Road accidents and their resulting human and economic impacts in Derna - a study in transportation geography

Abstract

Traffic accidents are among the most prominent problems facing contemporary societies, due to their huge human, economic and social impacts, including the loss of lives, the depletion of human resources, and the disruption of development paths. Based on this importance, this study aimed to analyze patterns of traffic accidents and determine the extent of human losses resulting from them, in addition to revealing the most prominent social and behavioral factors affecting their occurrence. The study relied on the descriptive analytical approach, by analyzing official statistical data, in addition to using a questionnaire tool to collect field data. The results showed that vehicle collision accidents topped the types of traffic accidents at a rate of (64%), followed by run-over accidents at a rate of (25.2%), and then rollover accidents at a rate of (10.8%). The study also revealed a relative increase in the rates of some accidents compared to the general average during the study period. In terms of human losses, (184) deaths (37.5%) were recorded, compared to (307) injured (62.5%), with a clear discrepancy in the annual averages for both deaths and injuries. The results of the questionnaire also showed that there are social and behavioral factors that contribute to the exacerbation of accidents, most notably the lack of driving experience, as drivers with less than ten years of experience constituted (64.5%), in addition to weak compliance with traffic legislation, as it was found that a percentage of drivers do not possess driving licenses or obtained them in irregular ways. The results also showed a higher death rate among males compared to females, and a concentration of accidents during the winter as a result of unstable climatic conditions and increased traffic. These results confirm the necessity of enhancing traffic awareness, activating the enforcement of laws, and paying attention to the qualification of drivers, which contributes to reducing accidents and reducing their negative effects on society.