. It contains data from all traffic crashes reported by the police. It provides a platform for development and implementation of new road safety initiatives, making a huge contribution to crash prevention. The information provided by the CAS is used to determine and analyse trends, which help direct recommendations for road safety funding allocations, target road safety programmes and monitor their performance.
The CAS brings three main sources of road safety data together: crash reports, diagrams of crashes, and road data, which include road categorisation and traffic flows.
Bangladesh could request the New Zealand authority in this regard. It is very much relevant to mention that New Zealand is one of the earlier countries to recognise Bangladesh after independence in1971 though at that time New Zealand belonged to the Western block. As such, Bangladesh should seek New Zealand's assistance in many areas like education, healthcare, problems of road traffic system in the country, including development of state-of-art crash analysis software in this country.
The writer is traffic cum road safety engineer. [email protected]
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