Road safety and user vulnerability in urban corridors: Empirical evidence from the city of Jipijapa
Palabras clave:
auditoría de seguridad vial; usuarios vulnerables; velocidad de operación; historial de accidentes; matriz de riesgosResumen
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/ig.v8i16.0301
Resumen
La seguridad vial urbana representó un desafío crítico en las ciudades intermedias de Ecuador, donde peatones, ciclistas y motociclistas estaban altamente expuestos. Este estudio evaluó la Avenida La Prensa en Jipijapa, un corredor urbano de 948 m con usos residenciales y comerciales e intensa interacción modal. El objetivo fue evaluar la seguridad vial y la vulnerabilidad de los usuarios mediante una auditoría de seguridad vial, utilizando listas de verificación estandarizadas y triangulación con registros oficiales de accidentes y datos de exposición vehicular. Se aplicó un diseño observacional transversal, que incorporó inspecciones diurnas y nocturnas, formularios estandarizados, registros fotográficos georreferenciados y matrices de riesgo que combinan probabilidad y consecuencia. Se utilizaron datos de accidentes policiales de 2019 a 2023, aforos de tráfico para el tráfico promedio diario anual (TPDA) y levantamientos topográficos para el contexto geométrico. Los resultados revelaron una alta criticidad en usuarios vulnerables (85 puntos), visibilidad y control de velocidad (82), y señalización vertical y horizontal (79). Los registros de accidentes destacaron colisiones laterales y frontales, junto con atropellos de peatones en áreas sin cruces designados. Las velocidades de operación superaron la velocidad de diseño de 50 km/h en hasta 9 km/h, lo que incrementó la exposición al riesgo y la gravedad de los accidentes. La consolidación de matrices y registros permitió identificar subsecciones críticas (0+000–0+200 m y 0+200–0+400 m) y proporcionó evidencia empírica para respaldar intervenciones técnicamente sólidas. Se concluyó que la integración de los resultados de las auditorías, los niveles de exposición y los registros de accidentes ofreció evidencia sólida para fortalecer la gestión municipal y la planificación de medidas de seguridad eficaces en corredores urbanos comparables.
Palabras clave: auditoría de seguridad vial; usuarios vulnerables; velocidad de operación; historial de accidentes; matriz de riesgos.
Abstract
Urban road safety represented a critical challenge in intermediate cities of Ecuador, where pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists were highly exposed. This study evaluated La Prensa Avenue in Jipijapa, a 948 m urban corridor with residential and commercial uses and intense modal interaction. The aim was to assess road safety and user vulnerability through a road safety audit, using standardised checklists and triangulation with official crash records and vehicle exposure data. A cross-sectional observational design was applied, incorporating daytime and night-time inspections, standardised forms, georeferenced photographic records, and risk matrices combining probability and consequence. Police crash data from 2019 to 2023, traffic counts for annual average daily traffic (AADT), and topographic surveys for geometric context were utilised. The results revealed high criticality in vulnerable users (85 points), visibility and speed control (82), and vertical and horizontal signage (79). Crash records highlighted side and frontal collisions, along with pedestrian crashes in areas lacking designated crossings. Operating speeds exceeded the 50 km/h design speed by up to 9 km/h, increasing risk exposure and crash severity. The consolidation of matrices and records enabled the identification of critical sub-sections (0+000–0+200 m and 0+200–0+400 m) and provided empirical evidence to support technically sound interventions. It was concluded that integrating audit results, exposure levels, and crash records offered robust evidence to strengthen municipal management and planning of effective safety measures in comparable urban corridors.
Keywords: road safety audit; vulnerable users; operating speed; crash records; risk matrix.
Información del manuscrito:
Fecha de recepción: 08 de julio de 2025.
Fecha de aceptación: 18 de septiembre de 2025.
Fecha de publicación: 27 de octubre de 2025.
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Derechos de autor 2025 Revista Científica INGENIAR: Ingeniería, Tecnología e Investigación. ISSN: 2737-6249.
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