Journal of Transportation Research

Journal of Transportation Research

Assessing the Effectiveness of Roadside Service Centers in Enhancing the Safety of Rural Roadways

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Ahmad Anvari 1
Navid Nadimi 2
1 M.Sc., Student, Civil Engineering Department, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
10.22034/tri.2025.527856.3350
Abstract
Alleviating driver fatigue and drowsiness, especially in the desert regions of Iran marked by vast and monotonous roadways, is an essential method for improving safety. In recent years, especially during the last decade, the development of roadside welfare service complexes along rural roads has become increasingly significant. This paper seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of roadside service complexes in improving road safety. The main causes for drivers' failure to utilize these complexes will be emphasized. The Kerman province, identified as a desert region with substantial road networks, has been selected for a case study. A comparative examination of several routes across the province has been undertaken using data envelopment analysis to assess the complex's impact on safety enhancement. Qualitative research and binary logistic regression modeling have been utilized to identify the determinants affecting the use of welfare service complexes. The results of this study indicate that, in addition to creating welfare service complexes, it is crucial to emphasize their quality to attract drivers and enable brief stays, hence improving driver performance. Given that drivers generally do not take breaks during short and intra-provincial trips, it is crucial to incorporate travel duration as a criterion for the location of welfare service complexes.
Keywords
Effectiveness
Safety
Data Envelopment Analysis
Roadside Service Centers
Subjects
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