Relationship Between the Retroreflectivity of Road Markings and the Frequency of Traffic Accidents During Night-time

Oznake na kolniku predstavljaju horizontalnu prometnu signalizaciju koja korištenjem i kombinacijom crta, natpisa i simbola oblikuje prometnu površinu. Njihova je osnovna svrha vizualno vođenje i upozoravanje sudionika u prometu osiguravajući im pravovremeno uočavanje prometne situacije na svakom dijelu prometnice. Posebno je važno da su oznake na kolniku jasno i dovoljno vidljive u noćnim i uvjetima slabe vidljivosti što dodatno povećava razinu sigurnosti u prometu. Vidljivost oznaka na kolniku postiže se retroreflektirajućim materijalima, odnosno staklenim perlama. Cilj ovog diplomskog rada je utvrditi vezu između kvalitete retrorefleksije oznaka na kolniku i učestalosti nastanka prometnih nesreća u noćnim uvjetima. U detaljnoj analizi obrađeni su podaci o prometnim nesrećama koje su se dogodile u noćnim uvjetima s vrstom i posljedicama prometnih nesreća, stanjem površine kolnika i retrorefleksijom oznaka na kolniku. Dobivenim rezultatima potvrđena je pretpostavka kako se smanjenjem vrijednosti retrorefleksije oznaka na kolniku, ali i uz djelovanje drugih čimbenika smanjuje njihova vidljivost što u konačnici može dovesti do povećanja broja prometnih nesreća uzrokovanih slijetanjem vozila s kolnika i udarom vozila na/u objekt kraj/na cesti.Road markings represent horizontal signalling which by using and combining lines, inscriptions and symbols shape the traffic area. The main purpose is to visually guide and warn traffic participants ensuring them timely observation of the traffic situation on every part of the road. It is especially important that the road markings are clearly and sufficiently visible at night and in low visibility conditions which further increases the level of traffic safety. The visibility of the road markings is achieved by retroreflective materials, that is glass beads. The aim of this thesis is to determine the relationship between the quality of retroreflection of road markings and the frequency of traffic accidents during night-time. In a detailed analysis, the data of traffic accidents that occurred during night-time with the type and consequences of traffic accidents, the condition of the road surface and the retroreflection of road markings were processed. The obtained results confirmed the assumption that reducing the value of retroreflection of markings on the road, but also with the action of other factors reduces their visibility, which may ultimately lead to an increase in traffic accidents caused by vehicles landing from the road and hitting on/into the object near/on the road