Intervention strategies for the retro-fitment of Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS) and fleet characteristic,farm tractors

Retro-fitment of Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS) on old tractors continues to be a priority for farm safety in Australia. Methods: A state wide (New South Wales (NSW), Australia) random postal survey asked farmers about awareness of, attitudes to and barriers to fitting ROPS; age and number of tractors with/without ROPS on their farm; and considerations when purchasing a tractor. Results: In NSW there are 2.5 tractors per farm ranging from new to 79 years of age (average 17 years) of which 0.4 per farm do not have a ROPS (18 430 tractors). People who knew of someone who had been injured or killed in a tractor rollover were 3.6 times (CI_95% 3.1–4.2) more likely to have all their tractors fitted with a ROPS. Those who thought ROPS were effective or knew it was a legal requirement were 1.5 (CI_95% 1.2–1.8 and 1.4–1.7 respectively) times more likely to have all their tractors fitted with a ROPS. Some of the barriers to fitting a ROPS were cost, availability of a ROPS and making ROPS a priority. The three most common considerations for farmers when purchasing a tractor are size, jobs to be undertaken and cost with safety coming in fourth. Ideas that were considered useful in prompting farmers to fit a ROPS were threat of fine or prosecution, increased awareness and high rebates. Discussion: As the average age of the primary working tractor is 17 years, any new tractor safety measure will have a long latency period if there is not some sort of retro-fitment. To increase retro-fitment rebates are a useful strategy. Any retro-fitment campaign needs to ensure that they create a need for the safety item and have addressed the barriers.     

弯道路段集重型大型货物运输车辆通过宽度研究*

为研究集重型大型货物运输车辆在弯道路段不同圆曲线半径条件下的通过宽度,基于Ackerman转向原理建立集重型大型货物运输车辆转弯模型,研究道路圆曲线路段车辆通过所需道路宽度与牵引车前轴中心运行半径和液压轴线挂车长度间的关系;得到车辆外廓弯道最外侧点的判别方法,以及牵引车前轴中心运行半径、液压轴线挂车长度对车辆通过所需道路宽度的影响强度、相对优势影响区域及三者间的分段函数关系;得到典型车辆通过不同半径弯道所需道路宽度与牵引车前轴中心运行半径间的关系。结果表明:计算方法及结果可为大型货物运输道路规划设计和集重型大型货物的运输路径优选提供理论依据。     

Stability and safety evaluation of mixed traffic flow with connected automated vehicles on expressways

Introduction: Connected automated vehicles (CAVs) technology has deeply integrated advanced technologies in various fields, providing an effective way to improve traffic safety. However, it would take time for vehicles on the road to vehicles from human-driven vehicles (HDVs) progress to CAVs. Moreover, the Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) vehicle would degrade into the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) vehicle due to communication failure. Method: First, the different car-following models are used to capture characteristics of different types of vehicles (e.g., HDVs, CACC, and ACC). Second, the stability of mixed traffic flow is analyzed under different penetration rates of CAVs. Then, multiple safety measures, such as standard deviation of vehicle speed (SD), time exposed rear-end crash risk (TER), time exposed time-to-collision (TET), and time-integrated time-to-collision (TIT) are used to evaluate the safety of mixed traffic flow on expressways. Finally, the sensitivity of traffic demand, the threshold of time-to-collision (TTC), and the parameters of car-following models are analyzed based on a numerical simulation. Results: The results show that the ACC vehicle has no significant impact on the SD of mixed traffic flows, but it leads to the deterioration of TET and TIT, making the reduction proportion of TER slower. When the penetration rate exceeds 50%, the increase of CACC vehicles reduces traffic safety risks significantly. Furthermore, the increase in traffic demand and car-following parameters worsens traffic safety on expressways. Conclusions: This paper suggests that the CACC vehicles degenerate into ACC vehicles due to communication failure, and the safety risk of mixed traffic flow increases significantly. Practical Applications: The application of CAVs can improve the stability and safety of traffic flow.     

Tractor rollover fatalities,analyzing accident scenario

IntroductionIn many countries, traditional data sources for collecting injuries of workers covered by compulsory accident insurance have recently been integrated by new observatories whose results may differ. A comparative analysis of the Italian data collection systems related to fatal tractor accidents in agriculture was performed focusing on tractor rollover fatalities with the aim of analyzing the accident scenario.MethodData from the Operational Archives of the Italian Workers Compensation Authority (INAIL), which collects injuries of workers covered by compulsory accident insurance and those of the National Surveillance System (INAIL_ASL), which provides narrative text reports of work-related fatal accidents have been analyzed and compared to the information collected by the INAIL Observatory. The INAL Observatory was recently set up to complement the collection of fatal accidents involving agricultural machinery. Italian data were then compared to data available at an international level. Fatal tractor accidents vary considerably with respect to fatal accidents in agriculture, being 10.6 and 43.7% for the Operational Archives and Surveillance System, respectively. National Surveillance System records, implemented with narrative texts allowed the accident scenario to be defined.Results71.7% of fatal tractor-related accidents refer to non-ROPS equipped vehicles and of these, 26.5% involved machines originally mounted with a ROPS that had been removed or was inoperative in the folded-down position during the rollover event. Just one fatal event from a collapsed ROPS on the overturned tractor was recorded. It is interesting that 16.6% of fatal accidents involved a clear environmental factor.Practical applicationA campaign to train tractor drivers on the correct use of the combination ROPS and seatbelt can contribute to decreasing rollover events with fatal outcomes. Contemporarily a strict requirement to install ROPS and a seatbelt on tractors, combined to an official inspection at the farm level, can increase the chance of survival in a rollover accident.     

危险品运输车辆监控预警系统设计与开发

遵循危化品运输车辆有关标准和规范,集成计算机、控制、通讯、空间定位和安全管理等技术,提出车辆监控预警系统建设的总体结构和功能框架,阐述了系统的7个特点。设计和开发了车载终端硬件组成、自动监测、报警、安全保护、数据及音视频信息交互等功能以及监控中心的组成与结构、系统性能和功能。给出了异地危化品运输车辆的监控方式,并对5种无线通讯方式进行比较。     

Do NHTSA vehicle safety ratings affect side impact crash outcomes?

Introduction: Side impact crash injuries tend to be severe, mainly due to the effects of the mechanism of such crashes. This study addresses the relationship between side impact crash injury severities and side impact safety ratings of the passenger cars involved in such crashes. It is motivated by the lack of research on side impact safety ratings in relation to the real-world crash outcomes. Method: Analysis of Crashworthiness Data System’s (CDS) data show the head and thorax are the most common regions of impact of severe injuries, while the neck is the least. Irrespective of body regions, higher-rated vehicles were found to provide better occupant protection to both younger and older driver age groups. Assessment based on injury severity score (ISS) indicates that higher-rated vehicles have an overall lower average ISS compared to lower-rated vehicles. Results: Ultimately, this study shows that vehicles rated with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) new criteria had lower average ISS compared to vehicles rated under the old criteria. The 2011 NHTSA side impact rating criteria being relatively new, it has very few crashes to draw meaningful statistically significant conclusions. However, this paper establishes the fact that vehicles with higher star ratings (under experimental conditions) indeed offer increased occupant protection in the field conditions. Practical applications: Previous studies have found that safety was given priority while buying new vehicles. However, people associated vehicle safety with technologies and specific safety features rather than the vehicle’s crash test results or ratings (Koppel, Charlton, Fildes, & Fitzharris, 2008). The results from this study provide a point of reference for safety advocates to educate the drivers about the importance of considering vehicle safety ratings during a vehicle purchase.     

Injury severity related to overturn characteristics of tractors

Introduction

Early studies of injuries associated with overturns indicate that more fatalities occurred when a tractor overturned beyond 90° (continuous roll) relative to the impact plane. Recently, the principle of preventing continuous rolls has re-emerged for the protection of riding lawnmower operators.

Method

Related to tractors, a population-based study was conducted that compared the severity of fatal and nonfatal injuries between a 90° and continuous roll for tractors equipped with rollover protective structures (ROPS) and not equipped with a ROPS (non- ROPS). In 2002, the Kentucky Farm Tractor Overturn Survey was administered to an 8% random sample (6,063) of Kentucky farm operators. The farmers responded to questions that differentiated between the types of overturns and operator injury outcomes for ROPS-equipped and non-ROPS tractors during overturn events. Overturn characteristics were collected that included 90° to the side, beyond 90° to the side, and to the rear for both ROPS-equipped and non-ROPS tractors.

Results

Of the 541 overturns reported in this study, 535 (99%) of the respondents reported the most recent overturn characteristics of the tractor: 92 (17%) were ROPS-equipped and 443 (83%) were non-ROPS. For side overturns, 67% of the rolls occurred with ROPS-equipped tractors, and 54% occurred with non-ROPS tractors. The percentages of deaths related to rolls to the side for ROPS-equipped and non-ROPS tractors were, respectively, 1.6% and 3.7%. There was one (2%) deaths related to 90° rolls for ROPS-equipped tractors, whereas for continuous rolls there were 6.4% fatalities related to side overturns, 13% resulted in non-fatal injuries with an average of 1 day of hospitalization for ROPS-equipped tractors, and 39% resulted in non-fatal injuries with an average of 18 days of hospitalization for non-ROPS tractors. The results from this study indicated that a ROPS was more effective at stopping an overturn at 90° than no ROPS, with an associated reduction in the severity of injury in the event of a tractor overturn.     

Automated vehicles and older drivers in Canada

Introduction: As seniors represent a growing proportion of the driving population, research about how automated vehicles can help improve older driver safety and mobility is highly relevant. This paper examines the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of older drivers towards limited self-driving vehicles (LSDVs), and how these variables can influence the likelihood that they will rely on this technology. Method: The study includes data from a previous national survey (N = 2662) about automated vehicle technology, with new analyses to test hypothetical models using structural equation modeling. Results of the first model were confirmed and built upon with a second more complex model that incorporated the construct “behavioral adaptation.” Focus groups with older drivers were also conducted (N = 38) to help reveal nuances in older drivers' knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors regarding this technology. Results: Survey results demonstrated that feelings of safety and knowledge about LSDVs are positively related to perceived ease of use and adoption of the technology. The positive association between safety and perceived ease of use was further highlighted when comparing responses of older drivers to those of younger age groups, as older drivers were significantly less likely to agree that LSDVs were easy to use and were significantly less agreeable about feeling safe using them. Focus groups results confirmed that safety and knowledge of LSDVs are essential to the likelihood of adopting this technology, and revealed a high receptivity among older drivers to educational strategies and tools to increase their knowledge of LSDVs. Implications for educational strategies and safety benefits for older drivers are discussed. Practical applications: Results provide insight into strategies to encourage the early adoption of automated vehicles by older drivers and facilitate a safer transition towards automated vehicles that is lead by a cohort of safety-conscious drivers.     

军队车辆交通安全风险评估研究

将风险评估制度引入军队车辆安全管理中,通过确立评估目标、建立评估指标、评估组织,制定实施细则等程序,来识别、评价和控制车辆安全风险,将风险降到最低水平,确保完成各项运输保障任务。在从4个方面建立军队车辆安全评估指标的基础上,构造判断矩阵来确定各个评价指标的权重,并通过实例来验证方法的有效性和适用性。结果表明:军队车辆交通安全风险评估牵涉范围广、涉及问题多,该评价模型能够将车辆交通安全风险的定性分析转化为定量分析,对交通安全风险进行准确评估。     

重型车辆荷载下埋地天然气管道的安全分析

道路下的埋地天然气管道在重型车辆荷载通过时,管道受力一旦达到破坏强度就可能产生安全事故,造成天然气泄漏而引发燃烧与爆炸的危害,需要进行安全分析来判定重载车辆能否安全的通过道路运输。该文用理论计算和实验检测的方法综合起来分析埋地管道的相关力学参数,然后与管道自身的强度参数进行比较,从而判断埋地管道是否破坏。通过实例验证的方法说明了该方法在类似的项目分析中具有适用性和操作性,并提出了分析方法应用的初始条件。该方法可以作为判断埋地天然气管道在重载车辆作用下的一种安全评价方法,在条件允许的情况下可以利用数值模拟的方法进行比较印证,从而得到更为可靠的判断结论。同时,该方法也为埋地天然气管线在重载作用下的保护提供了基础资料,可以在此指导下更有效的保护天然气管线免受破坏。     

我国区域道路交通安全形势对比与影响因素分析

根据2007年的政府统计数据,将全国划分为4个社会经济发展区域,并对比各区域道路交通的发展状况与安全形势,然后运用SPSS统计软件分析道路交通安全评价参数与社会经济发展水平之间的相关性。发现社会经济发展梯次靠前的区域,其道路交通与安全状况也相对较好;GDP、人口、机动车保有量、机动车驾驶证普及率、道路条件和交通运输规模等因素分别对交通事故的死亡人数、万车死亡率、亿元GDP死亡率和百公里道路死亡率等指标具有显著影响。针对各区域的道路交通安全现状,必须进一步加快交通基础与安全设施建设,建立和完善交通事故紧急救援体系,加强交通安全宣传、教育、管理以及区域间的交流与合作。     

车辆碰撞特性的数值仿真及试验研究

运用显式动态有限元方法建立了某车辆的有限元模型 ,按照国家标准对整车进行了正面碰撞仿真计算和实车正面碰撞试验。通过仿真计算和实验的对比分析 ,其结果表明 :仿真计算的变形结果和试验吻合较好 ,车身上一些主要部位的加速度曲线在趋势上也基本吻合 ,说明运用有限元法进行车辆的仿真切实可行。分析结果为车辆的安全性设计提供了参考依据。     

Situational characteristics of fatal pedestrian accidents involving vehicles traveling at low speeds in Japan

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the situational characteristics of fatal pedestrian accidents involving vehicles traveling at low speeds in Japan. We focused on vehicles with 4 or more wheels. Such characteristics included daytime or nighttime conditions, road type, vehicle behaviors preceding the accident, and vehicle impact locations.

Methods: Pedestrian fatality data on vehicle–pedestrian accidents were obtained from the Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis of Japan (ITARDA) from 2005 to 2014. Nine vehicle classifications were considered: Trucks with gross vehicle weight (GVW) ≥7.5 tons and <7.5 tons, buses, box vans, minivans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), sedans, light passenger cars (LPCs), and light cargo vans (LCVs). We compared the situational daytime or nighttime conditions, road type, vehicle behaviors preceding the accident, and vehicle impact locations for accident-involved vehicles traveling at low and higher speeds across all vehicle types.

Results: The results indicate that pedestrian fatalities involving vehicles traveling at low speeds occurred more often under daytime conditions across all vehicle types. At signalized intersections, the relative proportions of pedestrian fatalities were significantly higher when vehicles were traveling at low speed, except when the accidents involved box vans or SUVs. Similarly, when vehicles turned right, the relative proportions of pedestrian fatalities were significantly higher when vehicles traveling at low speed were involved across all vehicle types. In terms of the frontal right vehicle impact location, the relative proportions of pedestrian fatalities were significantly higher when trucks with GVW ≥7.5 tons or <7.5 tons, sedans, or LCVs traveling at low speed were involved.

Conclusions: The situational characteristics of fatal pedestrian accidents involving vehicles traveling at low speeds identified in this study can guide targeted development of new traffic safety regulations or technologies specific to vehicle–pedestrian interactions at low vehicle travel speeds (i.e., driver alert devices or automated emergency braking systems). Ultimately, these developments can improve pedestrian safety by reducing the frequency or severity of vehicle–pedestrian accidents for vehicles turning right at intersections and/or reducing the number of resultant pedestrian fatalities.     

基于SEM的双车道公路超车行为安全评价

为提高驾驶人在双车道公路上超车的安全性,基于tau理论适应性分析,提出超车过程中驾驶人不仅根据tau线索估计避碰时间,也利用距离、速度、加速度等判断超车是否安全的试验假设。招募12名受试者,应用驾驶模拟系统试验平台,依据试验假设采集12个与超车行为有关的驾驶行为数据,对其进行无量纲化处理,并利用Bootstrap法对数据进行扩增。结合驾驶行为问卷得分,利用AMOS软件,建立超车行为安全评价的结构方程模型。通过对初始假设模型进行多次修正与评价,得到影响超车行为安全的3个驾驶行为参数。结果表明,超车车辆在超车并道后的速度、与前导车之间的避碰时间及与对向车辆之间的避碰时间这3个驾驶行为参数可作为超车行为安全评价的有效指标。     

Choice of teenagers' vehicles and views on vehicle safety: survey of parents of novice teenage drivers

Objective

To examine parental decisions about vehicles driven by teenagers and parental knowledge of vehicle safety.

Methods

About 300 parents were interviewed during spring 2006 in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Rhode Island while teenagers took their first on-road driving tests.

Results

Fewer than half of parents surveyed said teenagers would be the primary drivers of the chosen vehicles. Parents most often cited safety, existing family vehicle, and reliability when explaining the choices for their teenagers’ vehicles. About half of the vehicles intended for teenagers were small/mini/sports cars, pickups, or SUVs — vehicles considered less safe for teenagers than midsize/large cars or minivans. A large majority of vehicles were 2001 models or earlier. Vehicles purchased in anticipation of adding a new driver to the family were more likely to be the sizes/types considered less safe than vehicles already owned. Few parents insisted on side airbags or electronic stability control, despite strong evidence of their safety benefits. Even when asked to identify ideal vehicles for their teenagers to drive, about half of parents identified less safe vehicle sizes/types. Most parents knew that midsize/large vehicles are safer than small vehicles, and at least half of parents said SUVs and pickups are not safe for teenage drivers, citing instability.

Conclusions

The majority of parents understood some of the important criteria for choosing safe vehicles for their teenagers. However, parents actually selected many vehicles for teenagers that provide inferior crash protection.

Impact on industry

Vehicle safety varies substantially by vehicle size, type, and safety features. Many teenagers are driving inferior vehicles in terms of crashworthiness and crash avoidance.     

Characteristics of vehicles driven by teens and adults killed in crashes, 2013–2017

Introduction: Teen drivers experience higher crash risk than their experienced adult counterparts. Legislative and community outreach methods have attempted to reduce this risk; results have been mixed. The increasing presence of vehicle safety features across the fleet has driven fatality numbers down in the past decades, but the disparity between young drivers and others remains. Method: We merged Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data on fatal crashes with vehicle characteristic data from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). The analysis compared the vehicle type, size, age, and the presence of select safety features in vehicles driven by teens (ages 15–17 years) and adult drivers (ages 35–50 years) who were killed in crashes from 2013 to 2017. Results were compared with a similar analysis conducted on data from 2007 to 2012. Results: Teen drivers were more likely than their adult counterparts to be killed while driving older, smaller vehicles that were less likely to have the option to be equipped with side airbags. Discussion: Teenage drivers remain more likely to be killed while driving older, smaller vehicles than adult drivers. Parents and guardians are mainly responsible for teen vehicle choice, and should keep vehicle size, weight, and safety features in mind when placing their teen in a vehicle. Practical Application: These findings can help guide safer vehicle choice for new teen drivers.     

Analyzing motorists’ responses to temporary signage in highway work zones

For decades, the importance of highway work zone safety has increased considerably with the continual increase in the number of highway work zones present on highways for repairs and expansion. Rural work zones on two-lane highways are particularly hazardous and cause a significant safety concern due to the disruption of regular traffic flow. In this study, researchers determined motorists’ responses to warning signs in rural, two-lane highway work zones. The researchers divided vehicles into three classes (passenger car, truck, and semitrailer) and compared the mean change in speed of these classes based on three different sign setups: portable changeable message sign (PCMS) OFF, PCMS ON with the message of Slow Down, Drive Safely, and a temporary traffic sign (W20-1, “Road Work Ahead”). Field experiments were conducted on two two-lane work zones with flagger control. Statistical analyses were performed to determine whether there was a significant interaction between motorists’ responses and the sign setups. Data analysis results show that a visible PCMS, either turned on or off, was most effective in reducing truck speeds in rural, two-lane work zones. The temporary traffic sign (W20-1) was more effective in reducing the vehicle speeds of passenger car and semitrailer. Results of this research project will help traffic engineers to better design the two-lane work zone setup and take necessary safety countermeasures to prevent vehicle crashes.     

The Crash Compatibility of Cars and Light Trucks

This paper investigates the compatibility of cars, light trucks, and vans (LTVs) involved in traffic crashes. An analysis of U.S. crash statistics shows that, although LTVs currently account for approximately one–third of registered U.S. passenger vehicles, collisions between cars and LTVs account for over one–half of all fatalities in light vehicle–to–vehicle crashes. In these crashes, 81 percent of the fatally injured are found to be occupants of the car. These statistics suggest that LTVs and passenger cars are incompatible in traffic crashes, and that LTVs are the more aggressive of the two vehicle classes. The fundamental incompatibility between cars and LTVs is observed even when the analysis is restricted to collisions between vehicles of model year 1990 or later - indicating that, despite the availability of newer safety countermeasures, e.g., airbags, the incompatibility between cars and LTVs will persist in future fleets. Through examination of crash test results, field crash statistics, and vehicle measurements, the paper explores the design imbalances between cars and LTVs, e.g., mass, stiffness, and geometry, which lead to these severe crash incompatibilities.     

地质调查安全生产远程监控系统开发与应用

目前地质调查工作中广泛应用的车辆导航系统和手持GPS虽然具备一定的便利,但无法获取野外作业车辆、作业人员行动轨迹和位置,延误勤保障服务的及时提供和突发事件的应急处置。地质调查安全生产远程监控系统采用北斗卫星定位技术、Web技术、天地图技术和无线通信技术等相关技术,构建了对野外地质调查人员、车辆、飞机和轮船进行统一监控,定位追踪、轨迹回放、双向通信、紧急呼救、应急保障和数据传输等的功能模块,并全流程、实时、动态地测试了系统在不同环境下的运行情况。结果表明:地质调查安全生产远程监控系统在不同自然环境下运行都较稳定,基本可以实现定位和短信通讯功能。     

Can post encroachment time substitute intersection characteristics in crash prediction models?

IntroductionTransportation safety analyses have traditionally relied on crash data. The limitations of these crash data in terms of timeliness and efficiency are well understood and many studies have explored the feasibility of using alternative surrogate measures for evaluation of road safety. Surrogate safety measures have the potential to estimate crash frequency, while requiring reduced data collection efforts relative to crash data based measures. Traditional crash prediction models use factors such as traffic volume, sight distance, and grade to make risk and exposure estimates that are combined with observed crashes, generally using an Empirical Bayes method, to obtain a final crash estimate. Many surrogate measures have the notable advantage of not directly requiring historical crash data from a site to estimate safety. Post Encroachment Time (PET) is one such measure and represents the time difference between a vehicle leaving the area of encroachment and a conflicting vehicle entering the same area. The exact relationship between surrogate measures, such as PET, and crashes in an ongoing research area.MethodThis paper studies the use of PET to estimate crashes between left-turning vehicles and opposing through vehicles for its ability to predict opposing left-turn crashes. By definition, a PET value of 0 implies the occurrence of a crash and the closer the value of PET is to 0, the higher the conflict risk.ResultsThis study shows that a model combining PET and traffic volume characteristic (AADT or conflicting volume) has better predictive power than PET alone. Further, it was found that PET may be capturing the impact of certain other intersection characteristics on safety as inclusion of other intersection characteristics such as sight distance, grade, and other parameters result in only marginal impacts on predictive capacity that do not justify the increased model complexity.