The need to improve information on road user type in National Vital Statistics System mortality data

Objectives: Both the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) can be used to examine motor vehicle crash (MVC) deaths. These 2 data systems operate independently, using different methods to collect and code information about the type of vehicle (e.g., car, truck, bus) and road user (e.g., occupant, motorcyclist, pedestrian) involved in an MVC. A substantial proportion of MVC deaths in NVSS are coded as “unspecified” road user, which reduces the utility of the NVSS data for describing burden and identifying prevention measures. This study aimed to describe characteristics of unspecified road user deaths in NVSS to further our understanding of how these groups may be similar to occupant road user deaths.

Methods: Using data from 1999 to 2015, we compared NVSS and FARS MVC death counts by road user type, overall and by age group, gender, and year. In addition, we examined factors associated with the categorization of an MVC death as unspecified road user such as state of residence of decedent, type of medical death investigation system, and place of death.

Results: The number of MVC occupant deaths in NVSS was smaller than that in FARS in each year and the number of unspecified road user deaths in NVSS was greater than that in FARS. The sum of the number of occupant and unspecified road user deaths in NVSS, however, was approximately equal to the number of FARS occupant deaths. Age group and gender distributions were roughly equivalent for NVSS and FARS occupants and NVSS unspecified road users. Within NVSS, the number of MVC deaths listed as unspecified road user varied across states and over time. Other categories of road users (motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, and pedestrians) were consistent when comparing NVSS and FARS.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the unspecified road user MVC deaths in NVSS look similar to those of MVC occupants according to selected characteristics. Additional study is needed to identify documentation and reporting challenges in individual states and over time and to identify opportunities for improvement in the coding of road user type in NVSS.     

Factors associated with driving under the influence of alcohol

Objective: This study examined the risk factors of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) among drivers of specific vehicle categories (DSC). On the basis of this research, the variables related to DUI and involvement in traffic crashes were defined. The analysis was conducted for car drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists, bus drivers, and truck drivers.

Method: The research sample included drivers involved in traffic crashes on the territory of Serbia in 2016 (60,666). Two types of analyses were conducted in this study. Logistic regression established the correlation between DUI and DSC and the The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (Multi-criteria decision making) method was applied to consider the scoring and explore the potential for the prevalence of DUI on the basis of 2 data sets (DUI and non DUI).

Results: The study results showed that driver error and male drivers were the 2 most significant risk factors for DUI, with the highest scores and potential for prevalence. The nonuse of restraint systems, driver experience, and driver age are the factors with a significant prediction of involvement in an accident and an insignificant prediction of DUI.

Conclusions: Following the development of the logistic prediction models for DUI drivers, testing of the model was conducted for 3 control driver groups: Car, motorcycle, and bicycle. The prediction model with a probability greater than 50% showed that 77% of car drivers were under the influence of alcohol. Similarly, the prediction percentage for motorcyclists and bicyclists amounted to 71 and 67%, respectively. The recommendation of the study is that drivers whose DUI probability is above 50% should be potentially suspected of DUI. The results of this study can help to understand the problem of DUI among specific driver categories and detect DUI drivers, with the aim of creating successful traffic safety policy.     

Features of fatal injuries in older cyclists in vehicle–bicycle accidents in Japan

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify and better understand the features of fatal injuries in cyclists aged 75 years and over involved in collisions with either hood- or van-type vehicles.

Methods: This study investigated the fatal injuries of cyclists aged 75 years old and over by analyzing accident data. We focused on the body regions to which the fatal injury occurred using vehicle–bicycle accident data from the Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis (ITARDA) in Japan. Using data from 2009 to 2013, we examined the frequency of fatally injured body region by gender, age, and actual vehicle travel speed. We investigated any significant differences in distributions of fatal injuries by body region for cyclists aged 75 years and over using chi-square tests to compare with cyclists in other age groups. We also investigated the cause of fatal head injuries, such as impact with a road surface or vehicle.

Results: The results indicated that head injuries were the most common cause of fatalities among the study group. At low vehicle travel speeds for both hood- and van-type vehicles, fatalities were most likely to be the result of head impacts against the road surface.

The percentage of fatalities following hip injuries was significantly higher for cyclists aged 75 years and over than for those aged 65–74 or 13–59 in impacts with hood-type vehicles. It was also higher for women than men in the over-75 age group in impacts with these vehicles.

Conclusions: For cyclists aged 75 years and over, wearing a helmet may be helpful to prevent head injuries in vehicle-to-cyclist accidents. It may also be helpful to introduce some safety measures to prevent hip injuries, given the higher level of fatalities following hip injury among all cyclists aged 75 and over, particularly women.     

基于尾涡强度的无人机与民机纵向安全间隔评估研究

为了解决无人机频频入侵机场净空，与民航客机发生危险接近的问题，以碰撞风险为量化指标，对无人机与民机需要保持的纵向安全间隔进行评估研究。分析民机尾涡流场对无人机运行的影响，利用Crow近场涡强度消散理论，得到实际尾迹影响区改进Reich碰撞模板，据此建立CNS/GPS性能环境下的纵向间隔评估模型，通过Matlab进行间隔值求解。研究结果表明:模型可以较为准确地反映民机起飞初始爬升阶段无人机尾随运行时导航性能和尾涡迹对所需最小间隔值的影响，并得到给定安全目标水平的计算结果。     

机动车尾气污染及防治对策研究

汽车是当今社会中人们最重要的代步工具,在人们的日常生活中占据着不可替代的位置。随着我国经济快速发展,城市机动车数量不断增加,导致尾气污染问题也日益严重,这不仅对大气质量造成了不良影响,同时也严重危害到了人们的身体健康。因此,机动车尾气污染问题必须得到有关部门高度重视,并且结合造成污染加剧的主要原因,找到机动车尾气污染防治的有效对策。本文将针对机动车尾气污染危害及防治对策进行分析。     

The effect of extending graduated driver licensing to older novice drivers in Indiana

Introduction: Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems have been shown to reduce rates of crashes, injuries, and deaths of young novice drivers. However, approximately one in three new drivers in the United States obtain their first driver’s license at age 18 or older, and thus are exempt from most or all provisions of GDL in most states. Method: In July 2015, the state of Indiana updated its GDL program, extending its restrictions on driving at night and on carrying passengers during the first 6 months of independent driving, previously only applicable to new drivers younger than 18, to all newly-licensed drivers younger than 21 years of age. The current study examined monthly rates of crashes per licensed driver under the affected conditions (driving at night and driving with passengers) among Indiana drivers first licensed at ages 18, 19, and 20 under the updated GDL system compared with drivers licensed at the same ages under the previous GDL system. We used Poisson regression to estimate the association between the GDL system and crash rates, while attempting to control for other factors that might have also influenced crash rates. We used linear regression to estimate the association between the GDL system and the proportion of all crashes that occurred under conditions restricted by the GDL program. Results: Results showed, contrary to expectations, that rates of crashes during restricted nighttime hours and with passengers were higher among drivers licensed under the updated GDL system. This mirrored a statewide increase in crash rates among drivers of all ages over the study period and likely reflected increased overall driving exposure. The proportions of all crashes that were at night or with passengers did not change. Practical Applications: More research is needed to understand how older novice drivers respond when GDL systems originally designed for younger novice drivers are applied to them.     

报废汽车拆解工艺的比对与研究

报废汽车具有良好的资源属性,处理企业选取合理的处理工艺对其进行处置,不仅能够提高经济效益,也可以有效保护生态环境。通过对当前报废汽车处理工艺技术进行分析比对,针对不同拆解企业提出相应的工艺选取建议,为产业发展提供帮助。     

车辆高原环境模拟试验技术发展现状综述

由于高原环境对车辆性能影响的严酷性,现代车辆的高原环境适应性越来越受到重视,推动了车辆高原环境模拟试验技术的快速发展。阐述了车辆高原环境模拟试验技术的基本内涵,以及车辆高原环境适应性试验的类型、特点和试验项目等,分析了国内外高原环境模拟试验技术研究与发展概况。以某型车辆高原环境实验室为例,详细介绍了车辆高原环境实验室的结构、功能及原理。     

高温高湿环境对车辆装备的影响及防护对策

高温高湿环境条件对车辆装备性能有着至关重要的影响。为了提高新时期我军车辆装备保障能力,就必须做好车辆装备的的防护管理。首先介绍了高温高湿地区气候环境的特点,分析了其对车辆装备的主要影响,最后提出了车辆装备防护管理的对策。     

未铺装道路扬尘排放特征研究

在未铺装道路下风向不同高度测量PM10浓度和风速风向,同时测量上风向PM10浓度,采用暴露高度浓度剖面法计算未铺装道路的扬尘排放量,同时现场记录通过车辆的类型、车速、车轮个数等信息,计算未铺装道路扬尘PM10排放因子。分别分析车辆类型、车辆重量、车轮个数、路面粉土含量、车辆行驶速度对排放因子的影响。结果表明,大货车的排放因子最大,为362 g(/km.辆),其次为小客车、小货车和机动三轮车,分别为112、105和67 g(/km.辆);随着车辆重量的增加排放因子增大并呈线形相关性;随着车辆平均车轮个数的增加排放因子增大并呈线形相关性;分别研究了大货车、小客车和小货车排放因子与车速的关系,随着车速的增加,3种类型车辆的排放因子都增大,并有较好的线形相关性;路面尘土中粉土含量增大,道路扬尘排放因子也增大,路面尘土湿度增加排放因子减小。