%0 Thesis
%9 Master
%A Dijk, Remco van
%D 2024
%F theses_frw:4679
%P 111
%T Making the un safest roads in Drenthe safe: How to improve traffic safety in the Dutch province of Drenthe?
%U https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4679/
%X Road safety is a critical issue that affects individuals, communities, and societies worldwide. Drenthe is one of the Netherlands' smallest provinces in size and population. However, this province also has the highest number of traffic fatalities per inhabitant in 2022 of all the Dutch provinces, with the number of fatal accidents in 2022 nearly doubling from 2021. This study aimed to investigate key traffic safety issues in Drenthe and propose effective policy and infrastructural changes to reduce traffic accidents and their severity. This research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining a literature review, statistical analyses on data provided by CBS and SWOV, expert interviews, and the development of a conceptual model. Key findings indicate that traffic accidents and fatalities predominantly occur on rural roads and N-roads, and there is a significant correlation between traffic fatalities and the average distance to essential facilities, highlighting rural-urban disparities. Statistical tests, including Pearson correlation and a Chi-Square test, confirmed that rural areas experience higher fatality rates and more severe accidents than urban areas. Urban areas experience more, but less severe accidents. Existing literature and interviews with traffic experts reveal contributing factors to traffic safety such as road-design, traffic volume, speeding, age, e-bikes, impaired driving, trees near the road and driver behaviour. Recommendations to improve traffic safety in Drenthe include decelerating rural roads to a speed limit of 60km/h, improving the consistency and believability of road-design, developing more segregated cycling lanes as well as implementing more safe passing havens for cyclists on rural road crossings. N-roads should be categorised and receive a median barrier or doubling of lanes where needed. Finally, rewarding drivers for good driver behaviour can incentivize positive driver behaviour.