Traffic Safety Problems Research Articles

Research of Early Warning Mechanism for Traffic Safety Based on Internet of Things

This paper focuses on the study of the optimization of accuracy rate for traffic safety early warning mechanism. The traffic safety problem has become one of harms to the global society. A prediction technology and emergency management mechanism for traffic safety has been put forward to solve the problem of traffic congestion and road traffic imbalance, especially the parameter of traditional warning algorithm is too demanding and the algorithm is too complex. The plan adopts the technology of Internet of Things, monitoring the real-time traffic condition which affords the reliable data for the traffic management department, and designs the targeted safety early warning index according to the collected traffic information, and sets up the emergency management mechanism based on the time and space model of 2D Markov chain. The simulation experiment and mathematical analysis show that the improved early warning methods can help the traffic management department to timely forecast the traffic safety risks and hidden dangers and take the effective solutions to guarantee the benign and stable state of overall transport system.

Violation detection method for vehicular ad hoc networking

AbstractEvery hour, nearly 40 people under the age of 25 die in road accidents around the world. According to the World Health Organization, this is the second most important cause of death for 5‐ to 29‐year‐olds. In India, drunk driving and inefficient law enforcements are major contributing factors. The current system of visual identification of traffic violation, conducted by the traffic authorities, cannot work everywhere and every time. There is a great demand for simple and cost‐effective solutions to traffic safety problem. In this paper, we propose a traffic violation detection technique for vehicular ad hoc networks to detect crossing speed limits and analyzing the behavior of driver. In this work, we used a sensor device, a digital map and GPS‐based system for area of 1000 m × 1000 m. We analyzed the behavior of each vehicle in the network. Here, we have divided a network into a number of clusters, and each cluster has an infrastructure node (base station); the infrastructure node will be the point of contact for all the vehicles in that area. All infrastructure nodes communicate with a control center (master control room). If the driver violates traffic rule(s), then the infrastructure node will send an alert message to the control center. We have simulated our proposed model on a graphics package, and the simulation result suggests that drunken drivers can no longer escape from the law enforcers, which is the foundation for traffic safety. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Comprehensibility of traffic signs among urban drivers in Turkey

Traffic signs are commonly used traffic safety tools, mainly developed to provide crucial information in a short time to support safe drive; but the success depends on their comprehensibility by the drivers. Also, a sudden change in the traditionally used and accepted signs can cause significant safety problem, as in the case of cancellation of red oblique bars in 2004 as a part of the European Union Harmonization Process of Turkey.Having a severe traffic safety problem in Turkey, a need to assess both the comprehensibility of internationally accepted traffic signs and current level of driver education, was the main motivation behind this study. A paper-based survey study in 2009 that reached a sample of 1478 urban drivers in the City of Ankara, focused on the determination of comprehensibility of 30 selected traffic signs, which are commonly used and critical for safety, including two recently changed signs. The meaning of each sign is sought using an open-ended question format to capture different levels and types of comprehensions, which enabled the detection of “opposite” and “partially correct” answers besides “wrong” and “correct” ones. High comprehensibility of 9 control group signs shows the validity of the study. The recently changed signs are among the oppositely associated ones proving the increased risk in traffic safety and need for more aggressive campaigning to publicize them.

A decision support framework for intermodal transport policy

PurposeIn recent years intermodal transport has received an increased attention due to problems of road congestion, environmental concerns and traffic safety. A growing recognition of the external effects of transport urges to go towards more sustainable transport modes. As a consequence, research and policy interest in intermodal freight transportation problems is growing.MethodsIn this paper the strengths of Operations Research (OR) modelling techniques applicable to decisions related to intermodal transport are used to develop a particular framework that is able to assess the performance of current and potential policy measures which affects the intermodal transport industry. The assessment framework includes three core models necessary to evaluate all relevant transport modes and aggregation levels.ResultsIn the last section of the paper, the assessment framework is applied to a case study related to the location of a new intermodal barge terminal for which the optimal location is searched, the market area is analysed and the impact on the performance of the network is discussed.

Analysis of the Influence of Sun Glare on Traffic Accidents in Japan

Sun glare is known to adversely affect driving conditions, and some measures against traffic accidents from sun glare have been implemented. Quantitative analysis of the influence of sun glare on traffic accident occurrence has not been carried out, so the seriousness of such glare as a traffic safety problem is unknown. The Chiba Prefectural Police Headquarters has been recording latitude and longitude of the accident location and vehicle travel direction as additional data items for traffic accidents in the prefecture. We used these additional data items to analyze the degree to which sun glare affects traffic accident occurrence. It was found that when the sun is in a position that tends to blind drivers, traffic accidents tend to be more frequent. The effect of sun glare on accident occurrence was quantified and was found to be very adverse.

The changes of group behavior in mixed traffic flow

Mixed traffic flow is the popular problem now, not only in Vietnam but also in almost developing countries. With the mix traffic flow, we have to consider many problems in traffic control and traffic safety, especially in the cases of some countries that private vehicle ownership increase very quickly. This study was conducted to analyze the change in motorcycle driver behaviors with the progress of urbanization and motorization, the observations is inside intersections between left-turn groups and straight-go groups. From the analysis in this study, the results show the changes of driver behavior in case of one popular city in developing countries - Hanoi. This study also conducted the analysis about the relations between group behaviors and conflict situation inside intersection, from that propose some suggestion in traffic control measures and policies for mixed traffic flow.

Is the Environment Near Home and School Associated with Physical Activity and Adiposity of Urban Preschool Children?

Preventing sedentary behavior and adiposity in childhood has become a public health priority. We examined urban social and built environment characteristics as correlates of physical activity and anthropometry among 428 preschool children from low-income families in New York City. We measured the children's height, weight, skinfold thicknesses, physical activity by accelerometer, and covariates. We geocoded home and Head Start center addresses and estimated the following for an area within 0.5 km of those two locations using a detailed geographic database: neighborhood composition, walkability, crime and traffic safety, and aesthetic characteristics. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the associations of area characteristics with physical activity or adiposity, adjusted for characteristics of the child, mother, and home. Participants were 2-5 years old, 53% female, 83% Hispanic, and 43% either overweight or obese. Of the walkability indicators, land use mix was associated with physical activity (26 more activity counts/minute per standard deviation increase in mixed land use, p = 0.015) and subway stop density was associated with adiposity (1.2 mm smaller sums of skinfold thicknesses sum per standard deviation increase in subway stop density, p = 0.001). The pedestrian-auto injury rate, an indicator of traffic safety problems, was associated with physical activity and adiposity (16 fewer activity counts/minute, p = 0.033, and 1.0 mm greater skinfold thickness per standard deviation increase in pedestrian-auto injuries, p = 0.018). Children living in areas with more street trees were more physically active and those living in areas with more park access had smaller skinfolds. However, many of the tested associations were not statistically significant and some trends were not in the hypothesized direction. Efforts to enhance walkability, safety, and green spaces in the local environment may be relevant to physical activity and adiposity, and therefore to the health of preschool-aged children from low-income families.

Road traffic accidents and psychotropic medication use in the Netherlands: a case–control study

To examine the association between the use of commonly prescribed psychotropic medications and road traffic accident risk. A record-linkage database was used to perform a case-control study in The Netherlands. The data came from three sources: pharmacy prescription data, police traffic accident data and driving licence data. Cases were defined as drivers, who had a traffic accident that required medical assistance between 2000 and 2007. Controls were defined as adults, who had a driving licence and had no traffic accident during the study period. Four controls were matched for each case. The following psychotropic medicine groups were examined: antipsychotics, anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives, and antidepressants stratified in the two groups, SSRIs and other antidepressants. Various variables, such as age, gender, medicine half-life and alcohol use, were considered for the analysis. Three thousand nine hundred and sixty-three cases and 18,828 controls were included in the case-control analysis. A significant association was found between traffic accident risk and exposure to anxiolytics (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.11, 2.15), and SSRIs (OR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.31, 3.14). A statistically significant increased risk was also seen in chronic anxiolytic users, females and young users (18 to 29 years old), chronic SSRI users, females and middle-aged users (30 to 59 years old), and intermediate half-life hypnotic users. The results of this study support previous findings and confirm that psychoactive medications can constitute a problem in traffic safety. Both health care providers and patients should be properly informed of the potential risks associated with the use of these medicines.

Individual differences of pedestrian behaviour in midblock crosswalk and intersection

Motor vehicle crashes involving pedestrians have recently become a major traffic safety problem. Pedestrian error is defined as a risk event that can be described by uncensored waiting duration. This paper presents a parametric duration model for analysis of pedestrian behaviour in midblock crosswalk and intersection, which can be used to explain when and why pedestrians cross the street in error. In order to identify individual differences in pedestrian behaviour based on specific error-inducing factors in midblock crosswalk and intersection, the endurance probability and risk rate for pedestrian crossing behaviour are calculated with different waiting durations by the exponential, Weibull and log-logistic distributions. The results show the relationship of pedestrian behaviour and waiting duration.

Human surrogates for injury biomechanics research

This article reviews the attributes of the human surrogates most commonly used in injury biomechanics research. In particular, the merits of human cadavers, human volunteers, animals, dummies, and computational models are assessed relative to their ability to characterize the living human response and injury in an impact environment. Although data obtained from these surrogates have enabled biomechanical engineers and designers to develop effective injury countermeasures for occupants and pedestrians involved in crashes, the magnitude of the traffic safety problem necessitates expanded efforts in research and development. This article makes the case that while there are limitations and challenges associated with any particular surrogate, each provides a critical and necessary component in the continued quest to reduce crash-related injuries and fatalities.

Évaluation d’une stratégie policière de sécurité routière au Québec : la stratégie de l’Association des directeurs de police du Québec

To estimate the effect on collisions of a police traffic safety strategy carried out between January and December 2007, in the province of Quebec, Canada. This strategy was implemented by several key players (Société de I'Assurance Automobile du Québec, Sûreté du Québec, Montreal Police Department and 34 other municipal police organizations) and targeted the leading causes of traffic casualties such as drinking and driving, speeding and not wearing a seat belt. The strategy has two main components: 1) joint law enforcement operations in which all the police organizations take part, and 2) police organizations targeting local traffic safety problems. Media campaigns supported all operations. Over the intervention period, traffic citations issued for speed limit violations, not fastening the seat belt and running the red light or a stop sign increased from 2006 rates by 27, 33 and 8%, respectively. The Société de I'Assurance Automobile du Québec spent more than $5 million in mass media campaigns. According to our results, the strategy was associated with decreases varying between 14 and 36% in collisions with serious injuries. In spite of evidence of downward trends for the period under investigation, neither fatal nor minor injury collisions were significantly affected by introduction of the strategy. Police programs characterized by a substantial increase in the distribution of traffic citations and supported by mass media campaigns represent an effective strategy to prevent traffic casualties.

THE EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF SHALLOW FLOWS OF LIQUID ON THE AIRPORT RUNWAYS AND AUTOMOBILE ROADS

Hydroplaning or aquaplaning is associated with the complete loss of the grip of a tyre because of the presence of a water film between the tyres of a moving vehicle (an automobile, an airplane, etc.) and the road surface. In this case, a vehicle becomes uncontrollable. Hydroplaning (aquaplaning) occurs when the speed of a vehicle reaches the critical value, when the wheel does not have time enough for water compulsion, which leads to the formation of a permanent water film between it and the road surface. The higher the depth of the water on the road surface under the tyre, the higher the risk of hydroplaning (aquaplaning). In other words, hydroplaning (aquaplaning) is the floating of the wheel on the water wedge. In physical terms, it is the loss of the ability of a tyre of the effective water compulsion from the contact area with the road. As a result, a water film of several millimeters is formed under the wheel, and a vehicle actually floats up. The article presents the results obtained in the experimental study of the flows of liquid, whose depth is comparable with that of depressions and cambers of rough roadway pavement. It is stated that the relationships used for calculating surface flows should be corrected for shallow flows, taking into account the actual roughness of road covering. Shallow flows are mostly laminar. The transition Reynolds numbers are about 3000. The relationships used for calculating shallow flows may be determined more accurately by test pouring of water on the surface of roadway pavement, with further generalization of the data. The experimental research performed is closely related to the study of the problems of aquaplaning and traffic safety of various means of transport.

PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS OF RURAL ROADS AND BUILT-UP AREAS: THE ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING SITUATION AND POSSIBILITIES OF IMPROVING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS

The results of lengthy thorough investigations into traffic safety situation show that the percentage of pedestrians getting involved in road traffic accidents on Lithuanian roads is significantly higher (more than 33 % of the total number of injury and fatal accidents) than that compared to the other European Union member-states. The article studies traffic safety problems and their factors causing the largest influence on the occurrence of these accidents. Considering valuable experience gained by foreign countries, investigation was carried out to establish general and main factors causing insufficient road safety conditions and significance of these factors to road safety. The article also shows the main activity improving road safety in Lithuania and discusses the effectiveness of strategic and local (temporary and long term) measures to improve conditions for pedestrian road safety.

Traffic restriction policies in lithuanian cities based on vilnius case study

This paper presents results of a feasibility study on traffic restriction strategies in the Old Town of Vilnius, Lithuania. The annual growth of traffic flows in the narrow streets of Vilnius Old Town is increasing environmental, traffic safety, economic, and social problems. The paper includes an analysis of worldwide land use and transport strategies, surveys of the traffic flows in Vilnius Old Town, and analysis of survey results. As followup to the aforementioned research, the paper presents strategic proposals related to traffic organization and substantiation of the made proposals. In addition, the paper includes more widely analyzed strategic proposals of Old Town bypasses, loops, and paid entrances.

Planning Problems in Intermodal Freight Transport: Accomplishments and Prospects

Intermodal freight transport has received increased attention due to problems of road congestion, environmental concerns and traffic safety. A growing recognition of the strategic importance of speed and agility in the supply chain is forcing firms to reconsider traditional logistic services. As a consequence, research interest in intermodal freight transportation problems is growing. This paper provides an overview of planning decisions in intermodal freight transport and solution methods proposed in the scientific literature. Planning problems are classified according to the type of decision maker and decision level. General conclusions are given and subjects for further research are identified.

Evaluation of Dynamic Passing Sight Distance Problem Using a Finite-Element Model

Sufficient passing sight distance is an important control for two-lane rural highway design to minimize the possibility of a head-on collision between passing and opposing vehicles. Traditionally, passing zones are marked by checking passing sight distance that is potentially restricted by static sight obstructions. Such obstructions include crest curves, overpasses, and lateral objects along highways. This paper proposes a new concept of dynamic sight-distance assessment, which involves restricted passing sight distances due to the impeding vehicles that are traveling in the same direction. Using a finite-element model, the dynamic passing sight-distance problem was evaluated, and the writers analyzed the relationships between the available passing sight distance and other factors such as the horizontal curve radius, impeding vehicle dimensions, and a driver’s following distance. It was found that the impeding vehicles may cause substantially insufficient passing sight distances, which may lead to potential traffic safety problems. It is worthwhile to expand on this safety issue and consider the dynamic passing sight distance in highway design.

Highlighting Human Form and Motion Information Enhances the Conspicuity of Pedestrians at Night

Exploring how biological motion can make pedestrians more conspicuous to drivers at night, one-hundred-and-twenty participants were driven along an open-road route at night and pressed a button whenever they recognized that a pedestrian was present. A test pedestrian wearing black clothing alone or with 302 cm2 of retroreflective markings in one of four configurations either stood still or walked in place on an unilluminated sidewalk. Participants' response distances were maximal for the full biological-motion configuration and remained surprisingly long when convenient subsets of reflective markers were positioned on the pedestrian's ankles and wrists. When the pedestrian wore a reflective vest, the responses were no better than when he wore no reflective markings. The biological-motion advantage actually results from interacting form-perception and motion-perception mechanisms. These results confirm that basic perceptual phenomena-observers' sensitivity to human form and motion can be harnessed to reduce an important problem of traffic safety.

Use of Safety Viewgrams to Visualize Driver and Pedestrian Interactions

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a tool for visualizing, at a glance, the salient features of the interaction between motorists and pedestrians. Simple, yet robust and flexible, tools are needed to describe and summarize real-world roadway conditions for problem identification and to monitor the progress that has been made toward achieving safety goals. In the study described in this paper, the safety viewgram has been developed to help visualize various types of traffic safety problems. Although this particular tool has been developed by using observational data for pedestrians and drivers in Hawaii, it could be used for other types of safety studies in other locales. After the development and use of this tool are described, a number of different illustrative examples of how it might be used are provided. Although this is largely a visualization tool, efforts are under way to devise both more rigorous statistical applications and a user-friendly interface for data entry, data manipulation, and presentation of the traffic safety viewgram.

Developing Design Standards for Speed Cushions

Physical devices such as traffic circles and speed humps have long been considered possible solutions to speeding and other neighborhood traffic safety problems. The primary drawback has been their documented effect on fire and other life-safety vehicles caused by increased response times. To balance driver awareness of travel speeds with emergency vehicle accessibility, the King County, Washington, Department of Transportation designed, constructed, and evaluated a traffic-calming device referred to as a speed cushion. Speed cushions resemble speed humps but are constructed with channels to allow for minimal impact and delay to wider-wheel-based emergency vehicles such as fire engines. Ten speed cushions were installed along 36th Place South, 39th Avenue South, South 294th Street, and 45th Place South between South 288th Street and South 298th Street in unincorporated King County as part of a neighborhood traffic-calming pilot project. To evaluate the effectiveness of this traffic-calming device, speed and volume studies were conducted pre-and postinstallation. This report summarizes the results and findings from this study, which determined that speed cushions can provide traffic-calming benefits without significantly affecting emergency responders in fire and other life-safety vehicles. This report also discusses important next steps for researchers and practitioners needed because of limitations in the existing literature on this device in terms of material, color, shape, and roadway placement. The increased popularity of speed cushions has accelerated the need for standardization in terms of design and construction, and specific recommendations are provided in this report.

A Decision-based Criterion for Selecting Parameters in the Evaluation of Pedestrian Safety Problems with the Traffic Conflict Analysis Technique

This article discusses and applies methods for developing diagnostic parameters for pedestrian traffic safety problems using the traffic conflict analysis technique (TCT) to a study of pedestrian crossings at urban signalized intersections in São Paulo, Brazil. The development of parameters has two tasks: the selection of an adequate classification of conflicts and/or segmentation of crossings, and the determination of parameters for the classes (including recommended confidence levels). Based on the US Federal Highway Administration guides for the study of vehicular conflicts, the pedestrian conflict count limits (abnormally high level of counts for problem detection) and the ratio of accidents per million conflicts (risk index and accident forecasting rate) are developed for the types of urban crossings observed in the signalized intersections of the study. Statistical methods are applied with a new decision-based criterion that could select the best classification/segmentation and the recommended confidence level to be used in applied work. Results obtained from the application of such methods to the case study are presented and discussed as an example application.