2022 MAP OF BLACK SPOTS ON ROADS – WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DRIVERS

Transport Competence Agency (TKA), according to 2018-2021 the data of registered traffic accidents, determined the black spots for the year 2022 on the roads of national importance and compiled a map of black spots – this year 42 black spots are marked on it, that is, 2 black spots less than last year. In the virtual 2022 prepared by TKA the black spot map provides recommendations for drivers at each black spot, prepared by experts, taking into account the circumstances of the crash site.

The black spots with all the research information have been handed over to the Directorate of Lithuanian Motorways, which will plan the implementation of traffic safety measures to eliminate the black spots.

Interactive black spot map of 2022

Why do black spots form?

Black spots are road sections where traffic accidents are concentrated, according to the currently valid methodology, a black spot is determined if there have been 4 or more traffic accidents in which people died or were injured during the traffic accident in the last 4 years. They are often formed due to existing road safety deficiencies and traffic accidents have a tendency to repeat themselves, so it is very important to carry out detailed investigations of each accident site and eliminate the causes of the risk of these accidents as soon as possible. Therefore, TKA traffic safety specialists conduct such studies every year and offer measures to eliminate problems.

“However, not only road infrastructure safety deficiencies determine the causes of black spot formation – in 2022, 12 black spots were identified, that is, 29% of all that were formed as a result of traffic accidents, the perpetrators of which were drunk, did not have the right to drive or left the scene of traffic accidents”, – says Evaldas Morkūnas, head of the Transport Services Department at TKA.

Analyzing the 2022 black spots and the traffic accidents that occurred in them, it was determined that:
• 42% of all traffic accidents that occurred at intersections are left-turning (turning) collisions;
• 40% of all traffic accidents that occur on road sections are caused by pedestrians or cyclists;
• 33% of all traffic accidents detected on the highway are caused by running off the road.

After the black spots are identified, investigations are carried out on each emergency site. By analyzing the locations of black spots, specialists identify problems at intersections related to unsafe traffic management (wide carriageway, unprotected left turns, visibility restriction, etc.). Black spots outside intersections are formed due to limited visibility of the road, vertical or horizontal curves of the road, unsafe roadsides, high slopes of the road bed, trees growing close to the road.

Losses to the economy caused by traffic accidents in black spots

in 2022 16 road users died and 248 were injured in the black spots that formed on the national roads of the country. The damage to the Lithuanian economy due to the dead and injured in the black spots amounted to about 12.98 million euros. Losses incurred due to people injured in traffic accidents in 2020-2022. in the identified black spots, calculate by assessing the level of injury (killed, seriously or lightly injured), according to the determined average material damage of one creditable traffic accident to the state.

A message from traffic safety specialists for drivers and pedestrians

The traffic safety system consists of three main parts: “Man (human factor) – Cars – Road and surrounding environment”. These components interact with each other in daily traffic, and the weakest link is the human factor, due to human errors, carelessness, and lack of responsibility. Awareness of the personal responsibility of each traffic participant, no matter what role they play in traffic, and proper risk assessment is the most important element. When participating in traffic, each road user must: follow road traffic rules; be alert and careful; be noticeable to other road users; be courteous to other road users.

“When it comes to traffic safety, insufficient attention is paid to pedestrians. A person who wants to drive a car must pass an exam and obtain a driver’s license. Meanwhile, there are no courses for pedestrians. It seems that anyone who can walk is a full-fledged road user. Unfortunately, the analysis of traffic accidents, the cause of which is the incorrect behavior of pedestrians, shows that changing, increasingly complex traffic situations require greater preparation of pedestrians: theoretical knowledge, attention, responsibility”, – Evaldas Morkūnas shared his thoughts.