| Abstract: |
This paper investigates the critical role of driver behaviour and enforcement limitations in influencing crash patterns on high-speed expressways, with a focused case study of the Samruddhi Mahamarg. Despite incorporating global best practices in expressway design, the corridor has witnessed a significant number of accidents—primarily due to behavioural deviations and gaps in enforcement. From a management perspective, the study examines causative trends, institutional challenges, and corrective strategies that can be applied to similar expressway environments across India. The rise in road crashes on newly developed high-speed corridors presents a paradox: modern infrastructure has not translated into proportionate safety outcomes. The Samruddhi Mahamarg—one of India’s premier expressways—has experienced a disproportionate number of fatal and serious crashes despite its advanced design and integrated safety features. Drawing on accident records from 2022 to 2025, qualitative interviews with stakeholders, and enforcement audit reports, the study identifies key behavioural issues such as excessive speeding, driver fatigue, distraction, and misuse of emergency lanes. Simultaneously, enforcement limitations are analyzed, including low patrol density, over-reliance on static speed cameras, inadequate night-time enforcement, and limited deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) for real-time deterrence. The findings highlight that while the physical infrastructure is robust, behavioural non-compliance and inconsistent enforcement significantly elevate crash risk. A typology of behavioural violations is developed, establishing correlations between specific behaviours and crash severity. The study culminates in strategic recommendations, including behaviour-focused awareness campaigns, dynamic enforcement models, AI-integrated surveillance, and improved coordination among agencies such as the traffic police, MSEDCL, and MSRDC. This paper contributes critical insights for policymakers, enforcement bodies, and infrastructure planners on the urgent need to align behavioural and enforcement strategies with the operational realities of India’s high-speed expressways. |
