Republic of the Philippines

Samar State University

Catbalogan City, Samar

Road Safety analysis on the Characteristics of Road

Environment in Mercedes-Maulong Diversion Road, Catbalogan
City
________________________________________________________

A Course Requirement in the Subject HIGHWAY AND RAILROAD

ENGINEERING of Samar State University, Catbalogan City

______________________________________________

Submitted to:

Engr. Noel S. Palomas

Research Instructor

______________________________

Submitted by:

Ruel C. Parambita
Tricia Mae O. Quitoy
Mary Isabelle J. Raquel

April 2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The objective of this research was to investigate the road

safety on the characteristics of road environment in Mercedes-

Maulong diversion road. Collection of data relevant for this

study was obtained using the characteristics of road

environment such as road geometry, road surface, and road

lightings and signage to determine the factors such as road

alignment, sight distance, intersection, skid resistance, road

lighting and signage and reflectorization, and signage that

need to be considered in analyzing the road safety of the

bypass. An investigation of the said bypass road was then

performed by the researchers through general survey and upon

observation gathered that obstruction of sight distance, poor

intersection, closely spaced curves, poor vertical sag,

unfinished sidewalk, absence of road lightings and signage

were the common problems in Mercedes-Maulong diversion road.

This led to the proposal of alternative solutions that the

researchers reckon will aid and compensate for its inadequate

or missing feature and improve the road safety of the

Mercedes-Maulong diversion road.

INTRODUCTION

One parameter considered in the design of highways are user

safety (Golisao et al., 2019). According to the World Health

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Organization (WHO, 2019) over the past decade, Philippines has

achieved progress in road safety legislation, but the high

incidence of road traffic injuries and fatalities remains a

major public health and development concern. The latest data

published in Road Traffic Accidents Deaths in Philippines

reached 10,624 or 1.74% of total deaths (WHO, 2018). When the

causes of traffic accidents are examined, it is stated that

34% of the accidents are caused by highways (Islam et al.,

2019) Due to geometric design errors, pavement deformations,

incorrect placement of traffic signs, etc., (Grzebieta et al.,

2005) In many cases, bypasses a diversion routes which bring

main road traffic away from built-up areas have created a

serious accident potential because they were built with at-

grade intersections and no access control (ESCAP, 2017).

Characteristic for many rural roads are inappropriate,

relatively high speeds, lack of physical separation of lanes,

numerous intersections, poorly maintained roadsides, and mixed

traffic including vulnerable road users combined with speeding

also increase the occurrence of road crashes as well as their

severity (OECD, 2020). The overall objective of this work is

therefore to identify road geometric design and environment

elements that contribute to road traffic accident occurrence

and crash severity and propose solutions to improve road

safety (Mbessa et al., 2020).

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The aim of the study Road Safety Analysis on the

characteristics of road environment in Mercedes-Maulong

diversion road in Catbalogan City is to investigate the road

geometry, road surface, and road illumination of the specified

road and to identify whether they meet the general design

standards of safety design. Geometric design deals with the

dimension and layout of visible features of the highway such

as alignment, sight distance, and intersection (Ibrahim,

2016). Road surface, on the other hand affects several factors

related to roadway safety such as the skid resistance of

pavement surfaces that help keep the vehicles on the road, a

good textured road surface maximizes the safety on the road

and prevent traffic accidents from occurring. Meanwhile, road

illumination and reflectorization affects the road safety by

reducing nighttime accidents. Signs that are intended to

convey message during dark periods need to be reflectorized or

illuminated for greater visibility of colors and shapes

(Department of Public Works and Highways [DPWH], 2012).

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Figure 1.1: Road Layout of Diversion Road in Mercedes-Maulong,

Catbalogan City.

RECOMMENDATION

After a thorough analysis of data, the following

recommendations are hereby made:

• Surface width

The recommended width for the side clearance is about

0.53 m on both side and 1.06 m in the center. Therefore,

a two-lane road require minimum of 3.5 meter for each

lane and 7 m for double lane with no kerbs. (Shown in

Fig. 2.1)

• Sidewalk

AASHTO guide recommends the design of paved and

continuous sidewalks on both sides of roadways with

minimum width of 1.5m. The design of paved sidewalks on

both sides of roadways with adequate width, continuous,

travel free and well maintained to guarantee pedestrian

safety.

• Intersection type and control

The typical bypass lane configuration at intersection

should generate a 3 number of lanes for 3-legged

intersection and 4 lanes for 4-legged intersection.

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 Installation of additional pavement at three-legged (T)

intersection to allow through vehicles to maneuver around

left-turning vehicles on the major road. (Shown in Fig.

3.1)

• Road alignment

Road alignment is significant parameter influencing road

safety. Crash rates are higher on sections with curves or

grades. Therefore, a good alignment should be linear and

have fewer gradients and slopes.

• Road lighting and signages

Ensure adequate lighting at night by putting streetlight,

road illumination, signages and repairing existing ones

especially at three-legged (T) intersection. Roadway

lighting assists drivers in recognizing the geometry and

conflict points of the roadway at extended distances,

thereby simplifying the driving task at night. This

increases driver visual comfort and reduces driver

fatigue, which helps contribute to highway safety.

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DECISION CRITERIA

ROAD SAFETY ANALYSIS

Road Lightings Road Surface Road Geometry

and Signages

Road Road Alignment

Illumination

Reflectorization Skid Resistance Sight Distance

Signages Intersection

Improve Road Safety in

Mercedes-Maulong
Diversion Road

Figure 4.1: Decision criteria

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ASSUMPTIONS

The study is focused on road safety analysis on the

characteristics of road environment. The following assumptions

were made:

1. The researchers assumed that with road safety analysis

the road user would be safe in passing the Diversion

Road in Catbalogan.

2. Applying the speed limit on the vehicles that road users

must follow on a diversion road will result in

progression of road safety and reduce road accidents.

3. Putting signage and markings, especially road

illumination on the road, will provide awareness and

information for the road users.

4. Focusing on applying lighting such as traffic lights and

streetlights on intersections and the curved roadway of

Diversion Road will assist drivers in recognizing the

obstacles in the roadway and provide a clearer vision

for the road users.

5. The researchers assumed that following the standard

geometry design and characteristics of the road

environment would result in an effective road safety.

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DATA ANALYSIS

Road Surface

Figure 5.1: Road Surface of Diversion Road in Mercedes-

Maulong, Catbalogan City.

Figure 5.1 shows the sealed road surface in Mercedes-Maulong

Diversion Road, the concrete road is transversely textured to

produce excellent skid-resistance and much lower road noise

quality both in vehicle and along the roadway.

Road Alignment

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Figure 6.1: Trees, vegetation, and elevated ground obstructing

sight distance in Mercedes-Maulong Diversion Road, Catbalogan

City.

Figure 6.1 shows vegetation and trees growing in the elevated

ground which hides the road alignment, because of this

dangerous corner cutting is encouraged due to the poor and

inadequate road markings, increasing the risk of vehicular

crashes and accidents.

Figure 6.2: Poor intersection due to lack of channelization in

Mercedes-Maulong Diversion Road, Catbalogan City.

Lack of Channelization in Figure 6.2 encourages poor driving

behavior such as corner cutting and lane blocking. If vehicle

movement is unpredictable a collision is more likely to occur.

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Figure 6.3: Reverse curves in Mercedes-Maulong Diversion Road,

Catbalogan City.

In Figure 6.3 closely spaced curves are shown. These curves

have a short straight alignment between them, making it

undesirable as the standard rate of change of cross-fall is

always exceeded. This can lead to loss of vehicle control when

the road is wet. It will also be hard for the motorist to

determine the road alignment in advance (DPWH, 2012).

Figure 6.4: Poor vertical sag in Mercedes-Maulong Diversion

Road, Catbalogan City.

The short vertical sag curve in Figure 6.4 can hide an

oncoming vehicle. Motorists/drivers may think that the road

ahead is clear and try to overtake without realizing that a

vehicle is hidden from view because of the sag, causing

vehicular collision.

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Figure 6.5: Unfinished sidewalk in Mercedes-Maulong Diversion

Road, Catbalogan City.

Figure 6.5 shows the unfinished sidewalk in Mercedes-Maulong

diversion road, notably lowering pedestrian safety and

comfort, and equally increasing chances of accidents and

injuries.

Road Lightings and Signages

Figure 7.1: Absence of road lightings in Mercedes-Maulong

Diversion Road, Catbalogan City.

Figure 7.1 shows Mercedes-Maulong Diversion Road without any

means of lighting such as illumination and/or reflectorization

from streetlights and/or reflective materials. Without

lighting it would be dangerous and hard for motorists/drivers

to track the road or upcoming obstacles.

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Figure 7.2: Absence of road signages in Mercedes-Maulong

Diversion Road, Catbalogan City.

Figure 7.2 shows Mercedes-Maulong Diversion Road without

any means of warning, informing, and directing

motorists/drivers. Without these road safety rules

motorists/drivers are encouraged and tend to drive

irresponsibly, presumably leading to many vehicular and road

accident.

PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE WITH RATIONALE

From the data gathered by investigating the road safety design

of Mercedes-Maulong Diversion Road, it came to the researchers

notice that some parts of the said bypass road are

substandard, lacking, or missing a safety feature that the

researchers deem to be crucial in attaining a safely designed

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bypass road. That is why the researchers came up with

preferred alternatives to aid and compensate for its

inadequate or missing feature. To begin with, the researchers

propose trimming the trees and vegetation and removing the

elevated soil obstructing the sight distance, as well as

providing strategically placed chevron signs or guideposts to

help reduce unprecedented car crashes and provide warning and

guidance to the drivers. Also, as a consequence of lacking

channelization, the poor intersection should have a widened

shoulder at T-intersection to provide emergency use by traffic

and safe stopping distance for vehicles. Then for closely

reversed curves, the centerline, lane markings, and chevron

signs should be required to avoid the loss of vehicle control

especially during rainy season when the road is wet. On the

other hand, in offsetting poor vertical sags, delineating the

road with ‘no overtaking’ lane markings is preferred, as well

as lane widening over the short crest to provide extra width

for maneuvering vehicles. Likewise, the repair and

construction of the unfinished sidewalk will also increase

pedestrian safety and comfort, similar to how situating

streetlights and using reflective markings will help

pedestrians and drivers to recognize road marking signs.

Finally, is incorporating clear road delineation and using

appropriate road signages such as warning, informative, and

regulatory signs throughout the whole diversion route.

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JUSTIFICATION/PREDICTED OUTCOME

The predicted outcome on the application of preferred

alternatives appeared to rectify the problem regarding on the

characteristics of road environment and the influence on road

safety analysis. Road users are bound to have clearer vision

on road and able to recognize the oncoming vehicles. Provision

of chevron signs and guideposts possessed a tendency to assist

road user on change in direction or narrowing of the road.

Focusing on the road safety of T-intersection such as widening

the shoulder could provide a wider space for the turning

vehicles. The common alignment on the bypass is reverse curves

and the execution of the recommended alternatives could lead

to the reduction of vehicle collision and heavy traffic. In

the view of included cause on road accidents, the cruciality

of using the recommended width of sidewalks could affect the

safeness of pedestrian and road user. Overall, the expected

results of the road safety analysis is to lead significant

road safety improvement.

CONCLUSION

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The main objective of this study was to identify the

characteristics of road environment that contribute to road

accident and propose appropriate solution to improve road

safety analysis. The main types of data collected are the road

geometry, road surface, and road lighting and signage. Based

on road safety annual report (2020)

the main cause of traffic fatalities are lack of physical

separation of lanes, numerous intersections, poorly maintained

roadsides, and mixed traffic including vulnerable road users

combined with speeding. Mercedes-Maulong Diversion Road, is a

bypass that is lack of access control, lack of channelization

at intersection, lack of median markings and poor road

geometric alignment. This led to the proposal of solutions

such as the application of recommended design and width of

road, sidewalk, and shoulder of T-intersection, the provision

of marked centerline and no overtaking lane markings, the

design of appropriate channelization at intersection,

management and control of access points and many others.

Hence, these findings will be helpful for continued revisions

on diverson road with the current road design standard and for

the establishment of adequate policies in order to limit the

influence of road geometric elements on traffic accidents

and improve road safety.

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1. Alireza Shams, Sunanda Dissanayake & Ishani Dias

(2019): Safety effects of adding bypass lanes at rural
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C., Tomacas, A., Uy, E., & Perante, J. (2019). Road
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7. M. H. Islam, L. Teik Hua, H. Hamid, ve A. Azarkerdar,
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and-injuries-in-the-philippines

11. 111993 AASHTO Rigid Pavement Structural Design Pavement

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[Link]/2015/09/08/6-basic-cross-sectional-
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17
 15. (n.d.). [Link]/sites/default/d8files/3-
Detailed Design [Link]

APPENDICES

Figure 1.1: Surface Width

Figure 2.1: Sidewalk.

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