逆行非机动车骑行者的安全生理学特性

为减少非机动车逆向骑行对道路交通流的影响,提升道路安全水平,研究逆行非机动车骑行者的安全生理学特性。通过高精度摄像机获取西安市3个道路断面的非机动车逆行比例,利用运动手环及手机监测骑行者逆行时的速度和心率,应用时域分析法对比分析骑行者逆行与正常骑行时的心率变异性(HRV),并提出改善管控措施和优化交通设施设计等引导骑行者健康安全骑行的建议。结果表明:电动自行车逆行数量大,而自行车逆行率高;逆行时骑行者的行驶速度和HRV降低、心率升高,造成交感神经张力增加,不利于骑行者健康及交通安全。     

信号交叉口进口道路段车辆换道行为分析

为提高信号交叉口的交通安全管理水平,研究驾驶员换道行为影响因素,确定各因素影响下的换道风险率,选取可能影响变道行为的潜在变量,构建交叉口换道行为的Cox风险分析模型,并以武汉市3个交叉口调查数据为例进行实例分析。结果表明:10个因素对进口道车辆换道有显著影响,其中,车辆与目标车道前方车辆的车头间距、与目标车道后方车辆的车头间距、所在车道与目标车道车辆密度差和可供变道选择的目标车道数是危险因素;车辆与所在车道前方车辆的车头间距、车辆距停车线距离、行驶速度和所在车道相位的绿信比是保护因素。车辆处于信号灯倒计时的变道风险率高于其他时段;出租车的变道风险率高于其他车辆。     

如何看交管中的“怪招”?

<正>近日,为整治非机动车辆以及行人闯红灯行为,山西省临汾市一交警对骑自行车、电动车、摩托车等闯红灯者,给予抄写100遍交规中"红灯停、绿灯行"的处罚。此事引发舆论关注。闯红灯问题,一直是一线交通管理的"顽疾",不少人法律意识淡薄,由行人、自行车违法导致的交通事故频发。对此,基层交警和交管人员频出"怪招"。而这次"罚抄写"的执法行为,实际效果如何?公众怎么看?是否合理、合法?闯红灯罚抄写,因何出此"怪招"?     

绿灯倒计时信号对驾驶行为的影响

为揭示绿灯倒计时信号对交叉口交通安全的影响,针对不同交通负荷与信号控制方式下的驾驶行为开展研究。选择大连市内的倒计时信号交叉口与非倒计时信号交叉口各2处,开展车辆行驶速度及不良驾驶行为调查。用数理统计方法,对比分析2类交叉口在平峰与高峰时段的车辆行驶速度特性,同时对比分析上述不同条件下闯黄灯及违规变道行为的发生数量。研究表明,绿灯倒计时信号在绿灯时间末期,会诱发一部分驾驶员加速行驶通过交叉口;绿灯倒计时信号在平峰时段对闯黄灯行为数量的影响较小,而对违规变道行为的数量有显著影响。     

基于计划行为理论的自行车不安全行为模型研究

依托国家道路交通安全科技行动计划课题五"全民交通行为安全性提升综合技术及示范"专题,基于计划行为理论,从社会心理学的角度首次对自行车骑行者的不安全行为进行分析。在增加变量的基础上,通过调查问卷的方式,研究自行车骑行者对不安全行为的态度、主观规范、知觉行为控制、行为经验等心理因素,从而构建自行车不安全行为模型。从调查数据的结构方程模型分析和个人属性分析可知,在调查人群中存在对不安全行为没有正确认识、自觉守法能力较弱和普遍有不安全行为经验等问题,同时也确定了参与不安全行为的重点人群。最后,在揭示心理因素作用于行为的基础上提出家庭式安全教育、加强交警管理、提倡榜样学习、加强交通安全宣传等行为矫正手段。     

交通信号倒计时对车速与交通安全的影响

研究交通信号倒计时对自由流车速及交通安全的影响。选择城市道路交叉口,使用雷达测速设备采集进口道自由流车速等数据。运用描述统计、方差分析、列联表等统计方法,进行数据分析。数据显示,仅考虑单因素影响时,交通违法检测设备存在与否对车速均值有显著影响,而绿灯信号倒计时则无显著影响;考虑多因素相互影响时,在有绿灯信号倒计时但无交通违法检测设备的情况下,车辆速度均值会更高,且绿灯倒计时会对超速率产生影响。红灯倒计时对车速离散程度有明显的影响。结果表明,使用绿灯信号倒计时应同时安装交通违法检测设备,红灯倒计时路口应确保充分的绿灯间隔时间。     

车路协同下信号控制交叉口两难区问题改善方法

为降低两难区对信号控制交叉口交通安全的影响,针对车路协同环境下交通信息获取方式及交叉口区域车辆运行特点,提出信号控制交叉口两难区问题改善方法。在分析各种两难区问题改善措施的适用性基础上,确定车路协同环境下信号控制交叉口两难区问题改善方法的工作流程,综合运用车速引导、动态绿灯时间延长和黄灯时间调整等3种措施降低车辆进入两难区的概率,并提出主要参数计算方法。运用Vissim软件进行仿真试验,结果表明,笔者建立的两难区问题改善方法能使车辆闯红灯次数平均降低78.1%,且改善效果在低峰流量时优于高峰流量时。     

城乡结合部无信号交叉口行人过街时间研究

为提高城乡结合部无信号交叉口行人过街的安全性,在实测数据的基础上,利用生存理论模型建立这种特殊点段行人过街时间的生存公式,通过寿命表法分析行人过街时间的特征,并利用Cox比例风险模型对影响行人过街时间的因素进行回归分析。研究结果表明,一般情况下,城乡结合部无信号交叉口行人过街时间服从正态分布,最大过街时间大致为50 s,小于城区内无信号和有信号交叉口行人过街时间;过街人流量、冲突车辆数和道路宽度是直接影响行人过街时间的重要因素。     

倒计时表对黄灯启亮后的驾驶行为影响

为检验倒计时表对交叉口安全性的影响,选择黄灯启亮后的驾驶员决策类型和车辆通过停车线时间两个指标,研究倒计时表对驾驶行为的影响.选择道路和交通条件相近的6个交叉口(有无倒计时各3个)对直行车流进行数据采集,经处理获取相关驾驶行为数据.应用二元Logistics回归方法建立了黄灯启亮后的驾驶员决策类型选择模型.结果表明:黄灯启亮后,在相同位置、速度条件下,倒计时交叉口的驾驶员选择停车的优势比(Odd ratio)仅为无倒计时交叉口的0.282.采用非参数检验的Mann-Whitney方法,对黄灯启亮后车辆通过停车线的时间分布(TVC)进行检验.结果表明:安装倒计时表后,车辆通过停车线时间的平均值由1.52 s增大到2.92s;在5%显著性水平下,倒计时交叉口的TVC中位数与无倒计时的差异较大,车辆通过停车线时间跨度延长,对交叉口安全性造成不利影响.     

现代环形交叉口安全性分析和安全设计

传统环形交叉口存在很多缺点,而国外目前采用一种现代环形交叉口替代传统环形交叉口,其安全性大大提高。根据冲突点数目采用理论安全影响分析法,再根据实际交通事故数据采用前后对比法,分析现代环形交叉口对车辆和弱势群体的安全影响。结果显示现代环形交叉口提高了汽车运行的安全性,但是在改善行人和自行车交通安全性方面却不如信号交叉口。最后,提出现代环形交叉口的适用条件、设计要点,以及自行车道安全设计方法。     

Red light violations at rural and suburban signalized intersections in Jordan

This case study investigated red light violations at rural and suburban signalized intersections in Jordan. Field observations were conducted at 15 signalized intersections located in different Jordanian regions: Amman, Irbid, and Zarqa. The results showed that, out of a total of 1,190 drivers who had a chance for violation, 153 (12.9%) drivers ran red lights. It was found that older drivers have less tendency for running red lights. Based on vehicle type, the analysis showed that truck drivers had the highest violation rate followed by small vehicles and then buses. The Y-shaped intersection had a higher percentage of violations as compared to the T- and cruciform-shaped intersections. The percentage of red light violations was found to be directly proportional to the subjects approach speed and inversely proportional to the conflicting traffic volumes.     

The effects of left-turn traffic-calming treatments on conflicts and speeds in Washington,DC

Introduction: Left-turning vehicles pose considerable safety risks to pedestrians at intersections. Left-turn traffic-calming treatments are designed to slow left-turn traffic. This study examined the effects of one type of left-turn calming, the hardened-centerline treatment, on the numbers of conflicts between left-turning vehicles and pedestrians and left-turn speeds in Washington, DC. Method: Numbers of conflicts between left-turning vehicles and pedestrians, as well as left-turn speeds, were collected at selected intersections in Washington, DC, where the hardened centerline was installed, as well as at control intersections in the city where no treatment was installed, before and after installation. Poisson regression evaluated the change in numbers of conflicts associated with the hardened-centerline treatment. The effect of the treatment on left-turn speeds was estimated by a log-linear regression model, and the effect on the odds of left-turning vehicles exceeding 15 mph was estimated by a logistic regression model. Results: The treatment was associated with a 70.5% reduction in conflicts between left-turning vehicles and pedestrians, a 9.8% reduction in mean left-turn speeds, and a 67.1% reduction in the odds of left-turning vehicles exceeding 15 mph. All the reductions were statistically significant. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that the hardened-centerline treatment can reduce conflicts between left-turning vehicles and pedestrians, and slow down left-turn traffic at intersections. Practical applications: The treatment should be added to the toolbox for communities looking to improve pedestrian safety at intersections.     

Analysis of driver injury severity levels at multiple locations using ordered probit models

Problem: The occurrence and outcome of traffic crashes have long been recognized as complex events involving interactions between many factors, including the roadway, driver, traffic characteristics, and the environment. This study is concerned with the outcome of the crash. Method: Driver injury severity levels are analyzed using the ordered probit modeling methodology. Models were developed for roadway sections, signalized intersections, and toll plazas in Central Florida. All models showed the significance of driver's age, gender, seat belt use, point of impact, speed, and vehicle type on the injury severity level. Other variables were found significant only in specific cases. Results: A driver's violation was significant in the case of signalized intersections. Alcohol, lighting conditions, and the existence of a horizontal curve affected the likelihood of injuries in the roadway sections' model. A variable specific to toll plazas, vehicles equipped with Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), had a positive effect on the probability of higher injury severity at toll plazas. Other variables that entered into some of the models were weather condition, area type, and some interaction factors. This study illustrates the similarities and the differences in the factors that affect injury severity between different locations.     

Effect of novel divergence markings on conflict prevention regarding motorcycle-involved right turn accidents of mixed traffic flow

Introduction: In Taiwan, segregated traffic flow countermeasures have long been in place. Although these facilities have decreased the numbers of motorcycle left-turn collisions, right-angle collisions, and sideswipe collisions, they have also induced serious right-turn accidents. The purpose of this research was to evaluate an intervention intended to decrease conflicts and motorcycle-involved crashes. In this study, the reasons why the motorcycle accident rate is higher at intersections with slow lanes than at those without slow lanes are presented, and the theory of the self-explaining road was applied to create divergence markings for a mixed traffic flow environment. An intervention that guides motorcycles and cars into appropriate locations at intersections was applied to three intersection approaches. Method: The intervention effectiveness was evaluated by comparing the number of accidents at the intersections before and after the implementation of improvement measures. Moreover, video recordings were used to analyze the traffic distributions at the cross-sections of intersections. T-test was adopted to examine whether the traffic flows at the cross-sections of the intersections before and after the intervention were statistically different. In addition, this research applied the post-encroachment time (PET), the time between the first road user leaving the encroachment zone and the second road user arriving in it, to evaluate traffic conflicts. Finally, the PET and severity index between a straight-through motorcycle and a right-turn vehicle were analyzed. Results: PET increased by 3.2%–20.4%, and the rates of right-turn collisions, sideswipe collisions, and rear-end collisions decreased by 64.3%, 77.3%, and 61.5% respectively. Conclusions: Eliminating the slow traffic lane and setting divergence markings may not effectively cause vehicles in different driving directions to drive in the proper locations in the lanes. However, divergence markings both reduce the rate of right-turn collisions and decrease the incidence of sideswipe and rear-end collisions. Practical applications: The proposed design method may be a good design reference for countries having a high motorcycle density.     

Risky behavior of drivers of motorized two wheeled vehicles in India

INTRODUCTION: Motorized two-wheeled vehicles (MTV) account for a large proportion of road traffic in India and the riders of these vehicles have a high risk of road traffic injuries. We report on the availability of drivers licenses, use of a helmet, driver behavior, and condition of vehicles for MTV drivers in Hyderabad, a city in India METHODS: Drivers of a MTV aged >16 years were interviewed at petrol filling stations RESULTS: There were 4,183 MTV drivers who participated in the study. Four hundred sixty one (11%; 95% CI 9.7-12.3%) drivers had not obtained a drivers license and 798 (21.4%) had obtained a license without taking the mandatory driving test. Two thousand nine hundred twenty (69.8%; 95% CI 67.9-71.7%) drivers reported no/very occasional use of a helmet, the significant predictors of which included that those driving borrowed a MTV (odds ratio 7.90; 95% CI 3.40-18.40) or driving moped/scooterette/scooter as compared with motorcycle (3.32; 2.76-3.98), lower education (3.10; 2.66-3.61), age >45 years (2.41; 1.63-3.57), and males (1.57; 1.16-2.13). Two thousand five hundred and eight (59.9%) drivers reported committing a traffic law violation at least once within the last 3 months. Overall, 1,222 (29.2%) drivers reported ever being caught by traffic police for a traffic law violation with data on violations available for 1,205 of these drivers, of whom 680 (56.4%) paid a fine, 310 (25.7%) paid by bribe, and 215 (17.8%) made no payment. The proportion of those who did not make payment for committed violation was significantly higher among females (46.8%) than males (16.3%). Two thousand fifty two (49%) of all MTVs had no rearview mirror CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest the need to enact and enforce policy interventions for improving the drivers license system, mandatory use of a helmet, effective traffic law enforcement, and ensuring good vehicle condition to reduce the risk factors that potentially contribute to mortality and morbidity in road traffic crashes in MTV drivers in Indian cities.     

二次过街路口行人违反交通法规规律的研究

为了解在不同类型二次过街路口行人违反交通法规闯红灯的违法率,找出二次过街路口不同参数对行人违法率的影响,从而找出降低路口行人违法率的对策,保障路口行人交通安全和人车流畅通,本文选取上海市5种类型的二次过街路口调查行人在路口的违法率.通过分析调查数据,行人在路口一次穿越车道数为2～7,两次穿越车道总数为6～12,违法率随车道数的增加而降低.在红灯等待时间90 s之内,行人违法率随等待时间的升高呈一定的下降趋势.红灯等待时间在90～150 s之间,行人违法率没有确定的规律.安全岛、引导护栏、中继信号灯等设施具有明显降低行人违法率的作用.根据二次过街路口设置安全岛、引导护栏、中继信号灯、车道数以及是否从路边穿越5个影响因素的安全评价系数之和建立综合安全评价系数,得到行人在二次过街路口违法率随综合安全评价系数的增大而降低.研究表明,完善和优化二次过街路口的设施参数可以降低路口行人违法率.     

Examining driver behavior using data gathered from red light photo enforcement cameras

INTRODUCTION: To develop an effective driver assistance system that can prevent red light violations, it is important to have a thorough understanding of contributing factors and circumstances surrounding such violations. METHODS: Red light violation behavior was examined using about 47,000 violation records that were captured by photo enforcement cameras from 11 signalized intersections in the city of Sacramento, California, over a four-year period. This examination identified factors with strong correlation to red light running behavior. RESULTS: Key findings based on Sacramento's red light violation records include: (a) younger drivers showed a higher tendency of running the red light and were more likely to commit such a violation at speeds above the posted speed limit; (b) off-peak time period between 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. had lower violation counts, but red light violators in this time frame had a higher propensity of racing through intersections at high speeds; (c) also during the time period between 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., violators showed a higher probability of entering intersections two or more seconds after the onset of red light; and (d) violators were less likely to cross high traffic-volume intersections with speeds greater than the posted speed limit. DISCUSSION: Sacramento's data suggest that some red light violators might have committed such an offense unintentionally. The top three violation speeds were all below 20 mph and more than 94% of red light runners crossed intersections within 2 seconds after the onset of the red light. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: In the next several years, studies will be executed to assess whether a red light violation warning system can reduce "unintentional red light running" such as drivers who made incorrect judgment regarding the adequate time to clear the intersection and inattentive motorists who fail to observe the presence and status of the red light.     

Analysis of motor-vehicle crashes at stop signs in four US cities

Problem: Nearly 700,000 police-reported motor vehicle crashes occur annually at stop signs, and approximately one-third of these crashes involve injuries. The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of the crashes that occur at stop signs and to identify potential countermeasures. Method: Police reports of crashes at stop sign-controlled intersections during 1996–2000 in four U.S. cities were examined in detail. At total of 1,788 crash reports for intersections with two-way stop signs were included in the study. Results: Stop sign violations accounted for about 70% of all crashes. Typically these crashes were angular collisions. Among crashes not involving stop violations, rear-end crashes were most common, accounting for about 12% of all crashes. Stop sign violation crashes were classified into several subtypes — driver stopped, driver did not stop, snow/wet/ice, and other/unknown. In about two-thirds of stop sign violation crashes, drivers said they had first come to a stop. In these cases, inability or failure to see approaching traffic often was cited as the cause of the crash. Drivers younger than 18 as well as drivers 65 and older were disproportionately found to be at fault in crashes at stop signs. Impact on industry: Potential countermeasures include changing traffic control and intersection design, improving intersection sight distance, and increasing conspicuity of stop signs through supplemental pavement markings and other devices.     

Analyses of rear-end crashes based on classification tree models

OBJECTIVE: Signalized intersections are accident-prone areas especially for rear-end crashes due to the fact that the diversity of the braking behaviors of drivers increases during the signal change. The objective of this article is to improve knowledge of the relationship between rear-end crashes occurring at signalized intersections and a series of potential traffic risk factors classified by driver characteristics, environments, and vehicle types. METHODS: Based on the 2001 Florida crash database, the classification tree method and Quasi-induced exposure concept were used to perform the statistical analysis. Two binary classification tree models were developed in this study. One was used for the crash comparison between rear-end and non-rear-end to identify those specific trends of the rear-end crashes. The other was constructed for the comparison between striking vehicles/drivers (at-fault) and struck vehicles/drivers (not-at-fault) to find more complex crash pattern associated with the traffic attributes of driver, vehicle, and environment. RESULTS: The modeling results showed that the rear-end crashes are over-presented in the higher speed limits (45-55 mph); the rear-end crash propensity for daytime is apparently larger than nighttime; and the reduction of braking capacity due to wet and slippery road surface conditions would definitely contribute to rear-end crashes, especially at intersections with higher speed limits. The tree model segmented drivers into four homogeneous age groups: < 21 years, 21-31 years, 32-75 years, and > 75 years. The youngest driver group shows the largest crash propensity; in the 21-31 age group, the male drivers are over-involved in rear-end crashes under adverse weather conditions and the 32-75 years drivers driving large size vehicles have a larger crash propensity compared to those driving passenger vehicles. CONCLUSIONS: Combined with the quasi-induced exposure concept, the classification tree method is a proper statistical tool for traffic-safety analysis to investigate crash propensity. Compared to the logistic regression models, tree models have advantages for handling continuous independent variables and easily explaining the complex interaction effect with more than two independent variables. This research recommended that at signalized intersections with higher speed limits, reducing the speed limit to 40 mph efficiently contribute to a lower accident rate. Drivers involved in alcohol use may increase not only rear-end crash risk but also the driver injury severity. Education and enforcement countermeasures should focus on the driver group younger than 21 years. Further studies are suggested to compare crash risk distributions of the driver age for other main crash types to seek corresponding traffic countermeasures.     

An investigation on multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes using log-linear models

Motorcyclists are the most crash-prone road-user group in many Asian countries including Singapore; however, factors influencing motorcycle crashes are still not well understood. This study examines the effects of various roadway characteristics, traffic control measures and environmental factors on motorcycle crashes at different location types including expressways and intersections. Using techniques of categorical data analysis, this study has developed a set of log-linear models to investigate multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes in Singapore. Motorcycle crash risks in different circumstances have been calculated after controlling for the exposure estimated by the induced exposure technique. Results show that night-time influence increases crash risks of motorcycles particularly during merging and diverging manoeuvres on expressways, and turning manoeuvres at intersections. Riders appear to exercise more care while riding on wet road surfaces particularly during night. Many hazardous interactions at intersections tend to be related to the failure of drivers to notice a motorcycle as well as to judge correctly the speed/distance of an oncoming motorcycle. Road side conflicts due to stopping/waiting vehicles and interactions with opposing traffic on undivided roads have been found to be as detrimental factors on motorcycle safety along arterial, main and local roads away from intersections. Based on the findings of this study, several targeted countermeasures in the form of legislations, rider training, and safety awareness programmes have been recommended.