Assessing Road Safety of the Peshawar-Rawalpindi Section of National Highway (N-5) in Pakistan Using iRAP

Abstract

The road safety situation in Pakistan is critical, with an average 25,781 fatalities due to road accidents. This study considered the N-5 national highway section between Rawalpindi and Peshawar, employing the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP). The data collected reveals that many road sections in this area have low safety ratings, highlighting significant risks and substandard road conditions for travelers. Through the iRAP, proposed countermeasures were evaluated and analyzed for the purpose of improving safety ratings on N-5, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2020–2030, targeting road safety performance goals 3 and 4. To meet the SDG target of having 75% of road segments rated 3 stars or higher, the study includes a comprehensive risk assessment and mapping, safety interventions, a Safety Rating Investment Program (SRIP), Fatal and Serious Injuries (FSI) Estimation, and Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) analysis. The findings stress the importance of a holistic approach, combining both geometric and non-geometric measures (such as pavement maintenance, traffic control devices, street lighting, school zone crossings, and clearing roadside hazards) to fully achieve global road safety objectives.