Measuring direct and indirect treatment effects using safety performance intervention functions

Recent traffic safety research has advocated the use of the Full Bayes (FB) approach to conduct controlled before-after safety evaluations. The FB approach was shown to offer both methodological and data advantages. However, there is still a lack of complete understanding of the role that the model parameters play in the formulation of treatment effectiveness. This paper offers a novel approach to compute components related to direct and indirect treatment effects under a linear intervention model for the Safety Performance Function (SPF). The isolation of a component corresponding to the direct treatment effects enables the analyst to assess the effectiveness of the countermeasures apart from local (site-related) environmental factors. Two case studies are used to demonstrate the approach. The first case study is based on the results published from a previous safety evaluation in Iowa and the second uses a new data set from British Columbia based on the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia Road Improvement Program. The various direct and indirect components have yielded valuable insight into the effects of the model parameters on treatment impacts. Moreover, the calculation of the treatment effectiveness indices have been simplified by providing straightforward equations in terms of model parameters for the computation of their components without resorting to additional algorithms. More importantly, the results can have a significant impact on the economic evaluation of safety programs and countermeasures by allowing the calculation of collision modification factors (CMFs) that vary with time.     

Safety evaluation of cable barriers installation on rural highways in British Columbia

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety effectiveness of cable barrier systems installation on rural highway sections in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods: Data on police-attended serious collisions (injury?+?fatality) on a number of rural highway sections in British Columbia, Canada, were used in the analysis. An empirical Bayes (EB) approach was employed to ensure that the evaluation results were reliable and to account for the regression to the mean artifact. Safety performance functions (SPFs) were developed using data collected at similar sites. For both median cable barrier (MCB) and roadside cable barrier (RCB) sections, the evaluation was undertaken using all serious collisions, truck serious collisions, and off-road serious collisions.

Results: For MCB sections, the evaluation results showed statistically significant reductions of 21.7, 53.8, and 34.8% in all serious collisions, truck serious collisions, and off-road left (ORL) combined with head-on (HO) serious collisions. For RCB sections, statistically significant reductions of 74.7, 100, and 100% were found in all serious collisions, truck serious collisions, and off-road right (ORR) serious collisions, respectively. The impact of the after period on the evaluation results was explored. It was found that the changes in safety become more stable using an after period of 2–5 years.

Conclusions: Cable barriers were successful in reducing the frequency of serious collisions on provincial highways in British Columbia.     

矿工不安全行为致因分析及控制

探讨和研究人的不安全行为产生原因及控制已成为预防矿难发生的热点问题。针对现场获得的矿工不安全行为（“三违”）事件,从生理和心理效价、经济效价、时间效价、法规执行成本、危险压力成本五个方面进行致因分析,采用模糊聚类方法,选取适当的阈值λ,将不安全行为的产生分为三个基本要素,即:安全知识不足、安全技能不够、安全意识淡薄。鉴于目前对“三违”人员通常采取行政处罚,以及对安全知识和技能的培训流于形式,未能杜绝三违的重复发生,提出了针对不安全行为成因进行针对性的安全教育模式,并且取得了良好效果。     

基于智能交通运输系统(ITS)的交通安全控制体系研究

道路交通事故是当今世界最严重的公害之一 ,道路交通安全问题也受到世界各国的广泛重视。近十年 ,全球发展较快的智能交通运输系统 (ITS)使传统的交通运输状况大为改善 ,大大地提高了现有道路网的通行能力和交通运输的安全性 ,削弱或消除了以往诱发交通事故的不安全因素 ,有效地减少了交通事故的发生。笔者在简述了ITS的应用概况、基本功能以及智能汽车理论研发内容的基础上 ,论述了以ITS技术为基础的交通安全控制体系框架及其功效 ,阐明了我国快速发展ITS技术对提高道路交通安全水平具有重要的战略意义。     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of traffic calming measures on vehicle speeds and pedestrian injury severity in Ghana

Objectives: Each year, pedestrian injuries constitute over 40% of all road casualty deaths and up to 60% of all urban road casualty deaths in Ghana. This is as a result of the overwhelming dependence on walking as a mode of transport in an environment where there are high vehicular speeds and inadequate pedestrian facilities. The objectives of this research were to establish the (1) impact of traffic calming measures on vehicle speeds and (2) association between traffic calming measures and pedestrian injury severity in built-up areas in Ghana.

Method: Vehicle speeds were unobtrusively measured in 38 selected settlements, including 19 with traffic calming schemes and 19 without. The study design used in this research was a matched case–control. A regression analysis compared case and control casualties using a conditional logistic regression.

Results: Generally, the mean vehicle speeds and the proportion of vehicles exceeding the 50?km/h speed limit were significantly lower in settlements that have traffic calming measures compared to towns without any traffic calming measures. Additionally, the proportion of motorists who exceeded the speed limit was 30% or less in settlements that have traffic calming devices and the proportion who exceeded the speed limit was 60% or more in towns without any traffic calming measures. The odds of pedestrian fatality was significantly higher in settlements that have no traffic calming devices compared to those that have (odds ratio [OR]?=?1.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–4.43). The protective effects of a traffic calming scheme that has a speed table was notably higher than those where there were no speed tables.

Conclusion: It was clearly evident that traffic calming devices reduce vehicular speeds and, thus, the incidence and severity of pedestrian injuries in built-up areas in Ghana. However, the fact that they are deployed on arterial roads is increasingly becoming a road safety concern. Given the emerging safety challenges associated with speed calming measures, we recommend that their use be restricted to residential streets but not on arterial roads. Long-term solutions for improving pedestrian safety proposed herein include bypassing settlements along the highways to reduce pedestrians’ exposure to traffic collisions and adopting a modern way of enforcement such as evidence-based laser monitoring in conjunction with a punishment regime that utilizes the demerit points system.     

行为经济学视角下矿工不安全行为仿真分析

为了分析影响矿工不安全行为决策的成本收益因素,扩展不安全行为的研究方向,基于行为经济学,构建矿工不安全行为决策模型,模型包括矿工属性、管理者属性以及矿工之间的交互影响规则。利用Netlogo工具进行仿真模拟,探讨不同影响因素对不安全行为产生的影响程度。结果表明:正向激励水平对抑制不安全行为效果显著,同时,维持合理的工作时间对保障安全生产意义重大,从而为煤矿企业控制不安全行为提供思路。     

An economic evaluation of a participatory ergonomics process in an auto parts manufacturer

Problem

We assess the costs and consequences of a participatory ergonomics process at a Canadian car parts manufacturer from the perspective of the firm.

Method

Regression modeling was used with interrupted time series data to assess the impact of the process on several health measures. Consequences were kept in natural units for cost-effectiveness analysis, and translated into monetary units for cost-benefit analysis.

Results

The duration of disability insurance claims and the number of denied workers' compensation claims was significantly reduced. The cost-effectiveness ratio is $12.06 per disability day averted. The net present value is $244,416 for a 23-month period with a benefit-to-cost ratio of 10.6, suggesting that the process was worth undertaking (monetary units in 2001 Canadian dollars).

Discussion

Our findings emphasize the importance of considering a range of outcomes when evaluating an occupational health and safety intervention.

Impact on industry

Participatory ergonomics process can be cost-effective for a firm.     

北京市道路交通安全现状分析及控制策略研究

在分析北京市道路交通安全形势以及事故特点的基础上,运用交通冲突理论分析道路交通事故发生的机理,论述道路交通事故发生的过程。并从安全系统工程学角度,使用交通事故显性/隐性致因模型对道路交通事故的致因因素进行分析,强调管理因素的重要性。最后,结合北京市道路交通现状,综合运用3E对策,讨论了改善道路交通安全的控制策略。通过加大违章行为惩罚力度、培养安全文化、建立道路交通事故应急救援体系以及应用智能交通技术等措施,消除道路交通系统中人的不安全行为和物的不安全状态,提高北京市道路交通安全水平。     

我国道路交通事故特征分析与对策研究

针对我国道路交通安全形势日益严峻的现状,在分析我国城市道路交通安全特点的基础上,从交通事故的发生机理出发,分析研究了道路交通事故的宏观规律。从安全系统工程的角度,提出通过制定科学合理的城市道路交通安全管理规划和建立健全城市交通事故紧急救援系统、加强交通参与者的交通安全意识、综合协调道路—交通流—管理者之间的关系,以消除道路交通系统中人的不安全行为和物的不安全状态。明确指出当前乃至今后交通安全的发展方向和趋势,规划长远、决策当前,彻底改变目前交通安全工作的事后处理状态,做到防患于未然。对提高交通安全宏观管理整体水平具有一定的借鉴作用和应用价值。     

基于成本收益理论的井场作业人员不安全行为决策分析

为有效制定油气田井场作业人员不安全行为的防范措施,降低事故发生可能性,基于成本收益理论建立油气田井场作业人员的行为决策模型,通过仿真计算定量分析了不同影响因素对不安全行为产生的影响程度。结果表明:正向激励和负向激励对不安全行为的降低幅度为21.8%,17.2%,负向激励和监督力度共同作用下不安全行为可降低44.8%。油田企业在保证利润的前提下应优先提升HSE奖励水平,合理控制罚金水平的同时加大管理监督力度,从而有效减少作业人员不安全行为的发生,保障企业的安全生产。     

Evaluating the speed camera sites selection criteria in the UK

Introduction: Speed cameras have been implemented to improve road safety over recent decades in the UK. Although the safety impacts of the speed camera have been estimated thoroughly, the criteria for selecting camera sites have rarely been studied. This paper evaluates the current speed camera sites selection criteria in the UK based on safety performance. Method: A total of 332 speed cameras and 2,513 control sites with road traffic accident data are observed from 2002 to 2010. Propensity score matching method and empirical Bayes method are employed and compared to estimate the safety effects of speed cameras under different scenarios. Results: First, the main characteristics of speed cameras meeting and not meeting the selection criteria are identified. The results indicate that the proximity to school zones and residential neighborhoods, as well as population density, are the main considerations when selecting speed camera sites. Then the official criteria used for selecting camera sites are evaluated, including site length (a stretch of road that has a fixed speed camera or has had one in the past), previous accident history, and risk value (a numerical scale of the risk level). The results suggest that a site length of 500 m should be used to achieve the optimum safety effects of speed cameras. Furthermore, speed cameras are most effective in reducing crashes when the requirement of minimum number of historical killed and seriously injured collisions (KSIs) is met. In terms of the risk value, it is found that the speed cameras can obtain optimal effectiveness with a risk value greater than or equal to 30, rather than the recommended risk value of 22.     

基于行为安全理论的化工事故统计及分析

行为安全理论是事故分析和预防的理论和方法,应用基于行为安全理论的事故致因“2-4”模型对10起化工事故的直接、间接、根本、根源原因进行分析。结果表明:该模型是化工事故分析的有效方法。10起事故的直接原因主要为一线员工在涉及高温加热工艺、带压设备、有毒有害环境和动火作业中的违规违章操作,管理人员未建立或运行安全管理体系等不安全动作及不安全物态,且不安全物态与管理人员不安全行为有关;间接原因是一线员工缺乏岗位安全操作等知识,管理人员缺乏安全管理、技术等知识,导致其安全意识薄弱,养成不良的安全习惯;根本原因是组织安全教育等管理程序缺失和执行不力;根源原因是组织成员对安全的重要度等安全文化元素缺乏理解。     

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。     

Traffic rules and traffic safety

In the present paper the effects of traffic rules on driver behaviour and on traffic safety are discussed. The discussion is mainly based on research conerning driver’s use of safety equipment, their speed adjustment and drunken driving with respect to safety potential, effects of the rules, and effects of enforcement on driver behaviour. Factors influencing drivers’ decisions to comply with rules are also considered. It is concluded that only rules that are possible to enforce should be implemented and that police surveillance should be visible to the drivers. Also, the traffic system should be seen as a social system where drivers are interacting with other drivers and road users. Rules and regulations are important to help the actors of the system to function in a safe and effective way.     

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。     

中美两国汽车驾驶安全影响因素研究

影响汽车驾驶安全的各国道路交通系统以及驾驶员的驾驶行为等存在着差异性 ,许多差异可以通过统计数据的分析 ,或者其他定量研究方法获取 ,但仍然有许多影响驾驶安全的因素难以发现。笔者通过焦点团体座谈会的方法 ,从驾驶者的角度 ,搜集并分析了中美两国驾驶安全的主要影响因素 ,以及具有美国驾驶经历会对我国驾驶员有何影响。通过中美两国定性数据的对比分析 ,得出了主要影响因素 ,与此同时 ,通过问卷调查定量地分析了这些因素的严重程度。     

基于期望运行轨迹的车道变换行为安全性分析

为解决车道变换行为对交通运行安全影响的定量分析难题,基于车辆和驾驶员行为特性,构建车道变换行为期望运行轨迹,提出基于缓和曲线的轨迹形式,并结合车道变换行为引发的4种碰撞形式,在车辆运行纵向和横向分别构建安全运行判断方程和安全运行限制方程,分析安全距离对运行速度和车辆侧向加速度梯度的敏感度,给出车道变换行为安全运行判断方程的应用案例。研究结果表明,侧向加速度的变化梯度直接影响车道变换的安全性。     

Investigation on the effect of impact location height on pedestrian safety using a legform impactor dynamic model

Because of rapid increase in the urban population and hence road traffic, the vehicle–pedestrian crashes are more frequent and have become a major concern in road traffic safety. Though the bumper of a vehicle plays an important role to protect the vehicle body damage in low speed impacts, many bumpers particularly in larger vehicles are too stiff for pedestrian protection and safety. To prevent lower extremity injuries in car–pedestrian collisions, it is important to determine the loadings that car front structures impart on the lower extremities and the mechanisms by which injuries are caused. In the present work, a dynamic legform impactor model is introduced and validated against EEVC/WG17 criteria. The collision mechanism between a GMT bumper and the legform impactor model is investigated numerically using LS-DYNA software. The effect of the height of the impact point of bumper assembly to lower extremity injuries is also investigated. In this paper, it is shown that changing the local stiffness of bumper assembly due to the change in the height of the bumper and distribution of stiffness from upper parts of the bumper assembly to lower parts are the most important parameters in the pedestrian’s leg injuries. As lower extremity injuries are related to the lower bumper height, developing special legform impactors for different countries with different average person height seems essential in investigating the effect of people’s height on lower extremity injuries.     

道路交通安全管理措施比较研究

根据近五年来我国道路交通安全状况的实际,针对目前我国道路交通安全管理的现状,本文就道路交通法规建设、道路交通安全宣传教育、道路交通执法、道路事故紧急救援措施等相关内容与日本、美国、欧洲交通发达国家进行了对比分析,以图找出我国现行的道路交通安全管理对策中的薄弱环节及完善的途径.     

群体封闭性视角下的建筑工人不安全行为传播特

为了控制建筑工人间的不安全行为传播,塑造良好安全氛围。利用六次调查的结果,以群体封闭性为切入点,分析了建筑工人不安全行为传播的过程和方式的特性,提出了控制不安全行为传播的建议。结果表明:中国建筑工人的群体封闭性体现为结构和关系封闭性,对工人行为和心理产生显著影响; 班组长行为等内部因素对不安全行为传播有显著影响,而安全教育等外部因素对不安行为传播的抑制作用并不显著; 示范模仿是“一对多”的不安全行为传播方式,具有传播速度较快、强度较高、广度较小的特点,感染从众是“多对一”的不安全行为传播方式,具有传播速度较慢、强度较低、广度较大的特点; 示范模仿能够实现偶发的个体不安全行为向频发的群体不安全行为演变,再通过感染从众诱发新的个体不安全行为,最终形成恶性循环。