Road Safety Assessment and Analysis of High-Accident Locations (Black Spots) in Diverse Arterial Road Environments in Libya: A Field Study of the Qasr Bin Ghashir–Espeaa Road

Road traffic accidents represent one of the most prominent challenges facing traffic safety and sustainable development due to the catastrophic human and economic losses they incur. This research aims to assess traffic safety and identify recurring accident locations, geographically and engineeringly known as accident black spots, along the arterial road connecting the areas of Qasr bin Ghashir and Esbiaa within the municipality of Qasr bin Ghashir in Libya, while evaluating its suitability for safe transit. The study adopted a comparative descriptive-analytical approach by examining the causes of accidents in two distinct topographic and urban environments along the corridor: high-density commercial zones, and minor roads and open arterial intersections. This was achieved through a field questionnaire targeted at a sample of traffic officers and specialized engineers, supplemented by the analysis of official statistical data issued by traffic departments.

The statistical results, based on the analysis of expert opinions, revealed a sharp, directly proportional impact on accident rates resulting from deficient infrastructure, lack of engineering planning for lane alignment, excessive driver speeding, and underage driving. From an engineering perspective, the study concluded by identifying "Al-Twaisha Intersections" and "The Road Adjacent to Al-Afiya Clinic" as the most critical black spots requiring urgent engineering intervention. Furthermore, the research demonstrated that head-on and rear-end collisions are the most prevalent accident patterns due to the absence of median barriers and night lighting. The study strongly recommends the necessity of engineering redesign for critical road sections, activating traffic enforcement checkpoints, and implementing stringent regulations to mitigate drivers' behavioral violations.

Keywords: Traffic Safety, Road Accidents, Qasr bin Ghashir, Esbiaa, Libya, Accident Black Spots.