Road traffic accidents occur as a result of several factors associated with the traffic system,rnnamely: road users, road environment and vehicles. In year 2004/5, 93% of all accidentsrninvolved human factors, 5% accounted for vehicle factors, and 2% were associated with roadrnenvironments according to the Federal police report. Despite having low road network densityrnand vehicle ownership, Ethiopia has a relatively high accident records. In this regards, therntraffic accident death rate per ten thousand motor vehicles in 2001/02-2004/5 was in the rangernof 129 and 145. Road accidents are concentrated in few of the regions in the country. Therncapital city of Addis Ababa and Oromia region account for 58 per cent of all fatal accidentsrnand two thirds of all injuries.rnThis study is carried out to identify black spots and possible causes of road traffic accidentsrnand to identify low cost engineering countermeasures. The research is done by reviewing roadrntraffic growth, the existing legislative framework of road transport, and road traffic accidentsrnfor the last four years in the country. Previous studies were also reviewed having access to therninformation in other countries in order to understand the existing knowledge and experiences.rnRoad and traffic data were collected from fieldwork and accident data were gathered fromrnpertinent police stations. Each accident spots was measured with reference to kilo meter postrnthat is available in the Addis Ababa-Shashemene road. A total of 1108 reported accidentsrnwere collected out of which 309 were fatal accidents, 206 were serious injuries, and 86 werernslight injuries and 507 were property damages.rnStatistical analysis was made on the collected accident data. The characteristics of accident inrnbuilt-up (towns) and non built up (rural) areas were tabulated and analyzed separately. Fortysixrnper cent of the accidents occurred in built-up areas, which covered only 17.7 percent of thernstudy road length. Pedestrian accidents and multiple-vehicle accidents were dominated inrnurban areas. Single vehicle non-pedestrian and rollover accidents were higher in non-built-uprnareas. Fifty-two percent of the accidents occurred at tangent and level section of the roads.rnThis is associated with speed limit violation. The results of the study indicated that increasesrnin accident rates were highly associated with gradient and sharp curves. ADT, numbers ofrnxrnlanes and grade have positive relationships with accident rates i.e. the section with less traffic,rnlanes and grades resulted in less accident rates whenever these variables increased.rnSimilarly, accidents were plotted using GIS software and nine accident black spots werernidentified. Out of these, six were on scheme roads and three were at intersections. Greater orrnequal to ninety percentile of accident rate for schemes and junctions were applied in order tornselect these dangerous sections. At ninety percentile, rate of accident was 3.459 Mvkm forrnscheme. Six road sections were found above either of the two accident rates. In case ofrnjunctions, ninety percentile was 0.728626 Mv junctions. Three spots had above the ninthrnpercentile value and considered for in-depth study.rnThe main causes of accidents at black spots were identified to be unavailability of properrnpedestrian facilities, high volume of pedestrian traffic, driversâ€™ fatigue, lack of awareness ofrntraffic rules and regulations, and violation of speed limit. In addition, densities of accidentsrnper kilometer were verified as a function of access points in towns. Narrow bridges,rninadequate sight distances at curves, road curvature, no proper traffic signs, and faded roadrnmarkings are usually causes of accidents.rnFinally, low cost engineering measures are recommended to reduce the number of roadrnaccidents at identified black spots and other sections. However, the effect should be evaluated