تاثير البنية التحتية للطرق على السلامة المرورية في مدينة سطيف

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the impact of road infrastructure on traffic safety in the city of Sétif. It highlights the current state of the urban road network and analyzes its core dimensions: (road quality and geometric design) and (safety equipment and maintenance), demonstrating their contribution to reducing traffic accidents and achieving urban transport security. To achieve the study's objectives and address its practical aspects, the descriptive-analytical approach was adopted. A questionnaire was utilized as the primary tool for data collection, distributed to a simple random sample of (160) respondents from road users in the city of Sétif, supplemented by secondary tools such as direct observation and structured interviews. The collected data were statistically processed and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS V.21), relying on reliability tests (Cronbach's Alpha), normality distribution tests, as well as descriptive and inferential statistical methods (arithmetic means, standard deviations, and simple linear regression analysis).

The empirical study yielded several key results, most notably: - There is a moderate-level evaluation by the sample members regarding the reality of road infrastructure in the city of Sétif, with an overall arithmetic mean of (2.98). - The dimension of "road quality and geometric design" ranked first in terms of evaluation with a mean of (3.05), followed by the dimension of "safety equipment and maintenance" with an arithmetic mean of (2.91). - The actual level of traffic safety in the city also received a moderate-level evaluation, with an arithmetic mean of (2.90). - The main hypothesis of the study was validated, as the statistical results confirmed a statistically significant impact of road infrastructure and its equipment on achieving traffic safety in the city of Sétif. This reflects the critical importance of the road factor and the physical environment in reducing accident rates and protecting lives and property. Based on these findings, the study recommends the necessity of implementing urgent preventative and periodic maintenance programs for urban road networks by the municipal technical services. It also highlights the need to re-engineer major axes and intersections, equipping them with passive safety mechanisms and modern traffic signs by the Directorate of Public Works. Furthermore, it recommends integrating intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and intensifying traffic awareness campaigns in coordination with relevant authorities to regulate road users' behavior.