Investigation of Traffic Accident Prone Areas Related to Existing Road Condition and Driver’S Behavior along Menagesha- Ambo Road Section

Traffic accidents worldwide is increasing due to a pragmatic vehicle ownership, acquisition, which necessitates daily activities. The primary objective of this research work was to identify the most hazardous location and provide countermeasures that will minimize the traffic accident at the designated sites. The scope of the study was limited to Ambo-Ginchi- Addis Ababa road, a total length of study road section of 87kms. The traffic accident data collected from each Wededa Police station covering the period of 2012-2015. It was analyzed using a Priority value formula for Ejere Wereda and Holota town, and accident frequency for Ambo wereda, Dendi wereda and Welmera wereda to rank the traffic accident areas. Based on the results of the analysis, thirteen locations of the road stretch were found to be accident prone areas. Out of these sites, three of them are in Ambo Wereda, two in Ejere wereda, one in Welmera wereda, and seven in Holota town. The time when most of the accidents occurred from 3:00PM-6: 00 PM. The primary causes of the accidents were over speeding, driving without attention and some unknown reasons. Also, it showed that the drivers’ age group who caused most of the accidents composed of 25-34 years old. Based on the findings of the study, it is concluded that there was the significant increase in the number of crashes in the afternoon. Young drivers are believed to cause more accidents than the older once due to aggressiveness. To minimize the occurrence of accidents along the study road section, it is recommended that provision of speed limit sign boards and warning signs at the strategic locations where traffic accident areas are identified to forewarn the overspeeding drivers. It is also recommended that the road agency should have to undertake to widen the lane width of the road, provision of sufficient climbing lane, installation of roadside Delineator, conduct roadside improvements, and repaint faded pavement markings.