Young Passengers Research Articles

Child Passenger Safety in Indonesia

Current Indonesian road safety laws, particularly Law No. 22 of 2009 on Traffic and Road Transport, lack specific provisions for the use of child restraint systems, which significantly reduces child passenger safety. Unlike many developed countries with strict regulations that mandate child-specific safety equipment, Indonesian regulations currently mandate only standard seatbelts designed for adults. This inadequacy poses a substantial risk to children because of their physical vulnerability. This study examines the urgency of specific regulations regarding child safety restraints for child passengers in Indonesia. This research employs a normative legal approach to analyze Indonesia's existing legislation alongside international practices. The findings underscore those countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia have effectively lowered child accident rates through mandatory child safety restraints and public awareness campaigns. The study concludes that adopting similar practices in Indonesia could enhance child passenger safety, reduce injury rates, and improve overall road safety for young passengers. The implementation of specific child restraint laws and public awareness initiatives are recommended to ensure comprehensive legal protection for child passengers in Indonesia.

The impacts of COVID-19 on route choice with guidance information in urban rail transit of megacities

The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused unprecedented decline of ridership in urban rail transit and changed passenger travel habits, which greatly challenges subway operations. Therefore, it is necessary to better understand and quantify the impact of COVID-19 on passenger travel behavior, specifically route choice. Thus, we collected automatic fare collection data and 2060 random samples through a web-based survey in Beijing on passengers’ route choice behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study utilizes an initial dataset to conduct an analysis and introduces an improved Generalized Random Regret Minimization model (GRRM) aimed at understanding passengers' route choice adjustments in response to COVID-19 guidance information. This improved GRRM accounts for two decision-making criteria, namely, maximum utility and minimum regret, and considers passenger heterogeneity. This marks the first instance of capturing the heterogeneity shift effect in route choice perception during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that the improved model has the best fitting result with adjusted Rho square of 0.536, demonstrating that the attributes related to guidance information (i.e., information push/time to receive traffic information/perceived route COVID-19 risk) indeed enhance the model’s fit. Furthermore, the research employs Value of Information Time to quantify the preference of passengers for information in various groups. Compared with the usual scenario, women, young and non-commuter passengers are more likely to receive an early information update to plan their trips in advance. Finally, the perceived risk of COVID-19 on routes is examined in relation to passengers’ personal attributes. It is observed that the elderly and students exhibit heightened sensitivity to the epidemic at all stages, while young passengers and commuters are particularly sensitive only during the small-scale epidemic. These findings offer valuable insights for managers to implement targeted strategies, thereby enhancing passenger flow control and encouraging increased subway ridership.

REVIEW OF MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT FOR IN-FLIGHT PASSENGERS

The issue related to passenger age requirement on airplanes has emerged as a significant concern. There have been numerous instances of young passengers boarding incorrect flights, highlighting the critical need for attention. Additionally, the potential risk of aircraft accidents poses a grave danger to children onboard. The criteria and regulations surrounding minimum passenger age requirements vary widely. This study focuses on the necessity of establishing a minimum age for airline passengers and the criteria for determining passenger age in alignment with legal standards. This normative juridical research reviewed and analyzed the regulations concerning minimum age requirements and age policies adopted by airline companies. The result showed that minimum age requirement for passenger differs across various legal systems and policies implemented by countries and airlines.

Sustainable development of passenger transport in Poland in the context of young passengers’ preference survey

The issue of reducing the adverse impact of transport on the environment has been reflected in key European transport documents. Their content clearly indicates that rail transport is more “environmentally friendly” than road transport. An increase in the number of rail passengers and, at the same time, a drop in the number of road transport passengers is consistent with the concept of sustainable development. The purpose of the article is to analyse the preferences of rail and bus passengers and use research results to enhance sustainable development. In order to achieve this aim, the method of critical analysis of available secondary research results and the survey method were adopted, with the use of a questionnaire in primary research. The author’s own research was conducted on a representative sample of 331 young passengers. On the basis of available secondary research results, the price, travel time and modern technology categories as well as elements thereof were selected for analysis. The study results may be used to formulate a strategy for sustainable development of transport, contributing to the reduction of road passenger transport in favour of rail transport.

The factors affecting people’s willingness in participating in and paying for upgrading their seats from the economy class to the premium class

As information technology develops rapidly and network information becomes more and more transparent, it is urgent for airlines to increase their flight carrying rates through marketing to maximize profits before take-off. While the seat bidding strategy has been one of the business models adopted by many airlines in recent years, it has not been implemented yet in Taiwan’s airlines. In order to understand the seat bidding behavior of passengers, this study adopted the double-hurdle model to explore the factors affecting passengers’ participation in seat bidding and calculated the prices they were willing to pay. Moreover, this study investigated the effects of long and short flight distances on passengers’ participation in seat bidding and the prices they were willing to pay for either flight distance. According to the results, the factors affecting the participation of passengers in seat bidding were different for long-distance and short-distance trips, while a common factor between them was that young people and passengers with preliminary knowledge of such activities were more willing to participate. According to the analysis on the prices people were willing to pay, the price difference that passengers of long-haul flights and short-haul flights were willing to pay for upgrades was about 55 and 24% of the reference price, respectively. The information obtained in this study can serve as a reference for future research or for airlines.

Beliefs and attitudes of Australian learner drivers toward driving and avoiding driving through floodwater

IntroductionDriving through floodwater is a significant cause of flood-related injury and mortality, and opportunities exist to embed safe driving messages regarding floodwaters to novice drivers in graduated driver licensing schemes. To inform future educational efforts, we investigated the beliefs and attitudes of Australian learner drivers about driving and avoiding driving through floodwaters. Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional correlational design with measures drawn from the theory of planned behaviour and administered within an online survey. Phase 1 (N = 44 learner drivers) aimed to identify the core beliefs associated with driving through floodwater. Phase 2 (N = 250 learner drivers) tested these beliefs predicting willingness to drive through floodwater as well as the social psychological factors that predict learner drivers’ willingness to drive and avoid driving through floodwater using a pre-tested scenario. Analyses comprised descriptive statistics, linear regression, and structural equation models. Results: Ten key beliefs were identified as predicting willingness to drive through floodwater. These included perceived advantages and disadvantages, perceived social approval from important others, and perceived facilitators and barriers regarding driving through floodwater in the presented scenario. Structural equation models of social cognition constructs of the theory of planned behaviour revealed attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control predicted both willingness to drive and avoid driving through floodwater. Past experience as a passenger also predicted these social cognition constructs, although this differed across models. Discussion: Results highlight the importance of modelling safe driving behaviour for young passengers. The strong association between subjective norm and willingness to drive through floodwater further highlights the importance of those supervising learner drivers to establish expectations around avoiding driving through the floodwater if it is encountered on a driving route. Conclusion: Social cognition factors from the theory of planned behaviour predict willingness to drive and avoid driving though floodwater. Theory-based targets should be considered for the development of intervention programs for novice drivers, such as those holding learner licenses.

Assessing the Intention to Evade Fares for Demographic Segments of Passengers: Empirical Research in Italy for Building Smart(er) Cities

A strong interest in fare evasion is currently emerging in all proof-of-payment transit systems owing to its severe implications. Recent research has investigated from the passenger perspective how sociodemographic variables, travel behavior, and situational factors affect the intention to evade fares for students, workers, and unemployed passengers. Conversely, testing the demographic segmentation of passengers clustered according to gender and age variables and isolating the key factors related to the intention to evade fares have not yet been addressed. Besides the context of the smart cities’ paradigm, the fight against fare evasion has been little dealt with, also owing to the difficulty in being able to frame such an issue within the classic pillars of smartness. This study covers these gaps using a two-step approach. First, gender and age variables are used to define five demographic segments: male, female, young, middle-aged, and older passengers. Next, crucial determinants are detected for each segment using statistical models. The analysis revealed that the intention to evade fares increases for males who travel a lot during the day and for females who are dissatisfied with the service and know the fine amount. Moreover, it increases for young, middle-aged, and older passengers that make short trips, often travel, and use various transit systems, respectively. Finally, the intention to evade fares increases for each segment when passengers have a history of fare evasion. The overall findings may help bus operators plan tailored countermeasures against specific segments.

Passenger Presence and the Relative Risk of Teen Driver Death

PurposeThis study examines the relative risk of death among crash-involved teenage drivers in relation to the number and ages of passengers present. MethodsWe performed cross-sectional analysis of police-reported crashes in the United States in years 2016–2019 to estimate rate ratios for death among drivers aged 16–17 years by passenger composition (no passengers, one teen, ≥two teens, teens and adults aged 20–34 years, adults aged 20–34 years only, ≥one adult aged 35–64 years). Models were adjusted for confounding and effect modification related to driver, crash, and environmental factors. ResultsCrash-involved teen drivers carrying ≥2 teen passengers were twice as likely to die as teens driving alone. The driver was seven times as likely to die when carrying a mix of teen and young adult passengers compared with teens driving alone. Teen drivers' risk of death was lowest in the presence of an adult passenger aged 35–64 years. Carrying one teen passenger presents greater risk of death than driving alone for male teen drivers but not for females. DiscussionWhen teen drivers crash, they are more likely to die if they are carrying teen and/or young adult passengers than if they are driving alone or with a mature adult. The results support the current graduated licensing policies restricting young novice drivers from carrying teenage passengers. Results also help to clarify why previous studies have found that young passengers are associated with increased risk of fatal crashes, but not nonfatal crashes: it appears that passengers may have an effect on crash severity.

Alcohol-related deaths among young passengers: An analysis of national alcohol-related fatal crashes

Introduction: There is consensus that riding with an impaired driver (RWI) constitutes a major threat to public health. The aim of this study was to characterize the factors contributing to the motor-vehicle deaths of 15–20 year-old (y/o) passengers that RWI with a peer. Method: Secondary analyses of the 2010–2018 Fatality Analysis Reporting System. 5,673 passengers aged 15–20 y/o killed while riding in passenger cars with a driver aged 21 or older, 3,542 of these drivers also aged 15–20 y/o. Analyses were conducted between October 2019 and December 2020. Results: Sixty-three percent of the young passengers were killed while riding with a driver 15–20 y/o. Of these drivers, 26.8% had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) >0.00 g/dL and 77.1% had a BAC ≥0.08 g/dL. Compared with those occurring during the day on weekdays, fatalities of young passengers who RWI with a peer driver with a BAC ≥ 0.08 g/dL often occurred on weekend nights (OR = 8.2) and weekday nights (OR = 5.2), and when the passenger and driver were both male (OR = 1.8). Race/ethnicity was not a significant contributor to RWI fatalities. Conclusions: Most 15–20 y/o RWI fatalities occurred on weekends, at night, when the driver was a young peer with a high BAC, and the passenger and driver were male. The high prevalence of fatalities in these high-risk situations suggests that young driver-passenger dynamics may contribute to alcohol-related fatalities. Practical Applications: To curb RWI fatalities among underage passengers, countermeasures should focus not only on underage drinking drivers and riders, but also on drinking drivers of all ages. Prevention should increase focus on situations in which both the young passenger and young driver are males.

Analysis of waiting time perception of bus passengers provided with mobile service

Abstract Smartphones and relevant mobile service have greatly influenced people’s daily lives, and intense smartphone users can be commonly seen at transit stops/stations, playing with their smartphones while waiting for buses/trains. This research presents a holistic perspective for analyzing the effects of smartphone usage on transit passengers, which also considers the effects at a psychological level. Such effects may be manifested as the reduction of perceived waiting time at stops/stations against the negative emotionality induced by long waiting, such as boredom and tediousness, so as to result in improved travel experience. An on-site survey is designed and implemented over the bus system in Taipei, Taiwan, to collect the revealed responses of bus passengers in regard to waiting time perception and smartphone usage, particularly for travel-irrelevant mobile service. The survey data are modeled and analyzed in both numerical and verbal representation of perceived waiting time by using a multiple linear regression model and a cumulative proportional odds logistic model, respectively. A finite mixture model is further employed to investigate the potential heterogeneity of waiting time perception related to using smartphones for travel-irrelevant mobile service. The analysis results highlight that travel-irrelevant smartphone usage may lead to the reduction of perceived waiting, and the effect can be more significant for young passengers and those without receiving bus arrival information, especially when waiting time is prolonged. Such findings can contribute to the comprehensive consideration of passenger behavior in transit system planning and associated information/service provision strategies.

Pro-social behaviour in young passengers: Predictive utility of the social reaction pathway of the prototype willingness model

This study examined the social reaction pathway of the Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) to assess how attitudes, subjective norms, prototype perception (favourability and similarity), and risk perception influenced young passengers’ willingness to speak up to a driver exceeding the posted speed limit by either 5 km/h or 10 km/h. It was hypothesised that participants would be more willing to speak up to drivers’ travelling 10 km/h over the posted speed limit than 5 km/h over the posted speed limit. Further, it was hypothesised that the PWM constructs would significantly predict passenger willingness to speak up to a driver travelling 5 km/h over the posted speed limit and 10 km/h over the posted speed limit. Young Australians aged 17 to 25 years (N = 136, Mage = 19.32, 77.9% female) were recruited to complete a 30-minute online questionnaire. As predicted, passengers were significantly more willing to speak up to drivers travelling at 10 km/h over the posted speed limit than drivers travelling 5 km/h over the posted speed limit. Further, the results from a linear regression revealed that some of the PWM constructs were effective in explaining the variance in willingness to speak-up to drivers travelling either 5 km/h or 10 km/h over the posted speed limit. These findings address a gap in road safety research by shifting focus from the behaviour of drivers to the behaviour of passengers. The focus on the pro-social behaviour of speaking up to drivers performing risk taking behaviours may help to inform future educational campaigns and interventions designed to reduce young peoples’ involvement in road crashes.

Study on the stress response of young passengers in different subway passenger densities

In this study, we set up a virtual subway car and analyzed the stress response of young passengers in different compartments. A total of 10 volunteers participated in the experimental study. We measured their diastolic blood pressures, systolic blood pressures, and heart rates, from a car density of one person per square meter to a density of 10 persons per square meter, using 37° sport wristbands. The results show that the participants’ mean, minimum, and maximum heart rates were within the normal range, but the ratio of their mean to their maximum heart rate was 73.69%, a level that would have an impact on human health. Their mean, minimum, and maximum diastolic blood pressures and systolic blood pressures were within the normal range. Passenger density had no significant effect on diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, or heart rate (p < 0.05). Diastolic and systolic blood pressures were significantly positively correlated, whereas diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, and systolic blood pressure and heart rate, were negatively correlated, although not significantly. For the sake of comfort, we recommend five persons per square meter as the critical value of congestion.

Basic inertial quantities including multi-segment trunk of fit, young males obtained based on personalized data

Up to now several researchers use values of basic inertial quantities of human body parts obtained for old cadavers. Taking into account the trunk researchers presented this body part often as one segment only and rarely as few-segment part. The purpose of this study was obtaining values of basic inertial quantities of body parts including five parts of the trunk for young, fit living males. Thirty young, fit males (age: 24 ± 4 years, height: 179 ± 6 cm, body mass: 74 ± 7 kg) were directly measured (circumferences and skin-fat folds) and photographed in order to use these data for Clauser et al. (parts of extremities) and Erdmann’s (parts of trunk) methods for estimation of mass and location of centres of mass of body parts. These methods take into account personal data for estimating inertial quantities. Relative mass (according to the mass of the whole body) of trunk parts (sum of thorax + abdomen + pelvis but without shoulder girdle) of subjects investigated in this work was similar to that obtained by Dempster for old cadavers. Relative mass differed for shoulders and for lower extremities. Old subjects for both lower extremities had around 31–32% of the whole body mass and young subjects had almost 37%. Procedure for obtaining location of the whole body centre of mass for graphical method (summation of mas) was presented. Obtained data are very important for analyses of arched trunk, e.g. in high jumping, pole vault jumping, rhythmic gymnastics of young, fit athletes and also for models of young passengers in car-crash tests, for ergonomics and medical analyses and other purposes.

Comparative Analysis of Child Restraint Systems Safety Parameters in Relation to the New Regulation No. 129 of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations (UN/ECE)

This study presents a comparison of the common Child Restraint Systems (CRS) which reduces the value of dynamic loads affecting the child’s body during car accidents. The analyzed systems were: child seats, booster seats, and straps—adjustable vehicle seat belts adapted to children’s stature. The effectiveness of the analyzed devices was assessed on the basis of experimental tests carried out in the accredited laboratory approving the Child Restraint Systems. The tests were carried out in accordance with the new Regulation No. 129 UN/ECE. The authors examined whether the tested devices meet the guidelines of the new Regulations No. 129 despite approval in accordance with Regulation No. 44. Based on the research results, better safety parameters of some new solutions dedicated to children’s safety could be observed. Almost all the selected CRS met requirements stated in Regulation No. 129. The only exception was for abdominal pressure in one of the tested devices. Head Resultant Acceleration in tested devices was 14.7–39.0% less than the limit determined in Regulation No. 129 whereas Chest Resultant Acceleration was 17.4–37.6% less. Abdominal pressure was 46.4–81.4% beneath the limit (apart from one case which did not meet the requirements). The HPC parameter (Head Performance Criterion) was 45.4–74.5% less. The final results show that there are still some possibilities for improving the safety of young vehicle passengers.

A new model of luggage storage time while boarding an airplane: An experimental test

The boarding process is on the critical path of the turn-around. Reduction in boarding time can benefit airline carriers and airports and improve passenger satisfaction. However, aisle interference caused by passengers placing their luggage during boarding is a key factor leading to cabin congestion and low boarding efficiency. Therefore, the storage time for the carry-on luggage and its influencing factors is analyzed in this study. An experiment was conducted in a B737-800 model (1/3 size) to explore the factors effecting the time of luggage storage, and a new effective model of luggage storage time is proposed through a significance test and data fitting. The results show that the age of passengers, the type and quantity of luggage, and the existing luggage in the luggage bin have a significant impact on the luggage storage time; the rule of the variation in luggage placing time is similar between young adult passengers and middle aged passengers; the impact of the existing luggage in the overhead bin on the luggage storage time shows a stable trend in the initial period, but with the quantity of the luggage increasing to a certain point, the luggage storage time begins to increase sharply, which is known as a “jump”; and the luggage type has a great influence on the threshold value of jump. The results of the study can provide a reference for airlines to manage cabin luggage to improve boarding efficiency and improve passenger experience.

The age and gender distribution of patients admitted following nonfatal road traffic accidents in Riyadh: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction:Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are the leading cause of mortality and disability nationally and globally. There is a need to identify the age and gender distribution of individuals involved in nonfatal RTAs.Methods:This was a cross-section study using electronic trauma registry data from King Abdulaziz Medical City. We included all trauma registry patients older than 14 years, who were involved in a nonfatal RTA from 2015 to 2017. The data collected included patient demographic information (age and gender), injury mechanism, injury type, and severity.Results:In total, 1314 patients were included in the analysis. The majority of the sample (88%) was male, with a median age of 25 (interquartile range: 21–35) years. A higher proportion of the male group had severe injury scores. Gender was equally distributed in terms of head-and-neck injuries. The majority (66%) of the sample was admitted in a ward. The female group had a higher proportion (17%) of chest injuries. In terms of age, the 65-year and older group had more severe injuries to the head, neck, and chest.Conclusions:The findings of this study provide updated evidence regarding the age group most frequently involved in nonfatal RTAs. The evidence from this study supports the urgent need for developing prevention programs such as early awareness and education for young drivers and passengers of both genders.

The impact of security scanners at airports and ethnic minority travellers’ experience

Today, airports have a rigorous security focus on operational consistency from legislative and policy mandates being a priority rather than allowing airport operators satisfactory autonomy to adapt policy to their requirements (Poole in World Custom J, 3(2), 2009). Poole and Passantino (2003) stated that there is a tendency to try to treat all passengers the same, which can mean resources are not allocated to areas of greater risk. Resources are diverted to better technology and reducing staffing to process large numbers of passengers. Despite technological changes there are concerns security at airports can often focus on ethnic minority passengers. This study critically discusses the effects of security changes since 9/11 at UK airports on young passengers particularly the use of full-body scanning on ethnic minorities. In the study (n-709) respondents aged 18–30 years old were surveyed to consider their attitudes towards security at airports and in particularly their opinion of profiling passengers and the use of full-body scanning. This study demonstrated a high degree of support for security but a significant difference between how white and non-white respondents perceive airport security towards ethnicity.

Policing U.K. Airports and Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000: The Young Passengers’ Perception of Security Measures

ABSTRACT Policing airports following 9/11 has been challenging with an emphasis on visibility and high levels of security checks for passengers. The focus has been on a form of ‘reassurance policing’ and an emphasis on procedural justice which is accepted as legitimate on the part of the public. However, there have been claims that that Muslim passengers are under greater suspicion than other passengers and have been subject to the practice of “racial profiling”. The powers under the Terrorism Act 2000, notably Schedule 7, have been under scrutiny as to the extent that they allow the police to stop and search suspects. This study reviews the opinions and experiences of young passengers at U.K. airports to see if they are reassured by policing and their opinions on profiling fellow passengers.

Factors Associated With Unrestrained Young Passengers in Motor Vehicle Crashes.

We analyzed 2011-2015 Fatality Analysis Reporting System and National Automotive Sampling System data and included vehicles with a young passenger (≤19 years old) in a crash. Driver and passenger characteristics were compared by using bivariate analyses separately for fatal and nonfatal crashes. Logistic regression analyses were performed on a combined data set to predict passenger restraint use. In unadjusted bivariate models, unrestrained drivers had a higher probability of having an unrestrained passenger across all passenger age groups for both fatal and nonfatal crashes. In multivariate logistic regression models that included both fatal and nonfatal crashes and were adjusted for several driver and passenger characteristics, unrestrained drivers had a higher risk of having an unrestrained young passenger across all age groups. In both fatal and nonfatal crashes, a driver being unrestrained is a strong predictor of the child passenger also being unrestrained. Policy and regulation to better ensure that drivers are properly restrained (eg, expanding primary seat-belt laws to all states) may serve as effective means for increasing rates of proper child-occupant-restraint use.

The effect of compression stocking on leg edema and discomfort during a 3-hour flight: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundCompression stockings reduce the risk of thromboembolic complications, leg edema, and edema-related pain and discomfort during long-haul flights. The aim of this study was to assess if compression stockings reduce leg edema, pain, and discomfort during a three-hour flight. MethodsThis randomized controlled trial had a paired design as participants were randomized to wear a compression stocking on one leg during a three-hour flight with the other leg acting as control. Eligibility criteria were adults aged 18–60 years living in Denmark without medical indication for wearing compression stockings during flights. The primary outcome was the change in difference of ankle circumference between legs with and without compression stocking pre- and post-flight. Secondary outcomes were changes in difference of calf circumference, pain, and discomfort pre- and post-flight. All outcomes were self-reported with measurements and questionnaires. ResultsA total of 34 participants, median age 31 years (range 25–54), were randomized with complete follow-up. Difference in ankle circumference was median 5 mm larger post-flight compared with pre-flight (interquartile range (IQR) = 0–9, p = .001) and the corresponding change in calf circumference difference was median 5 mm (IQR = 1–12, p < .001). Ankle- and calf circumferences decreased in the leg wearing compression stocking and increased in the other leg. There was no change in difference of pain and discomfort and no adverse events. ConclusionCompression stockings reduced edema formation in young healthy passengers during a three-hour flight. Passengers experiencing edema-related discomfort during short-haul flights may benefit from wearing compression stockings during air travel.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03546725.