Research Papers (2009 – 2013)

Abstract

Due to the extension of the local road network in rural areas, classical methods for identifying possible Accident Prone Locations (APL) may be improved by adding qualitative data based on local and regional expertise. A local press review is presented as a relevant data source for civil servants and researchers for road safety analysis based on road networks, traffic flows and road accidents. The developed database helps to link accident data to qualitative indicators of risk perception such as the number, the size and the duration of the coverage of articles per road accident and per geographical zone. This method also helps to highlight explanatory models conveyed in the written media. This paper proposes methodological foundations to combine qualitative media data on road safety analysis for determining APLs. The next step of the project will be to integrate and compare the results with the road safety perceptions by various stakeholders in the region.

Pierre Rondier, Marie-Soleil Cloutier, Félix Soto, Nicolas Saunier