A new study by university researchers has found that pedestrian and roadside facilities, such as sidewalks, crossing points, and street lighting, play a more effective role in reducing road crashes than fixed geometric road features designed during construction.
The Incheon National University findings, published in Volume 93 of the Journal of Safety Research on July 1, 2025, highlight the importance of focusing on modifiable safety elements that can be implemented during routine road maintenance.
Led by Assistant Professor Wookjae Yang, the research analyzed data from a 68-kilometer segment of a national highway in South Korea. The team used advanced modeling techniques to evaluate how road design interacts with traffic volumes and speeds to influence two common types of crashes: head-on and run-off.
“Unlike earlier studies that treated speed and volume as static factors, we treated them as mediators, allowing us to see how design features influence behavior, which in turn affects crash risk,” said Dr. Yang.
The study grouped road characteristics into three principal components;
PC1: pedestrian and roadside facilities
PC2: cross-section and intersection conditions
PC3: road surface and curvature
The results revealed that PC1 had the most significant direct effect on crash outcomes, particularly run-off crashes. These elements, which can be modified post-construction, were found to be more influential in crash prevention than fixed road features like lane width and curvature.
“Sidewalks, crossings, and lighting can be adjusted more easily and deliver greater safety gains,” Dr. Yang added.
On the other hand, PC2 and PC3 did not show significant direct effects on crash frequency. The study attributes this to the uniform design standards on national highways. However, these features still affected crashes indirectly by influencing vehicle speed and traffic volume.
The research offers critical guidance for global and national road safety agencies, including Uganda’s Ministry of Works and Transport. It suggests focusing on operational features that can be modified without overhauling existing infrastructure, offering a cost-effective strategy for reducing fatalities.
“By showing how traffic volume and speed mediate crash risks, and identifying operational elements as key levers for safety, we provide a more dynamic view of road safety,” said Dr. Yang.
The World Health Organization estimates that over 1.19 million people die in road crashes annually. With global efforts targeting a 50% reduction by 2030, this study supports more targeted interventions and recommends refining tools like the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) to distinguish between fixed and modifiable road features.
The full Journal of Safety Research can be accessed here
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