Factor analysis of fatal road traffic crashes with massive casualties in China

Tao Chen,Lifeng Xu,Chu Zhang

doi:10.1177/1687814016642712

Tao Chen, Lifeng Xu + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/1687814016642712

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Abstract

Factor analysis refers to a collection of statistical methods for reducing correlational data into a smaller number of dimensions or factors. In this study, factor analysis theory was used to determine the main influential factors of road traffic crashes with massive casualties. Twenty variables related to personnel, vehicles, roads, and environment were collected, and the significance of their correlations was tested for validity. A correlation coefficient matrix R was calculated, and its latent root [Formula: see text] was obtained based on the characteristic equation. A number of common factors were determined according to the value of latent root [Formula: see text]. Factor loading was used to express the relationship of each variable to the underlying main influential factors. An index system of accident factors was developed based on the results of factor loading, and the weight of each factor was calculated to classify the factor influence. The main influential factors of accidents were determined to be fault behavior, driving experience, condition of vehicle safety, purpose of vehicle, road lighting, driver, road surface condition, roadside protection facilities, and road terrain.

Highlights

With increasing vehicle ownership in China, transport infrastructure weakness has become a growing problem, and traffic safety is very important
Common factors were obtained through factor analysis, the weight of common factor elements was determined by the weighting model, and the main influential factors of accidents were determined
This article used the analysis of 20 variables of crashes with massive casualties (CMCs) to determine the main influential factors

Summary

Introduction

With increasing vehicle ownership in China, transport infrastructure weakness has become a growing problem, and traffic safety is very important. We show that the mortality per 10,000 vehicles in China is much higher than that in other developed countries.[1] Serious traffic accidents are those that involve more than 3 deaths or 11 serious injuries, cause 1 person to die or injure more than 8 persons seriously, or cause 2 persons to die and injure more than 5 persons seriously. The mortality of road traffic crashes with massive casualties (CMCs) (more than 10 deaths in 1 crash) is around 50% in China.[2] With such high mortality and serious consequences, more attention should be paid to CMCs. A CMCs database should be established to master the characteristics and distribution of CMCs accurately and put forward prevention measures to alleviate the severity of CMCs

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