Research Papers - Department of Civil Engineering
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Publication Open Access Restraint usage characteristics and other factors associated with safety of children involved in motor vehicle crashes(David Publishing, 2016) Dissanayake, S; Amarasingha, NInvolvement in road traffic crashes as vehicle occupants is a leading cause of death and serious injury among children. The objective of this study was to investigate crash severity factors and child safety restraint use characteristics in order to identify effective countermeasures to increase children’s highway safety. Characteristics and percentages of restraint use among child passengers aged 4~13 years were examined using highway crash data from Kansas. The association between restraint use, injury severity and characteristics of children involved in crashes were investigated using OR (odds ratios) and a logistic regression model, which was used to identify risk factors. Results showed that children, who were unrestrained, were seated in the front seat, traveling with drunk drivers and on rural roads, and traveling during nighttime was more vulnerable to severe injury in the case of motor vehicle crashes. The most frequent contributing causes related to crashes involving children included driver’s inattention while driving, failure to yield right-of-way, driving too fast, wet roads and animals in the road. Based on identified critical factors, general countermeasure ideas to improve children’s traffic safety were suggested, including age-appropriate and size-appropriate seat belt restraints and having children seated in the rear seat. Parents and children must gain better education regarding these safety measures in order to increase child safety on the road.Publication Open Access Pedestrian Crossing Behavior at Three Urban Signalized Intersections in Colombo(2019) JAYASINGHE, J. A. D. M. N; Amarasingha, NThe pedestrians crossing behavior at signalized intersections has become one of the main factors contributing intersections related crashes. Understanding the pedestrian crossing behavior is important as the behavior of these vulnerable group are random and inconsistent, which in turn led to make the objective of this study. Waiting endurance times of pedestrians in three urban intersections were studied during both peak and off-peak hours. Data on pedestrian characteristics were extracted from recorded videos and coded the eight different characteristics of pedestrians. The behavioral differences among gender and age groups were examined including the identification of the different crossing patterns. The results showed that most of the male pedestrians and old pedestrians tend to produce violent crossing characteristics. It was also noted that many pedestrians neglect to adhere to a straight path during crossing.Publication Open Access Speed Variation of Vehicles Correspondent to Road, Driver, and Environmental Characteristics(2019-10-17) Amarasingha, N; Samarasinghe, N. NAccording to the Sri Lankan Police records, the major problem for road crashes can be pointed out as speeding. Speed limit is one of the most important factors for road users, drivers as well as the pedestrians. Variation of speed limit affect the travel time, comfort, economy, and safety. Operating speed models influence the design of traffic flow network models, road design, design consistency, and traffic safety. This research attempts to identify the parameters which affects for the speed variations of vehicles by selecting curved and straight roadway sections in Colombo-Galle road. The research was conducted at a random sample of 1200 vehicles in five roadway sections on road, driver and environmental characteristics. Two multiple regression models for straight and curved roadways sections were developed. The variable which effect on speed variation were found. This study can be used as a baseline for development of more comprehensive speed variation models for Sri Lankan traffic condition.Publication Open Access Characteristics of Motorcycle Crashes(KDU IRC 2015, 2015-11) Amarasingha, NMotorcycles are popular in Asian countries including Sri Lanka and it is becoming an important part of transportation in the country. Despite its popularity, little research has been conducted to study the impact of motorcycles on road safety in Sri Lanka. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors of crashes involving motorcycles. Data was obtained from Police crash records which contain details of police-reported crashes, at all severity levels that occurred in Sri Lanka. Various characteristics such as environment, roadway, driver, and vehicle are analysed investigating the Oddsratios so that potential countermeasures can be developed to improve roadside safety. Motorcycle crashes are rapidly increased in Sri Lanka last five years. More frequent crash conditions for motorcycle crashes occurred while driving on rural roadways, driving during week days in heavy traffic, and driving newer motorcycles. Dry road surfaces, clear weather conditions predominantly characterized motorcycle-crashes. This study adds detailed information about characteristics of motorcycle crashes and measures to improve motorcycle safety in Sri Lanka to the transportation safety literature.Publication Open Access Risk Factors of Motorcycle Crashes in Sri Lanka(University of Moratuwa, 2016) Amarasingha, NThe use of motorcycles has become a passion or even a way of life in many South Asian countries including Sri Lanka, for commuting to work or transporting goods, as they are easy to use and to cover short distances. In these countries, ownership and use of motorcycles and other two-wheelers are generally relatively high. Compared to drivers of other vehicles, motorcyclists are vulnerable road users as they often share the traffic space with fast-moving vehicles, they are less visible, and also they lack protection in the case of a crash. All Sri Lankan regulations for motor vehicles are applicable to motorcycles. The owners are required to register their vehicles and also obtain driving licences to operate motorcycles. They also are required to obtain annual revenue licenses. Motorcycles are popular among middle income and low income people in Sri Lanka and mainly used to commute to work and also used to transport goods, as well as for recreational purposes. The most common vehicles on Sri Lankan roads are motorcycles and the number of motorcycles is more than three times the number of the second most popular vehicle, namely the three-wheeler. The percentage of increase of registered motorcycles in Sri Lanka from year 2003 to 2012, was 152% [1]. As the number of motorcycles increase, so does the probability of their being involved in motor vehicle crashes.Publication Embargo The effect of roadside elements on drivers' speed selection and lateral position on road(IEEE, 2017-01-27) Lankathilake, T. N; Amarasingha, NHighway related crashes are considered as one of most concerned types of problems in the modern world. Run-Off-Road (ROR) crashes could be identified as the most critical among highway related crashes. Previous research studies on Traffic Engineering has found that the road side elements will have a positive influence toward ROR crashes. Hence, the study explores the relationship of roadside elements with drivers' speed selection and lateral position. In this research study, the effect of road side vegetation and utility poles on drivers' speed selection and lateral positioning was evaluated. A straight roadway section and horizontal curve roadway section with varying road side vegetation were selected to get the required data for the study. Fifty vehicle were observed at each location to get the speeds and lateral positions. Collected data was analyzed using Multiple Regression Analysis technique to generate models to find drivers' speed selection and lateral positioning of vehicle on road. Study found that in lightly vegetated roadways, subjects drove speedier and drove much near the edge of the road. At the point when the scene changes into more vegetated, subjects drove much slower and drove near to the center of the road. The models demonstrate that the impact of road side vegetation way much higher in curved roads areas than straight segments. Therefore, it is recommended to post a speed limit sign and proper monitoring system at each critical curved roadway section in the country.Publication Embargo An analysis of signalized intersections: Case of traffic light failure(IEEE, 2017-01-27) Mohamed Mafas, A. M; Amarasingha, NTraffic congestion due to failure of traffic lights is one of the problems in Colombo. To study traffic congestions due to failure of traffic lights, the traffic characteristics at intersections should be investigated. Capacity of the intersection is the main factor influenced for congestions. Data were collected at three intersections Malabe, Battaramulla and Rajagiriya and capacity of each identified. The capacity of each intersection was studied according to the Peak Hour Malabe and Rajagiriya had PHF of 0.95 and Battaramulla had the value of 0.91. Accordingly, the effective simple suggestions to manage these intersections may be introduction of telephone booth and police cabin to use the case of emergency.Publication Open Access Travel Characteristics and Vehicle Kilometres Travelled in Jaffna, Sri Lanka(2018-03-15) Amarasingha, N; Balasayanthan, VIn the Northern Province most of the roads are rehabilitated in recent years as they were heavily deteriorated during the Guerrilla war. Therefore, a little is known about travel characteristics in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. This study investigates the characteristics of travel in Jaffna district estimating Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (VKT) and Personal Kilometres Travelled (PKT). Data were collected through the household travel surveys. The demographic information of traveller, mode of travel, and travel distance were recorded. The considered travel modes were car, van, jeep, motorbike, three-wheeler, and bicycle. VKT per year for every category of vehicles was estimated and considering a weighed factor VKT and PKT per person were estimated. Results showed that yearly VKT/PKT per male is higher than that of female and VKT/PKT values of an employed person is higher than others. Also VKT and PKT values of people with low household income travel less than people with high household income.Publication Open Access Red Light Running Violations of Four Intersections in Colombo Suburban(2019) Amarasingha, N; ILHAAM, M. MFour signalized intersections were selected which located in Colombo suburban, Battaramulla, Pelawatte, Thalawthugoda and Denzil kobbekaduwa. The observational survey was conducted for both peak and off-peak hours. Totally, 118,837 vehicles were observed and categorized them into three types; motor vehicles, motorcycles, and three wheelers. The Red Light Running (RLR) violation rate was 0.94% for motor vehicles, 2.44% for motorcycles, and 1.33% for three wheelers. The rate for motorcyclists was high in off-peak hours than peak hours. The RLR violation rate of motor vehicle drivers is lower than those for motorcyclists. The observed drivers were classified into two age groups: young and adult and more RLR violation rate was observed by young drivers than adults. Young drivers were found to be more likely to have risk-taking and adult drivers were found to be more likely to have opportunistic behaviors.Publication Open Access Characteristics of Railway-Roadway Level Crossings at Coastal Railway Line in Sri Lanka(KDU IRC 2017, 2017) Amarasingha, N; Gunathilaka, O. H. D. C; Ragulan, K; Aravinda, M. P. N; Fernando, W. S. H. RRail transportation is a safe, efficient, continuously operating sustainable transportation mode, in all-weather conditions, and light conditions. Along with these advantages, the role of rail transport has become increasingly important. Therefore, it is important to investigate the characteristics of the railway-roadway level crossings in Sri Lanka. Railway-roadway level crossings at coastal railway line from Aluthgama to Ambalangoda were visited to collect the roadway, railway, traffic, environmental, and crash data. Out of 51 crossings that observed in this study, about 94.1% of railway-roadway level crossings were facilitated with active safety measures. About 7.0% of railway-roadway level crossings were without gates and among them 33.3% of crossings were facilitated with passive safety measures and other crossings were under unsafe conditions. Several problems related to railway-roadway level crossing were identified. The collected data could be utilized to develop various statistical models for identifying relationships between the number of crashes and level crossing characteristics. It could be used to identify potential highcrash prone railway-roadway crossings and key factors which increase the number of crashes.