Risk factors for the severity of injury incurred in crashes involving on-duty police cars

Objective: This article explores the risk factors associated with police cars on routine patrol and/or on an emergency run and their effects on the severity of injuries in crashes.

Methods: The binary probit model is used to examine the effects of important factors on the risk of injuries sustained in crashes involving on-duty police cars.

Results: Several factors significantly increase the probability of crashes that cause severe injuries. Among those causes are police officers who drive at excessive speeds, traffic violations during emergency responses or pursuits, and driving during the evening (6 to 12 p.m.) or in rainy weather. Findings also indicate some potential issues associated with an increase in the probability of crashes that cause injuries. Younger police drivers were found to be more likely to be involved in crashes causing injuries than middle-aged drivers were. Distracted driving by on-duty police officers as well as civilian drivers who did not pull over to let a police car pass in emergency situations also caused serious crashes.

Conclusions: Police cars are exempted from certain traffic laws under emergency circumstances. However, to reduce the probability of being involved in a crash resulting in severe injuries, officers are still obligated to drive safely and follow safety procedures when responding to emergencies or pursuing a car. Enhancement of training techniques for emergency situations or driving in pursuit of an offender and following the safety procedures are essential for safety in driving during an emergency run by police.     

辽河流域生态景观结构变化及驱动力研究

对辽河流域景观结构进行分析的结果表明,2000年-2010年间,辽河流域自然景观类型面积变化不明显,结构稳定;而人工景观变化明显,居民区、交通用地等人工表面持续增加,农田面积持续减少,景观破碎化趋势明显.生态环境保护政策的实施使林地、草地、湿地等自然景观得到保护,为流域生态系统的演替提供了正向干扰;工业化进程和人口增长作为流域景观变化的主要驱动力,是人工表面增加和农田面积减少及破碎化的直接原因.     

哈尔滨市大气主要污染物浓度变化与城市发展因素影响分析研究

采用Daniel趋势检验法对哈尔滨市近年来SO2、NO2和PM10年均浓度变化趋势分析,并对城市总人口与经济、产业结构、民用汽车保有量和能源状况五个城市发展因素进行数据统计分析,用SPSS探究城市发展过程中影响大气污染的因素及相关性.结果表明:浓度变化趋势是SO2明显上升;NO2缓慢上升;PM10整体明显下降,但在2013年点突增至了0.119 mg/m3.SO2与NO2显著相关,相关系数为0.533.经统计,哈尔滨人口经济发展、产业结构调整较为缓慢,全市民用汽车保有量增加并未对NO2浓度影响显著,能源结构依然以煤为主,虽然能源强度提升,但也存在着煤质、散煤的问题.哈尔滨市各城市发展因素与污染物浓度关联度不显著.     

油田汽车安全驾驶技术

介绍了油田汽车下长坡、在发动机排气制动、在泥泞和湿滑的路面上行驶、在冰雪道路上行驶、在上坡道上起步、平时停车时等6个方面应该注意的安全技术问题,以及平时行车应该注意的安全、健康和环境问题。     

武汉城市圈土地利用变化系统仿真模拟与驱动力分析

土地利用变化是全球环境变化与可持续研究的重要内容,驱动力研究是土地利用变化研究中的核心问题。现有土地利用变化驱动力研究多针对单一的城市区域展开,无法解释城市群地区,城市一体化战略指导下城市交互作用对土地利用变化的影响。运用系统动力学(SD)方法,综合考虑经济、人口、城市化、政策等主要人文因素,并将城市交互作用因素引入SD,以武汉城市圈为例,构建土地利用变化系统SD模型,运用1997~2006年的历史数据进行检验,并对武汉城市圈2010~2020年不同情景下的土地利用变化进行模拟。结果表明,建立的SD模型是有效的,两种情景下土地利用变化表现出差异性,说明城市交互作用是除经济、人口城市化等社会经济因素外,土地利用变化的又一重要影响因素。     

基于实车驾驶试验的螺旋匝道小客车纵向驾驶行为研究

为明确螺旋匝道(螺旋桥)驾驶操纵行为及车辆状态特征,选取2条桥头立交螺旋匝道和2座螺旋桥,开展小客车实车路试,通过连续采集行驶速度、加速度、踏板力等驾驶数据,分析螺旋匝道(桥)及前后衔接段的纵向驾驶行为特性.结果表明:行驶速度在螺旋匝道范围内基本恒定,并明显高于设计速度,螺旋匝道段的速度分布比主线段更集中,螺旋匝道对驾...     

Associations between driver training, determinants of risky driving behaviour and crash involvement

The core aim of the study is to examine associations between formal and informal practical driver training as well as driving experience on the one hand and young drivers’ safety attitudes, self-assessment of driving ability and self-reported driver behaviour on the other hand. An additional aim is to examine the associations between attitudes, self-assessment and behaviour on the one hand and crash involvement on the other hand. The results are based on a self-completion questionnaire survey conducted among a representative sample of Norwegian drivers aged 18–20 years (n = 1419). The results showed that there were small yet significant associations between driver training, on the one hand and traffic safety attitudes and risky driving behaviour on the other hand. The amount of formal driver training was negatively associated with the respondents’ evaluation of their driving skills; although the amount of lay instruction was positively associated with such self-evaluation. The results also showed that attitudes as well as self-assessment of driving ability were significantly associated with self-reported risk behaviour. This was especially true for attitudes related to rule violations. There was a strong association between crash involvement and exposure (measured as months holding a licence). Young novice drivers’ crash involvement seems stronger associated with driving skills (manifested as self-assessment of driving ability) than safety attitudes and self-reported driver behaviour. The consequences of the results for driver training and accident prevention are discussed.     

Age group differences in collision risk

Introduction

The purpose of the current study was to examine differences in factors associated with self-reported collision involvement of three age groups of drivers based on a large representative sample of Ontario adults. Method: This study was based on data from the CAMH Monitor, an ongoing cross-sectional telephone survey of Ontario adults 18 years and older from 2002 to 2005. Three age groups were examined: 18-34 (n = 1,294), 35-54 (n = 2,428), and 55+ (n = 1,576). For each age group sample, a logistic regression analysis was conducted of self-reported collision involvement in the last 12 months by risk factor measures of driving exposure (kilometers driven in a typical week, driving is stressful, and driving on busy roads), consuming five or more drinks of alcohol on one occasion (past 12 months), cannabis use (lifetime, and past 12 months), and driving after drinking among drinkers (past 12 months), controlling for demographics (gender, region, income, and marital status). Results: The study identified differences in factors associated with self-reported collision involvement of the three age groups of adult drivers. The logistic regression model for the youngest group revealed that drivers who reported that driving was stressful at least some of the time, drank five or more drinks on an occasion, and drove after drinking had an increased risk of collision involvement. For the middle age group, those who reported using cannabis in the last 12 months had significantly increased odds of reporting collision involvement. None of the risk factor measures showed significant associations with collision risk for older drivers (aged 55+). Impact: The results suggest potential areas for intervention and new directions for future research.     

The effects of minimum legal drinking age 21 laws on alcohol-related driving in the United States

Objective

To examine trends in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related crashes among people younger than 21 in the United States and to review evidence on the effects of minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws.

Methods

Trends in alcohol-related crashes and alcohol consumption among young people were examined, and studies on the effects of lowering and raising the drinking age were reviewed.

Results

MLDA laws underwent many changes during the 20th century in the United States. Since July 1988, the MLDA has been 21 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Surveys tracking alcohol consumption among high school students and young adults found that drinking declined since the late 1970 s, and most of the decline occurred by the early 1990 s. These were the years when states were establishing, or reinstating, a MLDA-21. Among fatally injured drivers ages 16-20, the percentage with positive BACs declined from 61% in 1982 to 31% in 1995, a bigger decline than for older age groups; declines occurred among the ages directly affected by raising MLDAs (ages 18-20) and among young teenagers not directly affected (ages 16-17). Almost all studies designed specifically to gauge the effects of drinking age changes show MLDAs of 21 reduce drinking, problematic drinking, drinking and driving, and alcohol-related crashes among young people. Yet many underage people still drink, many drink and drive, and alcohol remains an important risk factor in serious crashes of young drivers, especially as they progress through the teenage years. Stepped-up enforcement of MLDA and drinking and driving laws can reduce underage drinking. Recent efforts to lower MLDAs to 18 and issue licenses to drink upon completion of alcohol education have gained local and national media attention. There is no evidence that alcohol education can even partially replace the effect of MLDA-21.

Conclusions

The cause and effect relationship between MLDAs of 21 and reductions in highway crashes is clear. Initiatives to lower the drinking age to 18 ignore the demonstrated public health benefits of MLDAs of 21.

Impact on Industry

Lowering the drinking age to 18 will increase highway crash deaths among young people.     

强风中高速列车安全性研究

选用某国产动车1∶1模型,对高速列车在不同的侧风速度和风向角作用下运行进行模拟计算,得到列车所受气动力变化情况,研究气动力随风向角的变化机理。模拟结果表明,该车型在不同强度和不同风向角侧风作用下,侧向力、升力和倾覆力矩均随着侧风作用的增强而显著增大,在强侧风作用下,头车所受侧向力及倾覆力矩最大,较易发生倾覆事故;而尾车所受侧向力及倾覆力矩最小,相对安全。随风速和风向角的增大,受电弓和转向架对倾覆力矩的贡献均增大,在模拟时不可忽略;在风向角大于5°小于90°的范围内,列车各个部位的气动力与风向角呈3次方关系递增。