METRAS method:

Measuring and Recording the Traffic

Accident Sequence.

Jaime Sanmartín y Mª Teresa Tormo

 [ Recording information from accidents]::

 The accident is one of the most unfortunate incidents that can

happen in traffic.

 Collecting the key information on the TA characteristics and

consequences is important in order to monitor how it evolves and
to evaluate the preventive measures.

 The collection, the record and the management of such

information is complex and requires appropriate instruments that
make this task entrusted to the traffic police easier.

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 [ A practical example]::

 0). Two vehicles are

circulating in a
motorway in different
carriageways.

 1). The A vehicle

(yellow one) leaves
the road from the left

 2). The A vehicle hits

the centre guardrail

 3). The A vehicle

makes a frontal
collision with the B
vehicle that is
circulating in the
opposite carriageway

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 [ A practical example]
Classic classification of the accident type::

 1). The A vehicle (yellow one) leaves the road from the left

 2). The A vehicle hits the centre guardrail

 3). The A vehicle makes a frontal collision with the B vehicle that is
circulating in the opposite carriageway

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 [ A practical Example]
Limitations of the classic definition::

ONE SINGLE CATEGORY TO DEFINE THE ACCIDENT TYPE

According to the classic classification of the accident type, the previous example
could be classified in several ways:
- 5.3 Running off by the left hitting the ditch
- 5.4 Running off by the left with another type of impact
- 2.2 Collision against bumper fence
- 3.1 Frontal collision

SEVERAL CRITERIONS TO SELECT THE ACCIDENT TYPE

Criterion of the first event of the accident
Criterion of severity of the injuries
Combinatorial criterion of elements
Infrastructure criterion
Other criterions

The accident type information is not associated with any of the

involved unit (vehicle/pedestrian).

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 [ Limitations of the classic classification of the
accident type ]::
 The classical accident typology only allows to identify one event in
only one category.
 The selection criterion of a category may change according to the
moment, the location, the circumstance, the research interests
and even the accident characteristics.
 It may also change depending on the observer and is
consequently subjective and not much defined.
 Difficult identification given the dynamic nature of the accident. It
does not allow a realistic knowledge of what happened during the
course of the accident.
 It does not differentiate the first event from the most serious one.
 It does not allow to link the type of accident or severity of the
injury with fields or characteristics of the involved units, the
drivers or the pedestrians.

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 [The METRAS (Measuring and Recording
Traffic Accident Sequence) alternative] ::
 It integrates a structured, detailed and standardized sequential
description of the accident to avoid the limitation of the classic
category of accident type in the statistical questionnaires.

 It considers that an accident is a complex process having a

dynamic nature and that one single category does not allow its
description.

 It implies a generic structured protocol in order to collect the

information related to the sequence of the events that take place
in the space and in the time during the course of an accident,
from a statistical perspective.

 Each event is considered to be an important and identifiable

incident in a system of pre-established categories, that make an
accident.

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 PRIOR STAGE CONFLICT STAGE

A B Accident sequencing

Accident
location

Veh. Data Veh. Data

passenger car Minibus Involved Most serious
3 years old 8 years old Events
units event
… …

Situational data
- 8 of September 2006 Prior action Prior action 21. Running off
- 15:00 Straight Straight A by the left
- Motorway AP-7 km 398 Trajectory Trajectory
- Sunny, no wind … …
- Road surface: dry and clean
- Free-flow traffic
-… 24. Collision with
A the centre guardrail
Offence
Offence
Excess
None
speed
There are not any situational factors 1. Frontal collision,
that have influence on the accident A B being in X
the opposite carriageway
Other Other
veh. / driver veh. / driver
/ pedestrian / pedestrian
factors factors
none none

2 seriously 1 fatality
injured persons …
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 [The questionnaire on one sheet of paper]
Secuenciación del accidente
Unidades implicadas
Los vehículos se identificarán como V1, V2, V3, V... TIPOS DE EVENTOS:
Los peatones se identificarán como P1, P2, P3, P... COLISIÓN ENTRE VEHÍCULOS CHOQUE CONTRA ELEMENTOS FIJOS DE LA VÍA
1. Colisión frontal 29. Rotonda
2. Colisión frontolateral afectando el lado derecho 30. Refugio, isleta
3. Colisión frontolateral afectando el lado izquierdo 31. Bordillo, acera
Ejemplar 1: 4. Colisión lateral o refleja 32. Bolardos
5. Raspado positivo 33. Señal de tráfico
6. Raspado negativo = 34. Setos, arbustos
Ejemplar 2: 7. Colisión por detrás, alcance o en caravana 35. Árbol
8. Alcance inverso 36. Farola
Ejemplar 3: 10. Colisión posterior-lateral 37. Contenedor
38. Fuente o estatua
ATROPELLO 39. Parada de bus
MÉTODO METRAS DE 11. Atropello a peatón 40. Otros elementos de urbanización
SECUENCIACIÓN DEL ACCIDENTE 12. Atropello a animal 41. Barrera de seguridad
42. Barrera de paso a nivel
CAÍDA 43. Otros elementos de la vía
UNIDADES SUCESO 13. Caída en la vía
IMPLICADAS EVENTOS MÁS GRAVE 14. Caída de pasajero dentro de bus
CHOQUE CONTRA ELEMENTOS FUERA DE LA VÍA
CHOQUE CONTRA OBS TÁCULO EN LA CALZADA 44. Casa, muro o edificio
15. Elementos de obras 45. Vegetación fuera de la vía
16. Conos u otros elementos de baliza móviles 46. Otros elementos situados fuera de la vía: papeleras
17. Valla de defensa jardineras, bancos, elementos parque infantil, publicidad…)
18. Desprendimientos de piedra o vegetación
19. Vehículo detenido a la derecha
20. Vehículo detenido a la izquierda VUELCO, INCENDIO, REVENTÓN, OTRO TIPO
21. Carga o elementos de otros vehículos 47. Giros sobre sí mismo
22. Vehículos implicados en accidente previo 48. Vueltas de tonel o de campana
49. Despeñamiento o caída por desmonte
SALIDA DE LA CALZADA 50. Vuelco del vehículo en calzada propia
23. Salida por la derecha sin invasión de otra vía o calzada 51. Vuelco del vehículo en calzada contraria
24. Salida por la derecha invadiendo otra calzada o vía 52. Vuelco del vehículo fuera de la vía
25. Salida por la izquierda sin invasión de otra vía o calzada 53. Incendio del vehículo
26. Salida por la izquierda invadiendo otra calzada o vía 54. Reventón
27. Salida de la calzada en línea recta 55. Otro tipo de suceso
28. Retorno a la vía
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 [ The METRAS alternative try] ::
 A better knowledge of the accident reality but it does not have
the same costs as the in-depth studies.

 To allow drawing a bridge between the statistical studies and the

accident reconstruction studies, raising an intermediate level of
analysis.

 To consider the accident as a final result of a process in which

several events are caused because of previous actions, offences
or errors from the persons involved in the accident, environmental
conditions, the road, or the interaction between several elements
present just before the start of the accident.

 To consider each event as relevant or identifiable incident or

happening in a system of pre-established categories that form an
accident. It covers running off the road, collisions, running over,
rollovers and fire of the vehicle.
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 [ Results of this codification]
What is the METRAS method allowing ::
 The information about the first event allows to identify what
first happened and then study the influence of the infrastructure
conditions, the situational factors, the factors of the driver /
pedestrian and of the vehicle to prevent the accidents. It could be
a key element for the study of the active safety.
 The information about the most serious event allows to
know the event that has caused the most serious consequences
for the involved persons. This could be a key element for the
study of the elements of passive safety.
 Accident sequencing may allow to draw patterns of accident
rate for particular roads, vehicles and even drivers or pedestrians.

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 [ The experience with the METRAS method]
In Catalonia:: The SIDAT Project
PROCEDURE
 Each report is filled in by up to four different police agents.
 Each participating agent fills in accident sequences from different
level of complexity (number of events / units involved).
 A sample of 73 traffic accident reports, 55 agents that filled in the
data and a total number of 305 accident sequences is achieved.

RESULTS OF THE PILOT TEST

 UNDERSTANDING: Practically whole the agents do understand
the procedure.
 Around 80% correctly answer to the first event and the most
serious one.
 The reports sometimes do not have enough information, and may
be interpreted differently.

 This pilot test showed very positive results as for the

understanding of the method, easiness of completion, objectivity,
both for motorway and urban area accidents.
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 [ The experience with the METRAS method]
In Spain:: Pilot National Statistical Questionnaire of DGT
 The first stage: the police agents fill in the serious or fatal
questionnaires to evaluate from the archived accident reports with
specific characteristics that take place in their municipality lately (sample:
69 agents and 315 serious or fatal questionnaires).
 The second stage: the completion of the statistical questionnaires for
the accidents that happen during the pilot test week together with
documents of evaluation of the difficulties and contents (sample 141
questionnaires)
 Results obtained from the pilot test:
 The accident sequencing is correctly filled in for the 80,3% of the
questionnaires.
 In 52,4% of the cases only one event is collected. In the remaining
47,6% more than one event is recorded.
 In the 11,8% of the questionnaires, the entire sequence of events is
not collected but the first one and the most serious one are shown.
 Only for the 7,9% of the cases the selection of the events is not the
most appropriate one.

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 [ Backgrounds] ::
 National Centre for Statistics (NCSA) and Analysis National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration U.S. Department of Transportation
(NHTCA). Sistema Automotor Nacional de Muestreo (NASS) --- GES (in-
depth studies, starting from a sample).
 INRETS (Institut National de Recherche sur les transports et leur
sécurité) ------ Sequential model of the accident. (In-depth studies).
Brenac and Fleury (1999) define the typical scenario.
 Amans et al. (2003) carry out a detailed study on the accidents from a
macro perspective and an in-depth study. The macro analysis produces
the current classification (the same), the in-depth study is necessary.
 CARE report on the accident typology.
 Accident models from the labor perspective. MAIM. Davies y Manning.
From interviews (It does not fit to the traffic model).
 CADAS (The common accident data set), Project: SafetyNet (2009)

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 Thank you !!!!!

NOTES:

 The Metraseis Award for the most innovative contribution in the field of
the survey methodology was given to the “METRAS method of event
sequencing in the field of traffic accident statistical questionnaire.” in the
“IV Conference of Survey Methodology”, organized by the Public
University of Navarre in Pamplona on the 20-22 of September 2006.

 The complete study of this method is currently being finished as the

doctoral thesis of Mª Teresa Tormo and will be presented and defended
soon.

 More information…

www.uv.es/metras

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