scholarly journals Quantifying responses to changes in the jurisdiction of a congestion charge: A study of the London western extension

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0253881
Author(s):  
Laila Ait Bihi Ouali ◽  
Davis Musuuga ◽  
Daniel J. Graham
Keyword(s):  
Road Traffic ◽  
Traffic Flows ◽  
Natural Experiments ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Annual Average ◽  
Traffic Demand ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Congestion Charge ◽  
The Uk

This paper quantifies behavioural responses to changes in the jurisdiction of a congestion charge, with a successive focus on (i) an extension and (ii) a reduction in the size of the charging zone. We exploit the unanticipated nature of both the implementation and removal of London’s Western Expansion Zone (WEZ) as quasi-natural experiments to test whether individual responses to policies are asymmetric. We use the UK Department of Transport Annual Average Daily Flow (AADF) data, which records traffic flows for seven transport modes (including cars, buses, bicycles, heavy and light goods vehicles). Using a difference-in-differences approach, we find that the introduction of the WEZ led to a 4.9% decline in road traffic flows in the new congestion charge area. These results are robust to different model specifications. HGVs traffic did not significantly change post-WEZ, which indicates that their road demand is price inelastic. The removal of the WEZ led to no significant variations in traffic. This result indicates asymmetry in behaviour with persistent changes in post-intervention traffic demand levels.

scholarly journals Variable Speed Limit and Ramp Metering for Mixed Traffic Flows: A Review and Open Questions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2574
Author(s):  
Filip Vrbanić ◽  
Edouard Ivanjko ◽  
Krešimir Kušić ◽  
Dino Čakija
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Ramp Metering ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Control Algorithms ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Mixed Traffic ◽  
Traffic Flows ◽  
Variable Speed ◽  
Variable Speed Limit ◽  
Traffic Demand

The trend of increasing traffic demand is causing congestion on existing urban roads, including urban motorways, resulting in a decrease in Level of Service (LoS) and safety, and an increase in fuel consumption. Lack of space and non-compliance with cities’ sustainable urban plans prevent the expansion of new transport infrastructure in some urban areas. To alleviate the aforementioned problems, appropriate solutions come from the domain of Intelligent Transportation Systems by implementing traffic control services. Those services include Variable Speed Limit (VSL) and Ramp Metering (RM) for urban motorways. VSL reduces the speed of incoming vehicles to a bottleneck area, and RM limits the inflow through on-ramps. In addition, with the increasing development of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) and Connected AVs (CAVs), new opportunities for traffic control are emerging. VSL and RM can reduce traffic congestion on urban motorways, especially so in the case of mixed traffic flows where AVs and CAVs can fully comply with the control system output. Currently, there is no existing overview of control algorithms and applications for VSL and RM in mixed traffic flows. Therefore, we present a comprehensive survey of VSL and RM control algorithms including the most recent reinforcement learning-based approaches. Best practices for mixed traffic flow control are summarized and new viewpoints and future research directions are presented, including an overview of the currently open research questions.

Pilot evaluation of a group stabilisation intervention for refugees and asylum seekers with PTSD

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Mary Griggs ◽  
Cheng Liu ◽  
Kate Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Behavioural Therapy ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Group Setting ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Treatment Delivery ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
The Uk

Abstract Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is commonly experienced by asylum seekers and refugees (ASR). Evidence supports the use of cognitive behavioural therapy-based treatments, but not in group format for this population. However, group-based treatments are frequently used as a first-line intervention in the UK. Aims: This study investigated the feasibility of delivering a group-based, manualised stabilisation course specifically developed for ASR. The second aim was to evaluate the use of routine outcome measures (ROMs) to capture psychological change in this population. Method: Eighty-two participants from 22 countries attended the 8-session Moving On After Trauma (MOAT) group-based stabilisation treatment. PHQ-9, GAD-7, IES-R and idiosyncratic outcomes were administered pre- and post-intervention. Results: Seventy-one per cent of participants (n = 58) attended five or more of the treatment sessions. While completion rates of the ROMs were poor – measures were completed at pre- and post-intervention for 46% participants (n = 38) – a repeated-measures MANOVA indicated significant improvements in depression (p = .001, ηp2 = .262), anxiety (p = .000, ηp2 = .390), PTSD (p = .001, ηp2 = .393) and idiosyncratic measures (p = .000, ηp2 = .593) following the intervention. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence indicates that ASR who attended a low-intensity, group-based stabilisation group for PTSD experienced lower mental health scores post-group, although the lack of a comparison group means these results should be interpreted with caution. There are significant challenges in administering ROMs to individuals who speak many different languages, in a group setting. Nonetheless, groups have benefits including efficiency of treatment delivery which should also be considered.

scholarly journals Multi-Component Physical Activity Interventions in the UK Must Consider Determinants of Activity to Increase Effectiveness

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Mark A. Faghy ◽  
Kirsty E. Armstrong-Booth ◽  
Vicki Staples ◽  
Micheal J. Duncan ◽  
Clare M. P. Roscoe
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
School Setting ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Moderate Activity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Daily Consumption ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Light Activity ◽  
The Uk

Interventions to increase physical activity in children have adopted broad approaches and achieved varying success. There is a need to adopt approaches underpinned with a theoretical basis. Accordingly, the aim here was to implement and evaluate a 12-week intervention designed using the concepts of the COM-B model to determine the effect this has on physical activity levels. One hundred and forty-seven school-age children (mean age 8.9 ± 1.3 years) took part in a 12-week program delivered in a school setting. Topics included physical activity, healthy eating, sleep quality and reducing screen time/sedentary activities when not in school. A sample of participants wore a wrist-worn accelerometer for seven days pre-and post-intervention (N = 11). The physical activity frequency was unchanged (2.9 ± 1.0 AU) when compared with post-intervention values (3.1 ± 0.8 AU, mean increase 6.8 ± 3.7%, p > 0.05). Changes were observed in the daily consumption of fruit and vegetables (pre-intervention 44.6% vs. post-intervention 60.2%, p < 0.05). Sedentary time, light activity, moderate activity and vigorous activity were unchanged post-intervention (p > 0.05). There is a need to adopt a broader approach that incorporates a theoretical basis and considers the complex ways by which physical activity behaviours are influenced.

LIGHT REGULATION SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT ANALYSIS TO FORECAST THE TRANSPORT FLOWS IN ALMATY

2021 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 299-304
Author(s):  
Assel Aliyadynovna Sailau
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Light Regulation ◽  
Transport Network ◽  
Traffic Flows ◽  
Traffic Light ◽  
Traffic Lights ◽  
The Road ◽  
Transport Telematics

The number of vehicles on the roads of Almaty, Kazakhstan is growing from year to year. This brings about an increasing intensity and density of traffic flows in the streets which leads to congestion, decreasing speed of the traffic flow, increasing environmental pollution caused by car emissions, and which can potentially lead to the road traffic accidents (RTA), including fatalities. While the number of injuries grows up mainly due to drivers’ non-compliance with the speed limit, the environmental pollution is caused by longer traffic jams. Therefore, to reduce the level of road traffic injuries and emissions into the environment it is necessary to ensure the uniform movement of traffic flows in cities. Currently, one of the effective ways to do it is the use of transport telematics systems, in particular, control systems for road signs, road boards and traffic lights. The paper presents an analysis of existing systems and methods of traffic light regulation. The  analyses of the systems and methods are based on the use of homogeneous data, that is the data on standard parameters of traffic flows. The need in collecting and analyzing additional semi-structured data on the factors that have a significant impact on the traffic flows parameters in cities is shown as well. The work is dedicated to solving the problem of analysis and forecast of traffic flows in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. GPS data on the location of individual vehicles is used as the initial data for solving this problem. By projecting the obtained information onto the graph of the city's transport network, as well as using additional filtering, it is possible to obtain an estimate of individual parameters of traffic flows. These parameters are used for short-term forecast of the changes in the city's transport network.

THE TOS2 STUDY: AN INTERNATIONAL MULTI-CENTRE AUDIT ASSESSING THE STANDARD OF NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION

2015 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
pp. e4.1-e4 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Appleton ◽  
A Ilinca ◽  
AG Lindgren ◽  
A Puschmann ◽  
M Habahbeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Neurological Examination ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Assessment Score ◽  
Medical Teams ◽  
The Uk

Having previously demonstrated that in-patients referred to neurology at two UK hospitals were not fully examined prior to referral, we designed an audit with 80% power to detect a 10% increase in tendon hammer or ophthalmoscope use following an educational intervention.In-patients referred to neurology over a 4 month period in the UK, Jordan, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates were asked whether they recalled examination with a Tendon hammer, Ophthalmoscope and Stethoscope since admission. Results were disseminated to local medical teams and data were collected for a further 4 months. Pre and post-intervention data were available for 11 centres with 407 and 391 patients in each arm. 264 patients (64.86%) recalled examination with a tendon hammer pre-intervention, which significantly improved to 298 (76.21%) (p<0.001). 119 (29.24%) recollected ophthalmoscopy pre-intervention, which significantly improved to 149 (38.11%) (p=0.009). 321 (78.87%) recalled examination with a stethoscope pre-intervention, which significantly improved to 330 (84.4%) (p=0.045). Most patients were not fully examined prior to neurology referral, yet a simple assessment score and educational intervention can improve the standard of neurological examination. This is the largest and – to our knowledge – only study to assess the standard of neurological examination internationally. This has implications for national neurological educators.

scholarly journals Investigating the Applicability of Upstream Detection Strategy at Pedestrian Signalised Crossings

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sitti A Hassan ◽  
Nick B Hounsell ◽  
Birendra P Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Control ◽  
Traffic Signal ◽  
Signal Control ◽  
Traffic Signal Control ◽  
Traffic Flows ◽  
Detection Strategy ◽  
Vehicle Delay ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
The Uk ◽  
User Friendly

In the UK, the Puffin crossing has provision to extend pedestrian green time for those who take longer to cross. However, even at such a pedestrian friendly facility, the traffic signal control is usually designed to minimise vehicle delay while providing the crossing facility. This situation is rather contrary to the current policies to encourage walking. It is this inequity that has prompted the need to re-examine the traffic control of signalised crossings to provide more benefit to both pedestrians and vehicles. In this context, this paper explores the possibility of implementing an Upstream Detection strategy at a Puffin crossing to provide a user friendly crossing. The study has been carried out by simulating a mid-block Puffin crossing for various detector distances and a number of combinations of pedestrian and traffic flows. This paper presents the simulation results and recommends the situations at which Upstream Detection would be suitable.

scholarly journals Exploiting the Irish Border to Estimate Minimum Wage Impacts in Northern Ireland

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan McVicar ◽  
Andrew Park ◽  
Seamus McGuinness
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Minimum Wage ◽  
Research Design ◽  
The Other ◽  
Living Wage ◽  
Employment Rate ◽  
Small Decrease ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Hours Worked ◽  
The Uk

AbstractThis paper examines the impacts of the introduction of the UK National Minimum Wage (NMW) in 1999 and the introduction of the UK National Living Wage (NLW) in 2016 in Northern Ireland (NI) on employment and hours. NI is the only part of the UK with a land border where the NMW and NLW cover those working on one side of the border but not those working on the other side of the border (i.e., Republic of Ireland). This discontinuity in minimum wage coverage enables a research design that estimates the impacts of the NMW and NLW on employment and hours worked using difference-in-differences estimation. We find a small decrease in the employment rate of 22–59/64-year-olds in NI, of up to 2% points, in the year following the introduction of the NMW, but no impact on hours worked. We find no clear evidence that the introduction of the NLW impacted either employment or hours worked in NI.

The Efficacy and Durability of Radon Remedial Measures

1994 ◽  
Vol 56 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.D. Cliff ◽  
S.P. Naismith ◽  
C. Scivyer ◽  
R. Stephen
Keyword(s):  
Research Programme ◽  
First Year ◽  
Remedial Measures ◽  
Annual Average ◽  
Building Research ◽  
Remedial Work ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Radon Concentrations

Abstract In the UK, over 16,000 homes, from an estimated 100,000, with annual average radon concentrations exceeding the UK Action Level of 200 Bq.m-3 have been discovered. Some 600 householders who have taken action have sought confirmatory measurements from NRPB. Results for 345 such homes are discussed. A number of remedied homes are being remeasured annually to determine the durability of the remedies: results for the first year follow-up measurements are given. In a separate exercise, homes having the highest radon levels known in the UK have been enrolled in a research programme of the Building Research Establishment. The results for 53 homes in which BREW surveyed, designed and supervised remedial work are presented.

The behavioural responses of farmed red deer to other farmed species within a simulated abattoir environment.

1997 ◽  
Vol 1997 ◽  
pp. 16-16
Author(s):  
P.J. Goddard ◽  
S.M. Abeyesinghe
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Red Deer ◽  
Livestock Industry ◽  
Preference Testing ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Behavioural Characteristics ◽  
The Uk

The farming of red deer (Cervus elaphus) for venison is a small but established part of the UK livestock industry. While slaughtering of deer is undertaken in commercial abattoirs, as yet there are no specific regulations governing the welfare of deer at this time. The behavioural characteristics of deer lead to the supposition that inappropriate pre-slaughter handling may adversely affect their welfare. In particular, exposure to unfamiliar species, as could occur in a multi-species abattoir, may be an area of particular concern: placing groups of unfamiliar animals next to each other has been reported to cause stress in cattle (Duchesne & Perry, 1975). Results of an experiment which investigated the location, orientation and behaviour of deer when penned between pens of unfamiliar species (i.e. modified preference testing) are presented.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document