In-Depth Analysis of Contributory Factors to Fatal Road Crashes in Montreal, Québec.

摘要

The Road Safety team at école Polytechnique de Montréal conducted an in-depth studyof contributory factors to all fatal road collisions and fatalities that occurred on the Islandof Montreal in 2008 and 2009. The aim of the work was to develop more knowledgeabout causal and contributory factors to these collisions, both within road user’sbehaviour, vehicle safety and road conditions, and to propose countermeasures in orderto prevent similar collisions. In-depth investigations were conducted on a total ofseventy-three (73) fatal motor vehicle traffic collisions resulting in 75 fatalities in order tospecifically identify what went wrong and the key actions and failures that led directly tothe actual impact. Up to four contributory factors, chosen from a list of 79, wererecorded for each collision. The 32 factors used, out of the 79 considered, were alsoorganised in the following main groups: conditions related to the road user behaviour,conditions related to the vehicle, and conditions related to the road and the road trafficsystem. Single-vehicle crash fatalities (which includes collisions with vulnerable roadusers and fixed objects) were the most prevalent (87%) and improper lookout or failed tolook properly was the most frequently reported contributory factor and was involved in42% of all fatal crashes. Other frequently reported factors were alcohol impairment(18%) and improper manoeuvre (18%). Non-accident or suicide attempt was recorded asthe cause of five fatalities. Males were particularly overrepresented in crashes wherealcohol impairment appears as a contributory factor and for suicide attempts. On thebasis of the analysis, several safety countermeasures are proposed.