Basic HTML Version
140
UCT RESEARCH REPORT 2012
Research Project
Non-Motorised Travel and Infrastructure in Cape Town
This project focuses on the safety of non-motorised transport users (e.g. cyclists and pedestrians), and their interaction
with other road users and infrastructure measures. Traditionally, road-safety assessments are conducted retrospectively.
The results of these investigations aggregate the
causes of crashes under human, vehicular and
environmental factors. The interaction between
these factors is poorly understood, and safety
counter-measures continue to be derived from
historic crash statistics, or cluster analysis of
incidents. Crashes are, however, random events
and can occur anywhere and at any time. Historical
crash-location patterns may not be the best
indicator of future risks.
This project explores the use of microsimulation
techniques to evaluate the relative safety of
infrastructure and the interaction of road users
through surrogate and proximal safety techniques,
and contrasts the results with published findings.
It also reviews road-safety assessment methods
currently in use (e.g. traffic-conflict analysis and
risk-assessment indices) and uses elements of
these in conjunction with simulation to provide a
sound basis for road-safety assessment. Test cases
and analysis have been undertaken using some
hazardous locations in Cape Town. Project activities
in 2012 focused on completing the modelling work
and initiating the write-up of results.
The project is led by Associate Professor Marianne
Vanderschuren and funded by the Volvo Research
and Educational Foundations.
This project explores the use of
microsimulation techniques to
evaluate the relative safety of
infrastructure and the interaction
of road users through surrogate
and proximal safety techniques,
and contrasts the results with
published findings.