Risk coupling analysis of road transportation accidents of hazardous materials in complicated maritime environment.

• Risk coupling analysis of hazmat road transportation considering maritime environment. • A novel risk coupling model (AHP– N-K) is constructed. • Proposed model can simultaneously present the risk coupling degree and correlation mechanism. • Impact of the coupling risk on the accident is determined through a case. The complicated maritime environment and multiple risk coupling pose significant challenges to hazardous material transportation safety in coastal areas. This paper studies the risk coupling problems by analyzing 362 hazardous materials accidents. Firstly, the transportation risks are divided into 6 categories and 22 risk factors are identified. Then, the definition and types of risk coupling are determined. Finally, a novel risk coupling model is constructed by using analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and N-K model. AHP–N-K model is used to calculate the coupling degree of risk factors. Furthermore, the correlation mechanism between the risk values and the risk components in complicated maritime environment is analyzed. The results show that the risk of hazardous materials transportation has a gradually increasing trend with the increase of risk coupling factors. Owing to the risk coupling of driver factors and road environmental factors, the probability of accidents is high. The coupling risk of subjective and objective risk factors is more likely to cause accidents than subjective risk factors. The coupling effect of rainy days and curves with other risk factors is very strong. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]