Environmentally-friendly electric vehicles: a silent menace to vulnerable road users?

Prediction models have been extensively used in the field of road safety, however, none of these models have been particularly applied to zero-emission electric vehicle (EV) related injuries so far; which may lead to different outcomes due to their inaudible engines. Using an optimizable classification tree, this first-ever study aims to predict the likelihood of personal injury severities stemming from EV-related crashes on Britain's roads. The prediction model was found to be capable of detecting significant and insignificant factors. The factors provide important insights into how the severity of injuries can be reduced in the future deployment of EVs. Although there was an increased risk for injuries classified as ‘slight severity’, particularly at lower urban speed limits, several predictors are suggesting that EVs do not pose more of a risk to a certain group. Contrary to popular belief, no convincing evidence has been found to suggest that eco-friendly EVs are ‘silent killers’ for vulnerable road users.

Fatality risk and issues of inequity among vulnerable road users in South Africa

Background Contextual effects from the physical and social environment contribute to inequitable protection for a large proportion of road users, especially in low- and middle-income countries like South Africa where distorted urban planning and socio-spatial disparities from the apartheid era prevail. Objectives This paper examines the differentiated risk of road traffic crashes and injuries to vulnerable road users in South Africa, including pedestrians, females and users of some modes of public transport, in relation to characteristics of the crashes that proxy a range of contextual influences such as rurality and socio-economic deprivation. Methods The study is based on a descriptive analysis of 33 659 fatal crashes that occurred in South Africa over a three-year period from 2016–2018. Measures of simple proportion, population-based fatality rate, “impact factor” and crash severity are compared between disaggregated groups using Chi-Square analysis, with the Cramer’s V statistic used to assess effect size. Results and significance Key findings show a higher pedestrian risk in relation to public transport vehicles and area-level influences such as the nature of roads or extent of urbanity; higher passenger risk in relation to public transport vehicles and rurality; and higher risk for female road users in relation to public transport vehicles. The findings have implications for prioritising a range of deprivation-related structural effects. In addition, we present a “User-System-Context” conceptual framework that allows for a holistic approach to addressing vulnerability in the transport system. The findings provide an important avenue for addressing the persistently large burden of road traffic crashes and injuries in the country.

Determination the influence of road factors on the occurrence of traffic accidents with dead pedestrians on the territory of Belgrade by independent estimates

The world is paying more and more attention to the safety of vulnerable road users, and especially the safety of pedestrians. The reason for that is the large representation of vulnerable participants in the total number of victims in traffic accidents. Belgrade stood out as especially unsafe for pedestrians, because their endangerment is higher than the world average, but also higher than in the rest of Serbia. In order to increase the safety of pedestrians, appropriate management measures are applied, which are, as a rule, based on the recognized influencing factors of the occurrence of these accidents. For that reason, it is extremely important to define the real influencing factors in the right way. One of the best tools for recognizing the impact of road factors is the independent assessment of the impact of the road on accidents, which the road manager, according to the Law, is obliged to conduct in the event of a traffic accident with fatalities. The paper analyzes 59 traffic accidents with dead pedestrians, which occurred in the period from 15.05.2019. to 06/02/2021 years on the territory of the city of Belgrade and for which an independent assessment of the impact of the road was conducted. The results indicate that the road factor had an impact on the occurrence of more than half of the traffic accidents with dead pedestrians. Also, the results indicate the existence of a number of different influencing factors, which indicates the need for further implementation of these analyzes. The paper presents characteristic examples of the most commonly identified influencing factors.

Determination the influence of road factors on the occurrence of traffic accidents with dead pedestrians on the territory of Belgrade by independent estimates

The world is paying more and more attention to the safety of vulnerable road users, and especially the safety of pedestrians. The reason for that is the large representation of vulnerable participants in the total number of victims in traffic accidents. Belgrade stood out as especially unsafe for pedestrians, because their endangerment is higher than the world average, but also higher than in the rest of Serbia. In order to increase the safety of pedestrians, appropriate management measures are applied, which are, as a rule, based on the recognized influencing factors of the occurrence of these accidents. For that reason, it is extremely important to define the real influencing factors in the right way. One of the best tools for recognizing the impact of road factors is the independent assessment of the impact of the road on accidents, which the road manager, according to the Law, is obliged to conduct in the event of a traffic accident with fatalities. The paper analyzes 59 traffic accidents with dead pedestrians, which occurred in the period from 15.05.2019. to 06/02/2021 years on the territory of the city of Belgrade and for which an independent assessment of the impact of the road was conducted. The results indicate that the road factor had an impact on the occurrence of more than half of the traffic accidents with dead pedestrians. Also, the results indicate the existence of a number of different influencing factors, which indicates the need for further implementation of these analyzes. The paper presents characteristic examples of the most commonly identified influencing factors.

OPTIMISING ROAD LIGHTING TO REDUCE ROAD TRAFFIC CRASHES

Pedestrians and motorcyclists are vulnerable road users, being over represented in road traffic collisions (RTCs). One assumed benefit of road lighting is a reduction in RTCs after dark by countering the impairment to the visual detection of hazards that occur after dark. One way to optimise the use of road lighting is to light only those sections of road where light level, and hence visibility, is an important factor. The current study used change in ambient light level on RTCs to investigate those situations where improved vision is likely to have significant impact, and therefore the situations where road lighting is of better cost-benefit effectiveness. For both motorcyclist and pedestrian RTCs there was a significant increase in overall RTC risk in darkness compared to daylight, indicating that there may be an overall benefit of road lighting. While darkness was a particular detriment at junctions for motorcyclists and on high-speed roads for pedestrians, road lighting may not be effective mitigation in either case and therefore alternative ways of increasing conspicuity should be considered.

Education for Road Safety: What is the State of Affairs in Three Groups of Vulnerable Road Users in Spain?

RSE (Road Safety Education) is well recognized as a reliable predictor of future safety and health outcomes. However, most countries have been slow to develop it, which has contributed to the sensitivity of the situation, as traffic accidents continue to be a major concern for community health. This paper aims to describe and compare key variables related to the RSE among three critical segments of the population, using the data provided by: 477 high school students, 843 university students and 476 older adults. Differential coverage rates were found. Perceived quality, aroused interest and attributed utility for RSE interventions were also compared among groups, finding substantial differences among them in terms of these three aspects of the intervention. Although coverage of RSE-related programs has grown considerably during the last years, substantial difficulties are still evident.