SPEED LIMITS IN AREAS WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AS A TOOL FOR MANAGING ROAD SAFETY

Abstract

The article analyzes the use of vehicle speed regulation tools as one of the key factors in ensuring road traffic safety. It is substantiated that road traffic accidents impose a significant burden on the healthcare system, the economy, and the social sphere, which necessitates the improvement of traffic management mechanisms and enhancement of speed regulation efficiency. It has been established that modern regulatory documents and information support systems for road infrastructure management are mainly focused on substantiating the planning of road construction, reconstruction, repair, and maintenance, as well as on the analytical identification of sections with a high concentration of road traffic accidents.

It is proved that existing approaches to accident analysis mostly provide only the identification and assessment of accident concentration areas, while failing to create effective tools for predicting safe vehicle speed on hazardous road sections. This significantly limits the possibilities of proactive road safety management and reduces the effectiveness of preventive measures. The study emphasizes the necessity of transitioning from reactive approaches to comprehensive models of speed prediction and regulation that take into account road conditions, traffic intensity, and accident statistics.

The paper proposes approaches aimed at improving the system of vehicle speed regulation on road sections characterized by a high concentration of traffic accidents. It is substantiated that the implementation of safe speed prediction mechanisms will contribute to increasing road safety, reducing accident rates, and minimizing socio-economic losses. The proposed approaches may be applied by public authorities, local governments, and other relevant institutions in the process of organizing traffic management on roads of national and local importance, as well as on streets and roads within populated areas.

The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying the proposed approaches to improve road safety management systems, optimize speed regulation mechanisms, and develop preventive tools for reducing accident rates. The obtained results create a foundation for the further development of intelligent traffic management systems and the implementation of modern analytical technologies in the field of transport safety.