Development of a transnational accident prediction model.

The PRACT Project (Predicting Road ACcidents – a Transferable methodology across Europe) is an ongoing project aimed at developing a European accident prediction model structure that could, with proper calibration, be applied to different European road networks. The core principles behind the PRACT project structure are that: it is unrealistic to think that one unique Accident Prediction Model (APM) model with a unique set of Crash Modification Factors (CMFs) can actually be developed, valid for all Europe and for all the different type of networks; the development of a specific APM model and a set of CMFs based on local data is extremely time consuming and expensive and requires data and experience that most road administrations do not have; the development of “local” CMFs only based on historical local data prevents the possibility of evaluating the effectiveness of new technologies. The PRACT project addresses these issues by developing a practical guideline and a user friendly tool that will allow for an easier implementation of APMs and CMFs in different countries and on different road networks.