Study of motorcycle traffic in Dhaka city

Abstract

Motorcycles serve as one of the modes of transport In Bangladesh and they contributed to an average of 4 percent of total motorized traffic on some major roads in Dhaka. This thesis deals with various aspects of motorcycle traffic in the study area of Dhaka city. In particular, investigation was made on traffic volume characteristics, traffic compositions and their temporal distribution. An assessment was performed on motorcycle rider's characteristics such as sex, age, occupation, trip purpose and trip length. It has also examined motorcycle accident characteristics towards suggesting safety improvements of motorcycle operation and riders. The hourly motorcycle traffic volume of motorcycle showed considerable variation between the different hours of the day and between locations. The highest proportion of motorcycle traffic was found on Mirpur road, accunting for near 7 percent during 10:00 am-i I :00 am. This was followed by 5 percent on New Airport road. In terms of numbers, the maximum hourly. volume of motorcycle was found highest (377 motorcycle/hour) on New Airport road, which was followed by Tongi-Diversion road (182 motorcycle/hour). The distribution of motorcycle traffic is characterized as motorcycle with one rider 68 percent, motorcycle with two riders 31 percent and motorcycle with three or more riders I percent. Motorcycle with two or more riders were found mostly in morning and evening peak hours. Overall a total no 5814 motorcycles were observed. The distribution of these motorcycles was 68 percent with single rider, 31 percent with two riders and percent with three or more riders. Average occupancy was thus 1.3 riders per motorcycle in the study area. The field survey showed that overall 57 percent of all riders used helmets and this percentage for motorcycle drivers was about 90 percent. The percentage of pillion riders who used helmets varied between 3 percent and 5 percent. About ninety-nine percent of motorcycle drivers were male. Average distribution of pillion rider was male 79 percent, female II percent nnd children 10 percent. Road side interview survey uSIng n structured questionnaire wns carried out for the study of users' (driver) characteristics of motorcycles. The varinbles studied include sex, profession, nge, trip purpose, use of safety helmet nnd reason for uSing motorcycles. It is notable that 15 percent of motorcycle accidents occllned involving pnssenger cnrs. About 21 percent of motorcycle accidents III Dhaka were involved with buses and trucks. Autorickshnws, micro-buses, rickshnws and tempos were responsible for remaining nccidents. About 64 percent of motorcycle accidents occurred at straight roads, 25 percent at junctions and the remnining I I percent were nt unknown locntions. According to present analysis 68 percent of total lIlotorcycle accidents occurred at day time and 32 percent at night time. About 53 percent of total accidents were rear-end collisions and 21 percent were side-swipe. Passenger cars were responsible for most of the rear-end collision types of motorcycle accidents. The study recommended some measures for the improvement.s of motorcycle operation and the safety of motorcycle riders in the study area of Dhaka city.