基于事故分析的公路限高门架警告标志优化设置*

为优化设置公路限高门架警告标志,利用Kruskal-Wallis检验与二元logistic回归分析,从工效学及人因工程学角度剖析事故原因,基于大型车辆驾驶员视认特征与道路交通环境特点,提出警告标志前置设置最低要求,构建考虑大型车辆驾驶员视认角度标志前置距离模型,并提出预防措施。结果表明:限高门架高度警示标志设置不规范,导致停车安全距离不足,标志视认能力下降;根据模型得出公路限高门架警告标志前置参考距离,验证模型有效性,并有针对性提出限高门架警示标志优化设置意见。研究结果可为公路限高门架警告标志设置提供参考和借鉴。     

地铁施工灾害关键警兆监测指标研究

为实现地铁施工灾害警兆的实时监测和重点跟踪,预防和减少地铁施工灾害的发生,应用WBS-RBS及关联规则对地铁施工灾害关键警兆监测指标进行科学选取。通过分析以往地铁施工事故,针对基坑工程采用WBS-RBS方法,全面识别施工过程中的风险源,并运用基坑工程警兆监测指标关联规则模型对"地墙渗漏"警兆的20组样本数据进行计算分析,得到警兆与监测指标的频繁项集,从而甄选出关键警兆监测指标。结果表明,由于关联规则的存在,当警兆监测指标组合中某个指标超过阈值时,组合中可能存在其他指标同时超过其指标阈值,因此这时应加强对其他指标的监测。     

基于MNL的高速公路施工区合流选择意愿研究*

为分析驾驶人高速公路施工区合流选择意愿的影响因素,基于非集计理论构建多属性施工区驾驶人合流选择意愿模型。利用SP调查法自主设计调查问卷,获得328份有效施工区驾驶人合流选择数据;利用Pearson相关系数分析施工区合流选择意愿与驾驶人因素和道路交通环境因素的相关性;以上游过渡区、警告区Ⅰ和警告区Ⅱ 3个合流区域作为选择肢,从驾驶人和道路交通环境特征属性2个方面归纳出6个因素对施工区合流选择意愿的影响,应用分类变量处理方法将其定义为6种指标,并进行赋值。结合非集计理论,以328份有效问卷为建模数据,建立施工区合流选择意愿的MNL模型,并利用似然比、优度比和模型命中率3个指标判断模型的拟合程度。结果表明:模型拟合程度较好;驾龄、施工区类型、道路条件、交通控制标志、速度条件和限速策略对驾驶人施工区合流选择意愿有显著影响。     

Improvement of the performance of animal crossing warning signs

Introduction: Animal–vehicle collisions (AVCs) can result in serious injury and death to drivers, animals' death, and significant economic costs. However, the cost effectiveness of the majority of AVC mitigation measures is a significant issue. Method: A mobile-based data collection effort was deployed to measure signs under the Utah Department of Transportation's (UDOT) jurisdiction. The crash data were obtained from the UDOT risk management database. ArcGIS was employed to link these two data sets and extract animal-related crashes and signs. An algorithm was developed to process the data and identify AVCs that occurred within sign recognition distance. Kernel density estimation (KDE) technique was applied to identify potential crash hotspots. Results: Only 2% of AVCs occurred within the recognition distance of animal crossing signs. Almost 58% of animal-related crashes took place on the Interstate and U.S. highways, wherein only 30% of animal crossing signs were installed. State routes with a higher average number of signs experienced a lower number of AVCs per mile. The differences between AVCs that occurred within versus outside of sign recognition distance were not statistically significant regarding crash severity, time of crash, weather condition, driver age, vehicle speed, and type of animal. It is more likely that drivers become accustomed to deer crossing signs than cow signs. Conclusions: Based on the historical crash data and landscape structure, with attention given to the low cost safety improvement methods, a combination of different types of AVC mitigation measures can be developed to reduce the number of animal-related crashes. After an in-depth analysis of AVC data, warning traffic signs, coupled with other low cost mitigation countermeasures can be successfully placed in areas with higher priority or in critical areas. Practical applications: The findings of this study assist transportation agencies in developing more efficient mitigation measures against AVCs.     

Modeling crash injury severity by road feature to improve safety

Objective: The objective of this research is 2-fold: to (a) model and identify critical road features (or locations) based on crash injury severity and compare it with crash frequency and (b) model and identify drivers who are more likely to contribute to crashes by road feature.

Method: Crash data from 2011 to 2013 were obtained from the Highway Safety Information System (HSIS) for the state of North Carolina. Twenty-three different road features were considered, analyzed, and compared with each other as well as no road feature. A multinomial logit (MNL) model was developed and odds ratios were estimated to investigate the effect of road features on crash injury severity.

Results: Among the many road features, underpass, end or beginning of a divided highway, and on-ramp terminal on crossroad are the top 3 critical road features. Intersection crashes are frequent but are not highly likely to result in severe injuries compared to critical road features. Roundabouts are least likely to result in both severe and moderate injuries. Female drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes at intersections (4-way and T) compared to male drivers. Adult drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes at underpasses. Older drivers are 1.6 times more likely to be involved in a crash at the end or beginning of a divided highway.

Conclusions: The findings from this research help to identify critical road features that need to be given priority. As an example, additional advanced warning signs and providing enlarged or highly retroreflective signs that grab the attention of older drivers may help in making locations such as end or beginning of a divided highway much safer. Educating drivers about the necessary skill sets required at critical road features in addition to engineering solutions may further help them adopt safe driving behaviors on the road.     

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.     

安全标志排列顺序的视觉注意特征研究*

为研究安全标志位置设置的视觉注意特征,选取国标中4种安全标志（警告、禁止、指令、提示）进行排列组合,利用Eyelink Ⅱ记录20名被试的平均注视时间和首次注视时间,并采用统计学及视觉注意理论进行分析。研究结果表明:从位置角度分析,无论横向还是纵向排列,位置Ⅱ的首次注视时间相对较短,且当禁止标志位于位置Ⅱ时,首次注视时间平均值相对较小;从平均注视时间角度分析,禁止标志位于位置Ⅱ时,平均注视时间相对较长;通过横纵位置Ⅱ的对比可知,禁止标志位于位置Ⅱ时,排列方式对平均注视时间及首次注视时间无显著影响（p>0.05）;横向中偏左的位置及纵向中偏上的位置具有较好的识别性,而禁止标志位于位置Ⅱ时,显著性更高且横向与纵向无差异,国标的顺序设置更能增强安全标志的显著性。     

震源车主动防侧翻预警系统研

为了防止震源车在野外行驶过程中发生侧翻事故,实现对震源车危险状态的提前预警,迫切需要开展震源车主动防侧翻预警系统研究。基于震源车不同工况下的侧倾稳定性分析,结合国内外现有车辆侧翻预警指标特点,采用多级判断原则,建立了一种能综合判断不同行驶工况的震源车侧翻预警指标A和主动防侧翻预警系统,并通过MATLAB/simulink软件对该预警系统进行仿真模拟分析。研究结果表明:震源车侧倾稳定性随转弯速度、转向角、坡度角等参数的增大而呈现降低趋势;同时,该预警系统能通过侧翻预警指标A实现对震源车平路转向和斜坡转向过程中的行驶状态进行准确判断,并发出不同级别的声光报警。此研究将为进一步开展震源车预警系统的试验研究奠定理论基础。     

Fatigued driver’s driving behavior and cognitive task performance: Effects of road environments and road environment changes

This study aims to explore the effects of different road environments and their changes on driving behaviors and cognitive task performance of fatigued drivers. Twenty-four participants volunteered in a 2 (road environment) × 3 (fatigue level) within-subjects factorial design simulated driving experiment. Participants were asked to perform basic numerical calculation and distance estimation of traffic signs when driving normally, and provide answers to a questionnaire on fatigue rating. Results show that fatigued drivers faced greater attention demand, were less alert, and tended to overestimate the distance to roadside traffic signs. Fatigue caused by driving in complex road environment had the greatest negative impact on driving behavior and visual distance estimation, and the fatigue transfer effect worsened significantly but differently on both driving behavior and performance of fatigued drivers when switching from a complex to a monotonous road environment and vice versa. Notably, this study shows that fatigued drivers performed relatively better in arithmetic tasks than non-fatigued ones. In addition, when switching from a monotonous to a complex road environment, drivers’ performance in visual distance estimation and arithmetic tasks improved though their driving behavior deteriorated, revealing that the fatigue effect upon drivers might be explained to some extent by their alertness and arousal levels.     

Warning variables affecting personal protective equipment use

This paper describes two studies conducted to test selected warning variables for their influence on the use of personal protective equipment. Both of the studies were field demonstrations; one conducted in a recreational setting and the other as part of a consumer product scenario. Each of the studies involved manipulations that could be practically implemented in many warning situations. Both studies showed that cost strongly influenced the use of personal protective equipment. “Cost” was shown to include parameters of time and difficulty with obtaining the equipment. The results indicate that a small increase in cost can devastate equipment use rates. Additional factors that were shown to positively influence equipment use under at least some circumstances include: (1) the addition of “specific consequence” information, including accident frequency and severity data, to standard warning signs/labels; and (2) product labels requiring physical manipulation by the consumer for product use.     

施工安全标识位置特征驱动的自动化注意行为研究*

为改善施工安全标识警示效果,减少盲视发生,探究不同位置特征下施工安全标识引发的自动化注意行为,采用改进的注意捕获试验范式,使用E-prime 2.0平台记录当事人的反应时长和判断正误,通过注意捕获量和判断正确率度量自动化注意效果,并进一步构建施工安全标识自动化注意加工模型,剖析自动化注意加工过程及机理。研究结果表明:初次视认发生时,安全标识引发的自动化注意受位置因素影响,具有正中最优、正方向加强、右侧抑制等特点;对标识的自动化注意由启动和加工2个环节构成,与共同作用于视觉通道的控制加工串行发生,在启动阶段受位置特征提供的有效刺激强度影响,在加工阶段消耗较少认知资源。     

Investigating the effectiveness of safety countermeasures at highway-rail at-grade crossings using a competing risk model

Introduction: Highway-rail at-grade crossings (HRGCs) are critical locations where a railway and a roadway intersect with one another. Crashes at those locations often result in fatalities and economic and social damages due to the impacts on both road and rail users. The main purpose of countermeasures at HRGCs is to permit safe and efficient rail and highway operations. Method: Countermeasures at highway-rail grade crossings (HRGCs) considered in this study include all traffic control devices and other warning and barrier devices at or on approaches to crossings. In general, active devices are commonly accepted as more effective countermeasures than passive devices. However, many of the previous effectiveness studies are either at the project level or were conducted without considering the before-improvement condition. This study focuses on the network-level marginal effectiveness of countermeasures on crash rate and severity levels during the 29-year study period from 1990 to 2018 by fully considering before-improvement control levels. A competing risk model (CRM) is able to accommodate the competing nature of crash severities as multiple outcomes from the same event of interest, which is crash occurrence in this study. Subsequently, CRM is used in this study as an integrated one-step estimation approach that investigates both crash frequency and severity likelihood over time. Results: The study findings indicate that adding audible devices to crossings already equipped with gates will result in a considerable annual decline in crash occurrence likelihood (0.25%). The same device installed at crossings already controlled by gates and flashing lights results in less reduction in crash occurrence likelihood of 0.14%. Moreover, adding a stop sign to the active crossing controls of gates, standard flashing lights, and audible devices will lead to a decrease in the probability of crash occurrence and severe crashes (injury and fatal). However, adding stop signs to crossings equipped only with crossbucks will increase the crash occurrence.     

Side impact crashes--factors affecting incidence and severity: review of the literature

Many traffic crashes are side impact collisions resulting in significant death and injury. A review was conducted of the evidence of driver, road, and vehicle characteristics affecting either the risk of occurrence or the severity of injury in such crashes for papers published from 1996 to early 2003. For drivers, evidence was found of increased crash risk or injury severity only for age and age-related medical conditions (e.g., dementia). Traffic roundabouts and other traffic control devices--stop signs, traffic lights, and so on--had mixed results; traffic controls were better than no controls, but their effectiveness varied with circumstance. Most vehicle characteristics have had little or no effect on crash occurrence. Antilock braking systems (ABS) in the striking vehicle had been anticipated to reduce the risk of crashes, but so far have demonstrated little effect. The primary emphasis in vehicle design has been on protective devices to reduce the severity of injury. Disparity in the size of the two vehicles, especially when the struck vehicle is smaller and lighter, is almost a consistent risk factor for occupant injury. The occupants of light trucks, however, when struck by passengers cars on the opposite side, were at higher risk of injury. Wearing seat belts had a consistently protective effect; airbags did not, but there were few studies, and no field studies, of lateral airbags found. Of all the characteristics examined, vehicle design, including occupant restraints, is the most easily modified in the short term, although road design, traffic control, and the monitoring of older drivers may also prove effective in reducing side impact crashes in the longer term.     

Investigating the role of socio-economic factors in comprehension of traffic signs using decision tree algorithm

IntroductionDrivers' ability to comprehend the meaning of traffic signs is essential to safe driving. Drivers' personal characteristics are believed to play a crucial role in determining drivers' comprehension of traffic signs.MethodThis study investigates the role of age, gender, marital status, license category, educational level, driving experience, monthly income, and number of traffic violation during the last five years in drivers' comprehension of 39 posted traffic signs in the city of Irbid, Jordan. These signs include 15 regulatory signs, 17 warning signs, and 7 guidance signs. A total of 400 paper-based surveys were completed by drivers with different socio-economic characteristics. Subsequently, a decision tree was created for each category of traffic signs to identify the most influential factors affecting drivers' comprehension. Each tree was created twice; once using the whole data set for building and validating the tree, and a second time only using 80% of the data for building and 20% for validating.ResultsThe accuracy of the generated trees in predicting drivers' comprehension of regulatory, guidance, and warning traffic signs was 70%, 71%, and 66.5%, respectively, when using the whole data for building and validating the tree, and was 65%, 62.5%, and 61.3%, respectively, when using only 80% of the data for building and the remaining for validating.ConclusionsThe generated decision trees showed that driving experience, marital status, age, and education background are the most influential factors in determining drivers' comprehension of traffic signs as they were primary splitters in such trees.Practical applicationThe rules obtained from the decision tree can be utilized by transportation agencies to determine the drivers who need help with understanding the road traffic signs.     

不同警告方式下驾驶人应激反应能力模拟试验研究

为研究在道路突发危险场景下先进驾驶辅助系统的不同警告方式对驾驶人应激反应能力的影响，利用自主开发的驾驶人应激反应能力测试软件，以计算机模拟与驾驶模拟器为试验平台，以实际驾驶视频为试验场景，选取操作准确率和反应时间为测试指标，分析不同警告方式下驾驶人的应激反应能力。研究结果表明:视觉警告可有效缩短应激反应时间；视听觉组合警告中，视觉警告占主导作用，听觉警告起辅助作用；在真实场景视频试验环境下，驾驶模拟器模拟试验的操作效果优于计算机模拟试验。     

Impact of medical fitness to drive policies in preventing property damage,injury, and death from motor vehicle collisions in Ontario,Canada

Introduction: Drivers with medical conditions and functional impairments are at increased collision risk. A challenge lies in identifying the point at which such risk becomes unacceptable to society and requires mitigating measures. This study models the road safety impact of medical fitness-to-drive policy in Ontario. Method: Using data from 2005 to 2014, we estimated the losses to road safety incurred during the time medically-at-risk drivers were under review, as well as the savings to road safety accrued as a result of licensing decisions made after the review process. Results: While under review, drivers with medical conditions had an age- and sex-standardized collision rate no different from the general driver population, suggesting no road safety losses occurred (RR = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.93–1.12). Licensing decisions were estimated to have subsequently prevented 1,211 (95% CI: 780–1,730) collisions, indicating net road safety savings resulting from medical fitness to drive policies. However, more collisions occurred than were prevented for drivers with musculoskeletal disorders, sleep apnea, and diabetes. We theorize on these findings and discuss its multiple implications. Conclusions: Minimizing the impact of medical conditions on collision occurrence requires robust policies that balance fairness and safety. It is dependent on efforts by academic researchers (who study fitness to drive); policymakers (who set driver medical standards); licensing authorities (who make licensing decisions under such standards); and clinicians (who counsel patients on their driving risk and liaise with licensing authorities). Practical Applications: Further efforts are needed to improve understanding of the effects of medical conditions on collision risk, especially for the identified conditions and combinations of conditions. Results reinforce the value of optimizing the processes by which information is solicited from physicians in order to better assess the functional impact of drivers’ medical conditions on driving and to take suitable licensing action.     

Evaluating safety-influencing factors at stop-controlled intersections using automated video analysis

Introduction: Although stop signs are popular in North America, they have become controversial in cities like Montreal, Canada where they are often installed to reduce vehicular speeds and improve pedestrian safety despite limited evidence demonstrating their effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of stop-control configuration (and other features) on safety using statistical models and surrogate measures of safety (SMoS), namely vehicle speed, time-to-collision (TTC), and post-encroachment time (PET), while controlling for features of traffic, geometry, and built environment. Methods: This project leverages high-resolution user trajectories extracted from video data collected for 100 intersections, 336 approaches, and 130,000 road users in Montreal to develop linear mixed-effects regression models to account for within-site and within-approach correlations. This research proposes the Intersection Exposure Group (IEG) indicator, an original method for classifying microscopic exposure of pedestrians and vehicles. Results: Stop signs were associated with an average decrease in approach speed of 17.2 km/h and 20.1 km/h, at partially and fully stop-controlled respectively. Cyclist or pedestrian presence also significantly lower vehicle speeds. The proposed IEG measure was shown to successfully distinguish various types of pedestrian-vehicle interactions, allowing for the effect of each interaction type to vary in the model. Conclusions: The presence of stop signs significantly reduced approach speeds compared to uncontrolled approaches. Though several covariates were significantly related to TTC and PET for vehicle pairs, the models were unable to demonstrate a significant relationship between stop signs and vehicle–pedestrian interactions. Therefore, drawing conclusions regarding pedestrian safety is difficult. Practical Applications: As pedestrian safety is frequently used to justify new stop sign installations, this result has important policy implications. Policies implementing stop signs to reduce pedestrian crashes may be less effective than other interventions. Enforcement and education efforts, along with geometric design considerations, should accompany any changes in traffic control.     

Using latent class clustering and binary logistic regression to model Australian cyclist injury severity in motor vehicle–bicycle crashes

Introduction: In recent years, Australia is seeing an increase in the total number of cyclists. However, the rise of serious injuries and fatalities to cyclists has been a major concern. Understanding the factors affecting the fatalities and injuries of bicyclists in crashes with motor vehicles is important to develop effective policy measures aimed at improving the safety of bicyclists. This study aims to identify the factors affecting motor vehicle-bicycle (MVB) crashes in Victoria, Australia and introducing effective countermeasures for the identified risk factors. Method: A data set of 14,759 MVB crash records from Victoria, Australia between 2006 and 2019 was analyzed using the binary logit model and latent class clustering. Results: It was observed that the factors that increase the risk of fatalities and serious injuries of bicyclists (FSI) in all clusters are: elderly bicyclist, not using a helmet, and darkness condition. Likewise, in areas with no traffic control, clear weather, and dry surface condition (cluster 1), high speed limits increase the risk of FSI, but the occurrence of MVB crashes in cross intersection and T-intersection has been significantly associated with a reduction in the risk of FSI. In areas with traffic control and unfavorable weather conditions (cluster 2), wet road surface increases the risk of FSI, but the areas with give way sign and pedestrian crossing signs reduce the risk of FSI. Practical Applications: Recommendations to reduce the risk of fatalities or serious injury to bicyclists are: improvement of road lighting and more exposure of bicyclists using reflective clothing and reflectors, separation of the bicycle and vehicle path in mid blocks especially in high-speed areas, using a more stable bicycle for the older people, monitoring helmet use, improving autonomous emergency braking, and using bicyclist detection technology for vehicles.     

Investigation of speed and trajectory of motorcycle riders at curved road sections of two-lane rural roads under diverse lighting conditions

Introduction: Vehicular accidents at horizontal curves are over-represented compared to accidents that occur at tangent sections. Investigations have been conducted aimed at identifying the major causes that result in higher accident risk, both in terms of severity and rate, at curved road sections. Excessive or abrupt changes in speeding and improper vertical position are cited as major factors of lane departure, whereas other factors (either human or environmental) have also been documented. However, most research involves 4-wheel vehicles rather than other modes of transport that behave differently. More specifically, while motorcyclist fatalities occur more frequently than passenger vehicles, when accounting for vehicle distance traveled only a limited number of research studies address their behavior at curved road sections. Method: This paper presents the findings of field operational tests carried out by motorcyclists along two-lane rural roads with a wide range of horizontal curves using an instrumented motorcycle. Key objectives of the research included the conditions under which the motorcyclists differentiate their trajectory in regards to the direction of the horizontal curves, the correlation between the trajectory and the geometry of the road, and the impact of the lighting conditions on riders’ behavior. Results: The research showed that motorcyclists tend to ride closer to the centerline of the road, neglect the hazards associated with dim lighting conditions, and maintain constant speed in the left hand and the right-hand horizontal curves.