SAFETY ON MOTORWAYS. REAR-END COLLISIONS; DIAGNOSIS OF AN ACCIDENT

An analysis of 5,323 rear-end collisions on 850 km of motorway (Brescia-Milan-Naples) shows that this type of accident amounts to one third of all motorway accidents, accounting for 40% of casualties and more than 40% of deaths. The incidence of goods vehicles in these collisions is far higher than their degree of mobility: accounting for 26% of total mileage and 41% of accidents. The greatest number of rear-end collisions occurs between 6 and 8 p.m., and up-hill accidents are more serious because of the greater dispersion between the speeds of cars and goods vehicles. While only 5% of these accidents occur in the emergency parking lane, they account for 12.4% of the fatal collisions. Suggestions for reducing the number and severity of rear-end collisions include: the creation of a slow lane with emergency parking areas, measures to improve driving under poor light conditions and upper and lower speed limits to reduce speed range dispersion. (A)