Abstract

MARQUEZ-DIAZ, Luis Gabriel. Methodology for the Assessment of External Costs of Accidents in Transportation Projects. Ing. Univ. [online]. 2010, vol.14, n.1, pp.161-176. ISSN 0123-2126.

This article deals with the development of a methodology for improving the assessment of external costs of traffic accidents in the economic assessment of transportation projects. It reviews the causes, variables and determining actions in traffic accidents; it also outlines some forecasting techniques and proposes an approach for the calculation of total and marginal costs of accidents. It is intended to assess external costs of accidents based on the analysis of accident statistics, and on the identification of relevant causes and variables depending on the type of transportation project to be evaluated. The methodology used helps improving the assessment of external costs of accidents, and proposes a basis for research on market-based instruments that permit an adequate internalization of external costs of accidents. In order to properly apply the methodology proposed, there must be an improvement in both national statistic records and the processes for identifying the causes of accidents. Finally, it is recommended that welfare losses caused by the risk of dying in a traffic accident, as well as the social and moral costs caused by traffic accident casualties, are included in the analysis.

Keywords : Forecasting - Methodology; traffic accidents-costs; traffic accidents-statistics.

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