eprintid: 4679
rev_number: 8
eprint_status: archive
userid: 1
dir: disk0/00/00/46/79
datestamp: 2024-08-12 09:08:00
lastmod: 2024-08-12 09:08:00
status_changed: 2024-08-12 09:08:00
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 1
creators_name: Dijk, Remco van
creators_id: S4083334
creators_email: r.van.dijk.22@student.rug.nl
title: Making the un safest roads in Drenthe safe: How to improve traffic safety in the Dutch province of Drenthe?
ispublished: unpub
full_text_status: public
abstract: 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.
date: 2024
pages: 111
thesis_type: master
degree_programme: EIP
tutors_name: Theron, C.
tutors_organization: Fac. Ruimtelijke wetenschappen, Infrastucture Planning
tutors_email: c.theron@rug.nl
security: public
keywords_local: Traffic safety
keywords_local: Infrastructure
keywords_local: Cyclists
keywords_local: Drenthe
keywords_local: Netherlands
keywords_local: Rural roads
keywords_local: Road-design analysis
keywords_local: Driver behaviour
keywords_local: Traffic volume and speed analysis
keywords_local: SWOV
keywords_local: CBS
keywords_local: Traffic fatality
keywords_local: Traffic accident prevention
language_iso: en
date_issued: 2024-07-28
citation:   Dijk, Remco van  (2024) Making the un safest roads in Drenthe safe: How to improve traffic safety in the Dutch province of Drenthe?  Master thesis.   
document_url: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4679/1/van-Dijk-R-S4083334-Thesis.pdf