Putting the skids on road crashes

The most successful surface tested to date – an aluminium-based epoxy spray – has reduced braking distances by 40 per cent, or 9m, for the average family car travelling at 60km/h.

Reducing the most common type of collision on SA roads is a key to improving motorist safety, according to the Motor Accident Commission, which is spending $250,000 on the trials across Adelaide.

A total of 6200 rear-end crashes were recorded in 2008, MAC figures show.

Early trial results showed the number of collisions at traffic light intersections could be cut by 530 a year, saving $8.25 million in personal injury compensation payouts annually.

MAC chief Andrew Daniels said trials of three types of anti-skid road treatments started at four of the worst junctions for rear-end crashes last year.

The intersections are: Henley Beach Rd/Holbrooks Rd, at Brooklyn Park; Sturt Rd/Marion Rd, Sturt; Salisbury Hwy/Park Tce/Waterloo Cnr Rd, Salisbury; North East Rd/Sudholz Rd, Gilles Plains.

"We estimate that up to a 25 per cent reduction in crashes could result at these locations," Mr Daniels said.

The future resurfacing of intersections with anti-skid treatments will be funded by the Transport Department or under the Federal Government's Blackspot program, Mr Daniels said.

The two-year trial involves three road treatments – laying a new calcined bauxite epoxy surface over existing bitumen and rejuvenating the existing surface using shot blasting or a rotating disc.

Early trial results showed the epoxy treatment offered the best skid resistance, according to MAC senior asphalt engineer Hugo van Loon.

"The epoxy surface is very angular and provides a greater surface area for tyres to grip than a normal road surface, and it takes longer to wear out than the other treatments," he said.

MAC accident research showed eastern suburbs residents were most likely to crash into the back of another vehicle. Last year, 37 per cent of all collisions in the eastern suburbs were caused by drivers hitting the vehicle in front.

This compared with 34 per cent in the western suburbs, 34 per cent in the north and 33 per cent in the south.

A MAC-commissioned Centre for Automotive Safety Research report on rear-end crashes also revealed:

A THIRD occurs at traffic light-controlled intersections.

OCCUPANTS of the struck vehicle are more likely to be injured than the occupants of the striking vehicle.

RIGHT and left-turning vehicles are frequently struck.