Transactions on Transport Sciences 2025, 16(2):42-50 | DOI: 10.5507/tots.2025.002

The Impact of Low-Cost Black Spot Treatment: A Case Study of a Multi-Level Bridge in Karachi, Pakistan

Afzal Ahmeda, Ashar Ahmeda, Mir Shabbar Alib
a. NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
b. Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi 75300, Pakistan

Treatment of high accident concentration areas plays a crucial role in safety improvement. This paper presents a detailed case study on data-driven identification, analysis, improvement, and benefit-cost evaluation of a selected black spot in Karachi, Pakistan. The black spots were identified based on the accident data collected from 2007 to 2015 at the Road Traffic Injury Research & Prevention Center (RTIRPC). Road safety audits and on-spot accident investigations were conducted to investigate the contributing factors. The black spot under consideration is a bridge passing over an interchange in the southern part of the city near the coastline. The proposed interventions were implemented with the help of funding from the private sector. The pre-treatment economic loss due to road traffic injuries, fatalities, and loss of work was calculated. The post-treatment benefits in terms of reduction in accidents and corresponding injuries and fatalities were estimated using RTIRPC data, and the benefit-cost ratio was examined. The post-treatment data showed a significant reduction in all types of accidents. It was concluded that low-cost treatments such as reduction in speed limit, provision of cat eyes, road signs, and transverse markings along with strengthening of safety barriers resulted in a benefit-cost ratio of 42.5.

Keywords: Benefit-cost ratio; Black spot treatment; Horizontal curve; Injury prevention; Road traffic accidents

Received: December 16, 2023; Revised: January 14, 2025; Accepted: January 28, 2025; Prepublished online: May 6, 2025; Published: September 15, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Ahmed, A., Ahmed, A., & Shabbar Ali, M. (2025). The Impact of Low-Cost Black Spot Treatment: A Case Study of a Multi-Level Bridge in Karachi, Pakistan. Transactions on Transport Sciences, 16(2), 42-50. doi: 10.5507/tots.2025.002
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Ahmed, A., Sadullah, A. F. M., & Yahya, A. S. (2019). Errors in accident data, its types, causes and methods of rectification-analysis of the literature. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 130, 3-21. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2017.07.018 Go to original source...
    2. Al-Masaeid, H. R., Al-Mashakbeh, A. A., & Qudah, A. M. (1999). Economic costs of traffic accidents in Jordan. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 31(4), 347-357. doi: 10.1016/S0001-4575(98)00068-2 Go to original source...
    3. Ali, M. S., & Ahmed, A. (2009). Development and analysis of GIS-based road traffic injury database for Karachi, Pakistan. Proceedings of the 14th HKSTS International Conference. Hong Kong.
    4. Ali, N., Iqbal, M. J., Mahmood, M. S., & Ali, M. A. (2018). Estimating the cost of vehicle damage due to road traffic accidents in Lahore, Pakistan. International Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 7(1), 15-17. doi: 10.5923/ j.ijtte.20180701.03 Go to original source...
    5. Amena, S., & Baqueri, S. F. A. (2019). Extensive use of motorcycles in Karachi, Pakistan: Revisiting the policies that led us here. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Management, 1(2), 19-25. doi: 10.5383/JTTM.01.02.003 Go to original source...
    6. Anderson, T. K. (2009). Kernel density estimation and K-means clustering to profile road accident hotspots. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 41(3), 359-364. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2008.12.014 Go to original source...
    7. Bulatov, S. (2022). Analysis of factors affecting the likelihood of road accidents. Transport engineering, 2022(6), 42-47.doi: 10.30987/2782-5957-2022-6-42-47 Go to original source...
    8. Daniels, S., Martensen, H., Schoeters, A., Van den Berghe, W., Papadimitriou, E., Ziakopoulos, A., . . . Wijnen, W. (2019). A systematic cost-benefit analysis of 29 road safety measures. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 133, 105292. doi: 10.1016/ j.aap.2019.105292 Go to original source...
    9. Dawn. (2008, July 29). KARACHI: Five people killed in separate incidents. Dawn Newspaper. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/313905
    10. Dawn. (2019, February 22). Karachi ranks fourth in road accident deaths in world. Dawn Newuspaper. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/1465232.
    11. De Pauw, E., Daniels, S., Brijs, T., Hermans, E., & Wets, G. (2014). Safety effects of an extensive black spot treatment programme in Flanders-Belgium. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 66, 72-79. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2014.01.019 Go to original source...
    12. Driss, M., Brahimi, K., Gundogdu, I., Hamadouche, M., & Oulha, R. (2011). Contribution to the mapping of spatial concentrations of road accidents. A case study: Rn 7 Road in Northwestern Algeria. Retrieved from https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:8551357
    13. European Commission. (2021). Road safety thematic report -Novice drivers. European Road Safety Observatory. Brussels, European Commission, Directorate General for Transport. Retrieved from https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/document/download/f514ad79-c72b-4519-9ecd-b4ba39bb1047_en?filename=ERSO%20thematic%20report%20Novice%20drivers_0.pdf
    14. Geurts, K., & Wets, G. (2003). Black spot analysis methods: Literature review.
    15. Great Britain Highways Agency. (1994). Design manual for roads and bridges. Vol. 10, Environmental design. Section 5, Environmental barriers. Pt. 1, Design guide for environmental barriers. HMSO. Retrieved from http://worldcat.org/isbn/0115516506
    16. Hauer, E. (1996). Identification of sites with promise. Transportation Research Record, 1542(1), 54-60. doi: 10.1177/03611981961542001 Go to original source...
    17. Hesjevoll, I. S. & Elvik, R. (2016). Effect of traffic volume on road safety. European Road Safety Decision Support System, developed by the H2020 project SafetyCube. Retrieved from https://www.roadsafety-dss.eu/assets/data/pdf/synopses/Effect_of_traffic_volume_on_road_safety_23112016.pdf
    18. Jayan, K. D., & Ganeshkumar, B. (2010). Identification of accident hot spots: A GIS based implementation for Kannur district, Kerala. International journal of Geomatics and Geosciences, 1(1), 51-59.
    19. Job, R. (2012). Advantages and disadvantages of reactive (black spot) and proactive (road rating) approaches to road safety engineering treatments: When should each be used?. Proceedings of the Australasian Road Safety Research Policing Education Conference. Wellington, New Zealand.
    20. Jooma, R., & Shaikh, M. A. (2016). Descriptive epidemiology of Karachi road traffic crash mortality from 2007 to 2014. JPMA: Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 66(11), 1475-1480.
    21. Jooma, R., & Shaikh, M. A. (2017). Road traffic crash related injured and fatal victims in Karachi from 2007 to 2014: A time-series analysis. JPMA: Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 67(4), 622-626.
    22. Kazmi, J. H., & Zubair, S. (2014). Estimation of vehicle damage cost involved in road traffic accidents in Karachi, Pakistan: a geospatial perspective. Procedia Engineering, 77, 70-78. doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2014.07.008 Go to original source...
    23. Khan, U. R., Bhatti, J. A., Shamim, M. S., Zia, N., Razzak, J. A., & Jooma, R. (2015). Clothing-related motorcycle injuries in Pakistan: findings from a surveillance study. International journal of injury control and safety promotion, 22(4), 308-313. doi: 10.1080/17457300.2014.908221 Go to original source...
    24. Lambourn, R., & Viner, H. (2005). Friction tests on contaminated road surfaces. Procedding of the Institute of Traffic Accident Investigators (ITAI) International Conference. Dunblane, Scotland.
    25. Lateef, M. U. (2011). Spatial patterns monitoring of road traffic injuries in Karachi metropolis. International journal of injury control and safety promotion, 18(2), 97-105. doi: 10.1080/17457300.2010.490588 Go to original source...
    26. Leisch, J. P. (2005). Freeway and interchange geometric design handbook.
    27. Malin, F., Norros, I. & Innamaa, S. (2019). Accident risk of road and weather conditions on different road types. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 122, pp. 181-188. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2018.10.014 Go to original source...
    28. Manouchehrifar, M., Hatamabadi, H. R., & Derakhshandeh, N. (2014). Treatment costs of traffic accident casualties in a third-level hospital in Iran; a preliminary study. Emergency, 2(1), 40-42.
    29. Mehmood, A., Razzak, J. A., Kabir, S., MacKenzie, E. J., & Hyder, A. A. (2013). Development and pilot implementation of a locally developed Trauma Registry: lessons learnt in a low-income country. BMC emergency medicine, 13(1), 4. doi: 10.1186/1471-227X-13-4 Go to original source...
    30. Meuleners, L. B., Hendrie, D., Lee, A. H., & Legge, M. (2008). Effectiveness of the black spot programs in Western Australia. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 40(3), 1211-1216. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2008.01.011 Go to original source...
    31. National Research Council. Transportation Research Board. Task Force on Development of the Highway Safety Manual., American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Joint Task Force on the Highway Safety Manual., & National Cooperative Highway Research Program. (2010). Highway safety manual [electronic resource]. (1st ed.). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Retrieved from https://ntu-sp.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/65NTU_INST/hc9391/alma991010192859705146
    32. Nguyen, H. H., Taneerananon, P., Koren, C., & Iamtrakul, P. (2013). Safety-potential-based black spot safety management approach: A case study in Ho Chi Minh City. Journal of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, 10, 1991-2009. doi: 10.11175/easts.10.1991 Go to original source...
    33. Noman, S. M., Ahmed, A., & Ali, M. S. (2020). Comparative analysis of public transport modes available in Karachi, Pakistan. SN Applied Sciences, 2(5), 967. doi: 10.1007/s42452-020-2678-3 Go to original source...
    34. Oppe, S. (1982). Detection and analysis of black spots with even small accident figures. Seminar on short-term and area-wide evaluation of safety measures, 75-84. Retrived from https://swov.nl/sites/default/files/bestanden/downloads/B%2020983.pdf
    35. Oxley, J., Corben, B., Fildes, B., O'Hare, M., & Rothengatter, T. (2004). Older vulnerable road users- measures to reduce crash and injury risk. Monash University Accident Research Centre Reports, 218, 162. Retrieved from https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/217207/Older-vulnerable-road-users-measures-to-reduce-crash-and-injury-risk.pdf
    36. Razzak, J., Khan, U. R., & Jalal, S. (2011). Application of geographical information system (GIS) for mapping road traffic injuries using existing source of data in Karachi, Pakistan -a pilot study. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 61(7), 640-643.
    37. Razzak, J. A., Bhatti, J. A., Ali, M., Khan, U. R., & Jooma, R. (2011). Average out-of-pocket healthcare and work-loss costs of traffic injuries in Karachi, Pakistan. International journal of injury control and safety promotion, 18(3), 199-204. doi: 10.1080/17457300.2011.551942 Go to original source...
    38. Razzak, J. A., Shamim, M. S., Mehmood, A., Hussain, S. A., Ali, M. S., & Jooma, R. (2012). A successful model of road traffic injury surveillance in a developing country: process and lessons learnt. BMC public health, 12(1), 357. Go to original source...
    39. Road safety manual. (2003). Road Safety Manual: Recommendations from the World Road Association (PIARC).. (2003). Switzerland: Route2 Market.
    40. Shamim, S., Razzak, J. A., Jooma, R., & Khan, U. (2011). Initial results of Pakistan's first road traffic injury surveillance project. International journal of injury control and safety promotion, 18(3), 213-217. doi: 10.1080/17457300.2011.555559 Go to original source...
    41. Szénási, S. & Jankó, D. (2016). A method to identify black spot candidates in built-up areas. Journal of Transportation Safety & Security, 9(1), 20-44. doi: 10.1080/19439962.2015.1084409 Go to original source...
    42. Vistisen, D. (2002). Models and methods for hot spot safety work (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from IMM-PHD-2002-98: https://www2.imm.dtu.dk/pubdb/edoc/imm889.pdf
    43. Wagner, P., Hoffmann, R. & Leich, A. (2021). Observations on the relationship between crash frequency and traffic flow. Safety, 7(1), 3. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/safety7010003 Go to original source...
    44. WHO. (2019). Global status report on road safety 2018: World Health Organization.
    45. World Population Review. (2024). Pakistan Cities by Population 2024. Retrieved from https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/pakistan.
    46. Yannis, G., Papadimitriou, E., Evgenikos, P., & Dragomanovits, A. (2016). Good practices on cost-effective road infrastructure safety investments. International journal of injury control and safety promotion, 23(4), 373-387. doi: 10.1080/17457300.2015.1047864 Go to original source...
    47. Zou, Y., Zhang, Y. & Cheng, K. (2021). Exploring the impact of climate and extreme weather on fatal traffic accidents. Sustainability, 13(1), 390. doi: 10.3390/su13010390 Go to original source...
    48. Zubair, S., Kazmi, J. H., Ali, S. S., Jooma, R., & Akhtar, Z. (2015). Impacts of signal free corridors on the incidence of road traffic accidents in Karachi. Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences, 11, 244-254. doi: 10.6000/1927-5129.2015.11.35 Go to original source...
    49. Zubair, S., & Kazmi, S. J. H. (2013). Spatial framework for the assessment of road traffic accidents in Karachi. Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 9, 525-532. doi: 10.6000/1927-5129.2013.09.67 Go to original source...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content