Development of Traffic Accident Information System
using Geographic Information System (GIS)
Noriel Christopher C.Tiglaco
National Center for Transportation Studies
University of the Philippines
Diliman , 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
Tel (632) 929-0495 Fax : (632) 929-5664
E-mail: noriel@ncts.engg.upd.edu.ph
Abstract
Traffic safety plays as key and integral role in a sustainable transportation development strategy. The main negative impact of modern road transportation systems today is injury and loss of life as a result of road accidents. The success of traffic safety and highway improvement programs hinges on the analysis of accurate and reliable traffic accident data. This study discuses the present state of traffic accident information in Metro manila . it shall also discuss the potentials of developing a traffic accidents information system using geographic information system (GIS) . initial attempts on the integration of geo-referenced traffic accidents data for spatial analysis shall be discussed . lastly, this paper comes up with some recommendations on the institutionalization of such a system line Metro Manila.
Introduction
There is no doubt that traffic safety has emerged as one of the key problems confronting contemporary Philippine urban society . although this is so, it has to been given much attention and remains uncharted mainly because the more pressing problems such as traffic congestion are at hand.
While of the road accident situation is slowly improving in the high income industrialized countries, most developing countries such as he Philippines, face a worsening situation . the continuous socio-economic growth over the years is causing increasing demand fore transport service including road transport . with the number of vehicles on the road growing rapidly, more road conflicts develop vis-à-vis traffic accidents .
Most of these accidents result from human error and carelessness on the part of the derivers or pedestrians . However , the probability of occurrence, and its severity , can often be reduced by the application of proper traffic control devices, and good roadway design features . the success or failure of such control devices and design specifications however , depends extensively upon the analysis of traffic accident records at specific locations. It has long been recognized that the most effective means towards accident reduction lies in a systematic and scientific approach based on the use of accurate and reliable traffic accident data . but the quantity of data important for the analysis are not always sufficient
Much of the accident information available in police files is all too often incomplete and therefore has not been utilized to the fullest extent. In addition, records are also needed to provide facts to guide programs including enforcement, education, maintenance, vehicle inspection, emergency medical services, and engineering to improve streets and highways.
Much of the accident information available in police files is all too often incomplete and therefore has not been utilized to the fullest extent. In addition , records are also needed to provide facts to guide programs including enforcement, education , maintained , vehicle inspection, emergency medical services, and engineering to improve streets and highways.
There is a need for better information of the circumstance of collisions , especially with regards to location in order to come up with a general picture of the data. More precise location data could help provide facts to guide programs including enforcement, education , maintenance, vehicle inspection , emergency medical services, and engineering to improve streets and highways .
Accident record keeping has to been give much priority by concerned government agencies . so far , there is no integrated database that accounts for accidents statistics for the whole country .
Key Stakeholder in Traffic Accident Information
At the helm of traffic accidents data investigation and reporting is the Traffic Management command (TMC) of the Philippine National Police . by virtue of a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) adopted by ht police organization, all traffic accident report forms filed at the different districts ail over the country should be submitted to the TMC Headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City. In metro Manila , the operation and management of the PNP is divided into five (5) distinct districts, namely: North , South, East, West and Central . Directly under the District Commander is the Chief of the Traffic Division. The Additionally, the Traffic Management Group (TMG) has sole jurisdiction along the stretch of EDSA.
The Traffic Accident Investigation Report Program started in 1978 under the Traffic Studies of the Ingra structure Planning Research and Statistics Division (IPRSD0 of the Department of Public Works and Highways . specifically , the Traffic Studies Section encodes the TAIR and furnishes the Bureau of Design , Maintenance Division and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Crame of the encoded reports/statistics. The data gathered by the Traffic studies Section are used for planning and improvement of road design and safety.
Apart from the DPWH-T4affic Studies section and the PNP, the Metropolitan Development authority (MMDA) also perform an important role in Traffic Accident Investigation Report . MMDA serves as the mediator between traffic accident victims and the PNP traffic investigator
The safety Organization of the Philippines (SOPI) is a non-government organization which also aims to contribute in the traffic accident concern. SOPI conducts training on the following :1) Better Driving Course- which covers road safety , road accidents, common traffic violations safe driving, emergency driving and trouble shooting ; and 2) Land Transport Fleet Management which covers road safety , road accidents, fleet safety program, accident investigation and analysis , terminal and garage safety .
The Traffic Engineering Center (TEC) maintains operational data on major intersection . it also maintains the traffic signal control system for the Metro Manila Area. It collects and summarized traffic accidents form all police districts. Its does this by fielding personnel who will collate the data.
Almost recently , the TEC embarked on a project for the utilization of a GIS-based system for traffic accidents. However , the system could not be maintained . the TEC Library contains a good collection of accident information on paper . so far , no database system is in place. The TEC also suffers from perennial organizational problems.
The National Center for Transportation Studies ( formerly Transport Training Center ) is a regular unit of the University of the Philippines System. The NCTS plays a leading role in human resource development ad research activities in the field of transportation . NCTS conducts transportation research with the general aim of improving the country's transportation system . it continues to provide transport professionals from government with better education and training services .
Current State of Traffic Accident information
The authority responsible for nation wide accident record keeping is the Traffic Management Group (TMG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Accident records form all PNP Police Stations are to submit to the TMG Districts or Teams stationed in each region. These reports are then transmitted for consolidation to the TMG office in camp Crame. A committee under the chairmanship of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
At present, the system of traffic accident investigation and reporting is plagued with organizational and technical problems. These include incomplete data on e TAIR, non-submission of traffic district to the TMG Hq, discontinuity of program due to change in officials; and inconsistency of forms used by the different police stations.
Currently, there is an information gap with regards traffic accident date due to the following reasons . first, the currant traffic accidents database system is ineffective due to non-submission of forms . a second reason is the inaccuracy and inefficiency in the actual traffic accident investigation and reporting . a last reason would be the absence of a comprehensive traffic safety and highway improvement program.
