The Statistical Analysis of Highway Crashes in Taiwan

本研究透過台灣交通事故資料，提供所需資訊，作為交通安全的改善依據，統計分析在各種氣候、環境與道路條件下，台灣不同區域各種等級道路的事故資料。量化性地了解不同道路所呈現傷亡率，並探討其形成的主、次因，以論述兩者關係及分配情形，進一步分析主要肇事因素與傷亡率的關聯與影響。先前的分析資料指出，超速、酒駕、設計不當的交通號誌、標誌，較易導致嚴重的傷害。視距或路狀不佳，如週末或夜間時段駕駛，因擁擠或亮度不足，其所造成的傷亡率亦較高。因而本研究可透過統計分析，了解所需強化的改善方式，以提供切合實際的交通安全規劃。並依交通三要素：人、車、路之變數，來擬定各種可行方案。在法令政策上努力宣導交通安全觀念；例如籲請駕駛人勿超速和酒駕，因其將導致嚴重的交通事故。在政策的配套上，應包括監理規劃、駕照考領及訓練、限定飲酒年齡及酒駕之處罰等相關法案；本研究可提供重要之理論基礎，供立法機關參酌，制定最佳的交通策略。內政部分析，目前台灣因交通事故而傷亡的情形相當嚴重。透過本研究可分析各種交通事故型態及相關比例情形，並調查各種肇事原因及傷亡比例，進而針對不同的車禍種類，提出各項的矯正措施，以冀有效的提昇道路安全。

關鍵字

交通安全；肇事因素；傷亡率；矯正策略

並列摘要

This research provides information about traffic safety in Taiwan and programs implemented to improve traffic safety. A reportable traffic crash data covering different classes of roads in different geographical areas in Taiwan under various weather, environmental, and roadway conditions were examined. The elements that were investigated in this study were fatalities and injuries, distribution of the main causes and contributing factors as well as the association between them. Further analysis involved modeling the effect of the contributing factors on injury rates. The previous analysis indicated that speeding, use of alcohol or drugs, and defective traffic control devices or safety devices produces more injury related crashes than normal. Poor sight distance and environmental conditions such as bad weather and poor light conditions were found associated with higher injury rates than normal as is night time and Saturdays. This research could provide insight into the areas where more emphasis is needed for effective safety programs. Basically, there are several different ways in which improvements in highway traffic safety can be approached and requires consideration of three elements-the driver, the vehicle, and the roadway. Policy level safety efforts address driver behavior issues such as speeding and alcohol/drug related crashes that cause more fatal and severe injuries. Such policy programs include programs such as vehicle-inspection programs, driver licensing, testing, and training programs, minimum drinking age, and penalties for drunk driving. Policy level programs are usually supported by legislation at governmental level. However, they should be based on well-founded research that such programs potentially improve safety. Traffic accidents are one of the critical reasons to cause deaths in Taiwan based upon the Interior Department 147 analyses. The major task in this research is to study crashes on our nation’s highway system to improve safety. The occurrence of crashes and their interactions of factors as well as their magnitudes, i.e., the relative proportions of the various crash types, are analyzed in this study. Besides, the contributing factors as well as the injury rates are closely examined. By doing so, effective corrective measures to mitigate the different crash types can be assembled to improve highway safety.