Traffic Officers Research Articles

Network-constrained spatio-temporal clustering analysis of traffic collisions in Jianghan District of Wuhan, China.

The analysis of traffic collisions is essential for urban safety and the sustainable development of the urban environment. Reducing the road traffic injuries and the financial losses caused by collisions is the most important goal of traffic management. In addition, traffic collisions are a major cause of traffic congestion, which is a serious issue that affects everyone in the society. Therefore, traffic collision analysis is essential for all parties, including drivers, pedestrians, and traffic officers, to understand the road risks at a finer spatio-temporal scale. However, traffic collisions in the urban context are dynamic and complex. Thus, it is important to detect how the collision hotspots evolve over time through spatio-temporal clustering analysis. In addition, traffic collisions are not isolated events in space. The characteristics of the traffic collisions and their surrounding locations also present an influence of the clusters. This work tries to explore the spatio-temporal clustering patterns of traffic collisions by combining a set of network-constrained methods. These methods were tested using the traffic collision data in Jianghan District of Wuhan, China. The results demonstrated that these methods offer different perspectives of the spatio-temporal clustering patterns. The weighted network kernel density estimation provides an intuitive way to incorporate attribute information. The network cross K-function shows that there are varying clustering tendencies between traffic collisions and different types of POIs. The proposed network differential Local Moran’s I and network local indicators of mobility association provide straightforward and quantitative measures of the hotspot changes. This case study shows that these methods could help researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers to better understand the spatio-temporal clustering patterns of traffic collisions.

Vehicle Accident Report Application for Solving Traffic Problems and Reduce the Ratio of Pollution using Case Study: Kuwait City

<span lang="EN-US">Minor traffic accidents have become a major problem facing the road users in the recent years, according to the statistics from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) in Kuwait there were recorded 80,388 accidents by the year 2014. Accidents not only affect the mobility but also contribute to air pollution and slow down economic growth. These effects are the result of the seriously extended trips travel time due to accumulated vehicles queue. In some accidents cases, the lost time waiting for the arrival of the traffic officers and filling up the accident report could take up to 45 minutes. The new idea of Vehicle Accident Report application (I-VAR) concept developed by the research team would reduce the waiting time up to 3 minutes (93% savings), which would increase the level of service of the segment of a roadway. In addition, the study will be discussed four major situations on some of the busiest roads in Kuwait. Specifically, gas emissions and cost estimation. Improve the pollution obviously, by using the (I-VAR) application for the minor accidents there is an amount of 360,776,460 K.D would be saved yearly from the Kuwait government funds. It is a consequence of the huge savings in alleviating traffic congestion and generally produces more saver and efficient travel conditions.</span>

Predicting the Severity of Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries in Adana-Turkey Using Machine Learning Methods and Detailed Meteorological Data

Traffic accidents are among the most important issues facing every nation in the world as they cause many deaths and injuries as well as economic losses every year. In this study, the traffic accidents that took place in Adana, have been classifiedaccording to injury severity (i.e. fatal or non-fatal) and the factors affecting the accident outcome are investigated. The study included the traffic accident reports kept by Regional Traffic Division and the weather data provided by the Regional Directorate of Meteorology during 2005-2015. Five major machine learning methods (i.e. k-Nearest Neighbor, Naive Bayes, Multilayer Perceptron, Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine) and one statistical method, Logistic Regression, were employed for prediction models and performances of the models as well as the effective parameters were compared. The main objective of the study is to determine how important weather and other phenomena are for the occurrence of traffic accidents. Decision Tree, k-Nearest Neighbor and Multilayer Perceptron based models yielded higher accuracy in classification of accidents compared to other models. Furthermore, in Area Under Curve based analysis of factor importance, it was determined that Mean Cloudiness, Existence of Traffic Control and Ground Surface Temperature had higher positive effects, while Maximum Temperature and Weather (kept by traffic officers) parameters decreased the accuracy of models.

The influence of task load on situation awareness and control strategy in the ATC tower environment

The safe and efficient operation of air traffic is highly dependent on the performance of the Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO). The ATCOs control the traffic within defined areas by monitoring the traffic and granting clearances. A key element in analyzing the ATCOs is their interaction with the environment through their workplace. Especially the influence of task load on their situation awareness (SA) and applied control strategy provides information on the quality of the workplace. As task load increases, controllers are able to maintain performance by using different management or compensation strategies. This article supports the evaluation of ATCO’s workplaces by focusing on whether probe techniques for assessing SA are applicable for tower control operation and for measuring the influences of increased task load on the control strategy. An experiment with nine ATCOs was conducted in a simulated real-time air traffic control environment. Different measurements for SA were applied and compared regarding their efficiency and validity. The manipulation of task load and visibility influenced the SA and control strategy at the same time. Performance metrics were selected in advance to evaluate the participant’s efficiency. SA was measured with a probe technique and an offline self-assessment method. Findings suggest that probe techniques increase the insight into the understanding of SA in comparison to self-assessment and that they are applicable to the air traffic control environment. Control strategies were derived from the information-gathering process via the eye-movement behavior and connected to task load. The results imply that SA is part of the individual performance and that increasing demand through task load is handled with an adaptation of the control strategy.

Blockchain Traffic Offence Demerit Points Smart Contracts: Proof of Work

In Malaysia, a new regulation of traffic offences demerit points has been over a debate. Therefore, a blockchain model is formulated to solve this issue. It serves a purpose to be a Proof of Work (PoW) of a blockchain system. This model contains application layer and blockchain layer with smart contract inside. The smart contracts act as a conditional filter which follows the regulation rules. It contains three contracts starting from the declaration of each offence’s demerit points and fines until the penalties when a certain amount of demerit points is collected, including revocation of driver license. The contracts will be automatically executed when such conditions are fulfilled. A transaction schema is also designed to match the schema of a traffic offence system. This model is deployed in online environment with two servers synced to each other to prove the decentralized characteristic of blockchain. It is developed using NodeJS while preserving JSON format for transaction between server and client. A user interface is also provided as a simulation media where a traffic officer can input offences and send it to blockchain server while public users or the driver itself can check the status of the driver license recorded on the blockchain. Government officer can monitor the records through a dashboard analytics provided which contains graphs and charts based on the records. This interface is used as media to do evaluation which produces satisfying results. The evaluation shows that the smart contracts are executed properly as compared to real regulations.

Assessment of Heavy Metals on Occupationally Exposed Workers from Hair Analysis

The use of human hair as a tool in assessing changes and abnormalities in human bodies has been increasing for last decades since it may reflect the health status or environmental condition of habitation or working place of individuals as well as population groups. Compared to other body tissue or fluids, hair provides an ease of elemental analysis especially in reflecting the long-term exposure. This research was conducted to determine the elemental content especially heavy metals, since they are bioaccumulated in human body organs and impact human health, in hair of workshop workers and traffic services officers as exposed groups and its comparison with control group and references data for assessing of occupational exposure. Thirty-five automotive workshop workers and 32 traffic services officers’ hair specimens were collected in Bandung, while hair specimens of the control group were collected from 43 healthy individuals. The elemental concentrations in hair specimen were analyzed using neutron activation analysis (NAA) for mercury and chromium, and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) for lead and arsenic. The accuracy of the method was evaluated using GBW 07601 human hair certified reference material (CRM) and it was found to give good results in accordance with the certificate values. It was found that chromium , lead, and arsenic hair concentration in exposed groups (0.88, 10.7, and 0.051 mg/kg, respectively) were higher than in control group (0.27, 4.52, and 0.045 mg/kg, respectively), w hile mercury hair concentration of traffic services officers were higher than control group but mercury hair concentration of automotive workshop workers were lower than in control group (1.41 mg/kg) . The t-test statistical results shown that mercury concentrations in one exposed group did not differ significantly from the control , but other exposed groups showed otherwise. The level of mercury in hair is strongly attributed not only to environmental exposure, but also to lifestyle and dietary habit s , w hile t-test statistical results of chromium and lead differ significantly with p value < 0.05. These results indicate that heavy metal hair concentrations were well quantified to show the abnormalities of elemental concentration in human hair for evaluating the occupational exposure .

A crash course in leading through change and challenges

When I was a young traffic enforcement officer, my responsibilities included investigating traffic collisions of all types. Over the course of a few years, I was sent to what would seem to be hundreds of the most common collisions you would expect to see: a vehicle traveling in one direction that would be struck by a vehicle coming from another direction. From those several‐hundred traffic accidents I responded to, investigated, and reported on, a small number stood out for their uniqueness.

Smart Policing and the Use of Body Camera Technology: Unpacking South Africa’s Tenuous Commitment to Transparency

In 2014, the Western Cape Department of Community Safety in South Africa launched the first pilot of the Smart Policing Project, which sought to reduce incidents of violence between private citizens and law enforcement officials by attaching body-worn cameras (BWCs) to a small group of traffic officers throughout the province. In light of rising allegations of police brutality and deep-seated tensions between citizens and law enforcement officials, the Smart Policing Project received widespread support across the country. However, despite the appearance of a strengthening in police oversight, the ability of BWCs to hold police officers to account for acts of misconduct or criminality depends largely upon the existence of institutional policies governing usage, and a robust legislative framework for accessing information held by the state. Accordingly, the purpose of this article is to unpack South Africa’s tenuous commitment to transparency by juxtaposing the reactions of law enforcement officials to wearing BWCs owned and operated by the state, versus being recorded by cell phones owned and operated by private citizens. The article begins by examining the context of police oversight in South Africa in an effort to demonstrate the rationale for introducing BWCs 20 years post-Apartheid. It then moves on to highlight inconsistencies in South Africa’s right of access to information regime by exploring differences in the levels of protection afforded to records held by public bodies versus those held by private bodies under the country’s access to information legislation. The article concludes by discussing the impact of those protections on the utility of BWCs in South Africa, and making recommendations on how to increase the effectiveness of BWCs in strengthening openness and transparency in policing.

Always-Available Communication and Technological Distractions: Technology Use, Texting and Driving

ABSTRACTDigital mobile communication tools have become cultural artefacts for everyday sociability. As technology use becomes pervasive in society, it brings many advantages for everyday social relations, but these benefits come in tandem with some disadvantages and unintended consequences. One such consequence is the tendency for people to be distracted due to technology use while driving. The focus of this study was to explore the prevalence of texting, making phone calls, and other technology use, such as adjusting or tuning dashboard music players or radios, while driving. Through a survey of drivers, roadside ethnographic observations of drivers, and interviews with traffic officers in Polokwane, Limpopo, South Africa,, the study broadly examined the social and cultural impact of technology and mobility with specific focus on technology use and distracted driving. The findings revealed a prevalence for texting and driving: 60 per cent of the participants reported that they have sent a text while driving; and 88 per cent acknowledged that they have seen drivers texting while driving. The study is significant considering the limited research on this social issue in South Africa, and it is also relevant considering that technology use and distraction portends the potential for causing road accidents.

A Fuzzy DEMATEL Analysis of Cultural Variables in Traffic Rules Violation

Traffic rules violation stems from numerous causes such as the lack of appropriate traffic rules training, non-institutionalization of respect to the rights of others especially pedestrians, and more importantly self-preference. There is a need for accidents prevention and deeper analysis of the multi-attributes which lead to unwanted accidents and lethal crashes resulting in death. Most of these elements are cultural variables. In this study, the cultural variables affecting traffic rules violation are investigated. From among many cultural variables, 6 most important factors were examined. For this aim, 10 traffic officers who have more than 10 years' experience and 10 citizens with master's degree and at least 6 years driving experience, participated in this research. For determining the cause and effect relations between them, fuzzy DEMATEL is applied. Findings show that unawareness of traffic rules has the greatest importance because it is the premier causal factor from one hand and on the other hand, it has the maximum relation with the other cultural variables.

Real-Time Assessment of Operator State in Air Traffic Controllers Using Ocular Metrics

This study examined the utility of continuous operator state monitoring in predicting air traffic control officer (ATCO) workload and fatigue. Participants (N=8) were observed in live operational air traffic control environments for 60-minute periods. ATCO state was assessed using a real-time, computer vision-based system which tracked operator gaze and pupil diameter. Workload and fatigue were also assessed via the adapted Bedford Workload Scale and Samn-Perelli Fatigue Scale, respectively. Standard deviation of gaze was a significant predictor of both max and mean workload, showing a strong negative relationship with both subjective measures. Pupil diameter showed a significant positive relationship with operator fatigue. Our findings demonstrate the utility of continuous ocular metrics of workload and fatigue in operational environments.

Air Traffic Control Tools Assessment

<p align="LEFT">Undoubtedly air transport in today’s world wouldn’t be able to exist without any air traffic control service. As the air transport has been coming through major changes and it has been expanding, it is assumed that its volume will be doubled in the next 15 years. Air traffic control uses strictly organised procedures to ensure safe course of air operations. With the skies covered with more airplanes every year, new tools must be introduced to allow the controllers to manage this rising amount of flying aircraft and to keep the air transport safe. This paper provides a comprehensive and organized material, which describes the newest tools and systems used by air traffic control officers. It proposes improvements for further research and development of ATC tools.</p>

Designing an ESP- Syllabus Framework Based on Conducting of an Effective Target Situation Needs Analysis a Case Study of Abu Dhabi Police Traffic Officers

This study aims at analyzing the target situation needs for Abu Dhabi Police traffic Staff to suggest an ESP- base syllabus framework. These needs will be employed to designs an ESP- Syllabus. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants, after analyzing the data collected, it was revealed that English language in general is of great importance to traffic police. Participants who were 50 police men working in traffic department ensured that some language functions should be included in the suggested ESP-based syllabus. In addition to some language sub-skills they rated as very important, furthermore, they questionnaire evaluated some language difficulties they may encounter while they perform their duties.

Designing an ESP - Syllabus Framework Based on Conducting of an Effective Target Situation Needs Analysis : A Case Study of Abu Dhabi Police Traffic Officers

Designing an ESP - Syllabus Framework Based on Conducting of an Effective Target Situation Needs Analysis : A Case Study of Abu Dhabi Police Traffic Officers

Vehicle-Pedestrian crashes at Intersections in Dhaka city

Background: Pedestrians are some of the most vulnerable road users, especially in large congested cities in developing countries. In order to develop appropriate countermeasures to improve safety, research has to be conducted to understand the factors contributing to vehicle-pedestrian collisions. Objective: This study aims to identify the factors contributing to intersection crashes in a developing country context. Method: A Poisson regression model was applied to police reported crash data from the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka. Results: This study finds that an increase in vehicle traffic and the presence of police officer, footbridge, bus stop, solar panel and waste deposit facility were associated with an increase in the number of vehicle-pedestrian crashes, whereas an increase in pedestrian volume, roads with the same number of inbound and outbound lanes, roads with greater number of lanes, and the presence of traffic signal, commercial area or offices, speed breaker and rail crossing were associated with a reduction in the number of vehicle-pedestrian crashes. Conclusion: While the results of most traffic and engineering factors are consistent with those obtained in previous studies in developed countries, some of the results on human related factors and unusual road furniture are atypical and require more locally targeted countermeasures.

The role of spirituality as a coping mechanism for South African traffic officers

Traffic officers are faced with many stressful situations, yet each traffic officer might cope differently with these stressors. Spirituality is regarded as an essential defence in stressful situations. Therefore, this article provides a basic framework guiding traffic officers and practitioners, on how spirituality can be used as a coping mechanism when faced with various work-related stressors. An interpretative, qualitative study was conducted utilising purposive sampling in which 10 traffic officers participated in in-depth interviews. In line with the interpretive paradigm, data were analysed using content analysis. The research findings indicate when utilising spirituality to various degrees in their workplace, traffic officers displayed adaptive coping capabilities. Traffic officers associated less spirituality or a lack thereof with weaker coping capability. Furthermore, spirituality in traffic officers is informed by their spiritual or religious foundation, their purpose in work and life, their connection to a spiritual source, and the fruits of spirituality. The coping ability of traffic officers is influenced by their upbringing and background, by stressors in their work environment and by their coping mechanisms. The role of spirituality in the coping of traffic officers culminated in their ability to interpret the meaning of spirituality, and then implementing spirituality as a coping mechanism.

Heat strain and work performance among traffic police officers in Kuala Lumpur

Introduction: The strong El Nino phenomena increase temperature in Malaysia that directly affects the health of traffic police officers who are highly exposed to high temperature and humidity while controlling traffic. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between heat strain and work performance among police traffic officers. Methodology: The study is divided into two parts that is, first, a measurement of heat stress index at five different workstations at Kuala Lumpur during afternoon using wet bulb globe temperature. Second, the survey was distributed to gain information of work performances from the respondent. Result: Findings indicated that the heat stress index at five locations exceeded the threshold limit value ranging from 33.3 to 41.8°C for 75% work and 25% rest. The most prevalent heat strain symptoms were fatigue (57.9%), dizziness (31%), and muscle cramps (16.4%). Results from multiple regression showed that marital status and the perception of heat exposure are significantly associated with work performance after considering socio-demographical data, heat strain symptoms, and work characteristics. Conclusion: Traffic police officers were exposed to a high level of heat and perceived to reduce their work performance.

The Decoding of Traffic Signs by Motorcycle Riders in Jakarta Indonesia

Should the rapid growth of motor vehicles and inhabitants goes unanticipated, it is certain that the motor vehicles pacing in JABODETABEK area will significantly decelerate. The problem of clogging in Jakarta is not only due to the ever increasing number of motor vehicles and minimum development of streets, but also to the behavior of road users. The behavior of road users is vital in solving the problems in transportation such as clogging or traffic safety like the circumstances in Jakarta today. This study aims at analyzing and understanding the occurrence of disorderliness/indiscipline phenomenon in road traffic, in particular the one related to ignorance to meaning of traffic signs, road markings, and traffic signal emitting devices perceived from social scope. This study employs qualitative method and is limited to specific road segments in Jakarta Megalopolis Area in particular the ones passed by the author, including Jakarta, Southern Tangerang, and Depok City areas. From the discoveries, the violation and ignorance to the meaning of traffic signs, road markings, and traffic signal emitting devices are stimulated by internal and external factors. The motorcycle riders are inclined to ignore the meaning of traffic signs, road markings, and traffic signal emitting devices due to conditions such as the non-existence of sanction unless when there is police inspection. The role and presence of traffic and transportation officer at the intersection or road crossing do not seem optimum.

Investigation of heat stress and heat strain in outdoor workers: a case study in Iran

Heat stress is an important and serious threat at work and is a particular concern in outdoor occupational environments. This study aims at comparing heat stress and heat strain at different outdoor groups, examining the protective and adaptive actions which were done by workers and also provi services to them by government or employer to reduce heat load. This cross–sectional study was conducted in the hottest days of the summer 2015 in Shabestar, Iran and 53 healthy men in nine occupational groups including concrete makers, porters, construction, waste site and road making workers, stonemasons, farmers, traffic officers, and street vendors participated. A set of physiological parameters, like heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature and etc., WBGT index details and some of the adaptive and protective parameters were measured and monitored simultaneously at different times of the day. The study finds that heat exposure in outdoor workplace is prevalent and WBGT TWA/TLV ave is less than 1 in some groups like stonemasons, waste site workers, traffic officers and street vendors whereas in other studied occupations, it is more than 1.This matter is compounded by the fact that the provision of health services by employers or local government was limited, and almost all of the participants had poor or insufficient access levels to public health and welfare services. This study confirms the necessity of interventions by a range of factors, such as government plans, improvement of services in the prevention of heat stress, and planning training courses for outdoor workers to build their knowledge of heat stress .

NEGLIGENCE “IN THE AIR” OR ON THE ROAD? Ndlela v S 2013 (unreported, KZP) Case no AR 630/2012

In certain circumstances, certain drivers are authorised to drive with a blue light and siren flashing on a public road. Thus, in terms of regulation 308(1)(h) of the Regulations issued under the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 any person driving or having a vehicle on a public road is required to “give an immediate and absolute right of way to a vehicle sounding a device or bell or displaying an identification lamp in terms of section 58(3) or 60 or regulation 176”. Section 58(3) permits the driver of emergency vehicles, a traffic officer, and duly authorised drivers, as well as, particularly pertinent to the discussion which follows, a “person appointed in terms of the South African Police Service Act … who drives a vehicle in the carrying out of his or her duties” to disregard the directions of a road traffic sign displayed in the prescribed manner. There are two provisos: that such driver must drive the vehicle concerned “with due regard to the safety of other traffic”; and that such vehicle is fitted with a device capable of prescribed sound and a prescribed identification lamp, both of which must be in operation during such driving. Section 60 mirrors the provision in section 58(3), allowing for certain drivers to exceed the speed limit, subject to the same provisos. Regulation 176 authorises a member of the South African Police Service (along with a member of a municipal police service, a traffic officer, and a member of the South African Defence Force performing police functions) to utilise a lamp emitting a blue light in the exercise of his or her duties.The permission granted to certain drivers to use such equipment has, however, not been without controversy. The excesses of the VIP Protection Unit, or “blue-light brigade”, on South Africa’s public roads have been the subject of extensive criticism and condemnation. The proliferation of road accidents and other incidents arising from the driving of those with such blue-light privileges has given rise to a media statement by the South African Human Rights Commission, which expressed the need for urgent action to be taken in this regard, failing which the provision of blue-light usage would be seen as “disregarding safety and traffic regulations and basic human rights”. 
 The ongoing challenge posed by blue-light driving is reflected in the recent conviction and sentencing for reckless driving of Joseph Semitjie, the driver of then Gauteng housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi, after he skipped a red light and collided with young motorcyclist Thomas Ferreira, causing serious head injuries. In addition, both the President and the Deputy President have recently been associated with blue-light collisions.The case which will be discussed below is yet another example of blue-light driving which exceeded the parameters of lawfulness: Ndlela v S (KZP, unreported, AR 630/2012, 5 September 2013), an appeal from a conviction in the regional court, Pietermaritzburg, on a count of negligent driving (contravention of s 63 of the Act), leading to a sentence of a fine of R3000 or two years’ imprisonment, with a further period of two years’ imprisonment suspended for five years on condition that the accused was not convicted on a charge of negligent driving during the period of suspension.