Direct and indirect costs of nonfatal road traffic injuries in Iran: A population-based study

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the incidence rate as well as direct and indirect costs of nonfatal road traffic injuries (RTIs) in Iran in 2011.

Methods: Data from the 2011 national household survey were used. In this survey, data on demographics, history, and costs of injury were obtained in 2 steps: first, direct face-to-face interview and second, telephone calls. We estimated the incidence rate of nonfatal RTIs in this year. The direct costs included medical care as well as nonmedical costs paid by the patient or insurance services. The indirect costs were estimated by considering the cost of absence from work or education. We also used logistic regression analyses to investigate risk factors of nonfatal RTIs.

Results: We found 76 nonfatal RTI cases (0.96%) out of 7,886 whole reference study cases. These 76 injured patients had a history of RTI in the preceding 3 months. The annual incidence of RTIs was estimated at 3.84%. The mean age of RTI cases was 28.5 ± 10.6 and 88.16% of them were male. Male gender was a major risk factor (odds ratio [OR] = 9.64, 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.79–19.41) and marriage was a protective factor (OR = 0.44, 95% CI, 0.28–0.70) for RTI. The medians of direct, indirect, and total costs were US$214, US$163, and US$387, respectively. The total cost of nonfatal RTIs in Iran was estimated at 1.29% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2011.

Conclusions: In Iran, nonfatal RTIs imposed a total cost of almost US$7 billion to the country for one year. Extension and more serious implementation of preventive measurements seem necessary to decrease this notable burden of RTIs.     

Assessment of patients' medical fitness to drive by primary care physicians: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: Motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a significant health burden in Saudi Arabia. The literature has consistently indicated that chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obstructive sleep apnea, and neurodevelopmental disorders, increase the risk of MVCs. Therefore, assessment of driver fitness by primary care physicians (PCPs) remains a major health intervention that might reduce MVCs. We studied the practices of PCPs in assessing medical fitness to drive in at-risk patients.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of all 88 government-funded primary care centers in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We administered a self-reported questionnaire to PCPs that inquired about their driving risk assessment for specific medical conditions.

Results: Among all PCPs and centers, 189 PCPs (63%) from 74 centers (84%) participated in our survey. The mean age of the PCPs was 40 ± 10 years, and 108 (57%) were men. The average clinical experience of the group was 13 ± 9 years. Fewer than half of PCPs considered diabetes mellitus (45%) and obstructive sleep apnea (46%) as potential risks for MVCs. Approximately 45% of PCPs did not notify any authority or relatives of potential driving issues that they noticed in their patients. Only 15% of the participants believed that PCPs were responsible for alerting authorities about their fitness to drive.

Conclusions: PCPs did not adequately assess their patients' driving history and eligibility. Efforts are needed to improve awareness among PCPs regarding the effects of chronic medical conditions on driving.     

中国城市道路路面径流研究

随着我国城市化的进程,城市建筑用地面积逐步增加,城市道路系统是城市地表的主要组成,在给城市带来便利的时候还产生了一些问题,城市道路路面径流便是其中之一,作为城市地表径流的重要形式,其问题愈加凸显。本文以超渗地表产流模型为基础,经过改进提出了城市道路路面径流模型。通过对这一模型的分析研究,阐述了路面径流中存在的问题并提出了几点在现阶段可行的改进措施,以期对城市建设尤其是城市道路系统的建设起到指导作用。     

某校区路面径流污染特性和控制措施的研究

以某校区的水体（A水库、B湖）为受纳水体,对降雨产生的路面径流及A水库和B湖水体进行采样,水质分析项目分别为pH、COD（化学需氧量）、SS（悬浮物）、TN（总氮）、TP（总磷）。以COD、SS作为主要的水质分析项目进行比较分析,确定路面降雨径流污染的主要特征,径流污染对校园水库、湖泊水质的影响。经过比较分析,提出采用植被控制法作为该校区路面径流污染控制措施对受纳水体进行保护。     

宝鸡市大庆路声环境质量模糊综合评价

对大庆路交通噪声污染状况进行监测、研究与分析。利用模糊综合评价法对大庆路声环境进行评价。大庆路声环境质量属于三级,已经受到污染。大庆路周边声环境属于轻度吵闹区域,应通过加强交通监管、宣传等各种有效的措施加以改善。     

蒙特卡罗方法在危险货物道路运输风险评价中的应用

在概率风险评价的基础上引入蒙特卡罗方法对危险货物道路运输进行风险评价.通过MATLAB软件编程对算例进行模拟试验,结果表明蒙特卡罗方法对危险货物道路运输风险评价具有有效性和合理性,能够得出更加客观的风险评价结果,增强了风险评价的科学性.     

Implementing wildlife-management strategies into road infrastructure in southern Ontario: a critical success factors approach

Wildlife-road conflict has profound negative impacts on both wildlife populations and society. Despite a long-held understanding of this problem, in most regions the wildlife-management strategies (WMS) available to mitigate this conflict are still relatively underutilized. This study examines the implementation of these strategies into road infrastructure, using Southern Ontario as a case study, in order to develop an understanding of what leads to successful WMS implementation. The project management concept of critical success factors was applied and interviews with project decision-makers and key stakeholders were conducted. Nine factors were identified and a comparison between a ‘smooth’ and ‘rough’ project is used to illustrate the cumulative effects that these factors, and their interrelationships, have on project implementation success. Practitioners can use these findings to evaluate WMS projects based on likelihood of success and allocate resources accordingly, ultimately leading to increased chances of implementation and overall benefit to conservation and society.     

上海市街道灰尘中PBDEs的含量水平、来源及组成特性

以上海市为研究区域,对16个监测点的街道灰尘中多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的含量水平、来源和组成特性进行研究。于2013年11月份采集16个街道灰尘样品,对其进行索氏提取和层析净化等前处理后采用GC-MS对12种待测PBDEs目标化合物进行定量定性检测分析。结果表明:12种PBDEs化合物全部被检出,16个采集点采集的街道灰尘中PBDEs质量比在12.046~82.835 ng/g,平均质量比为38.428 ng/g,不但高于苏州、无锡、南通等地的街道灰尘样本,而且远高于上海市土壤中PBDEs质量比;通过层次聚类分析得出上海市中心城区的PBDEs污染来源基本相同,主要为含有PBDEs产品在使用过程中PBDEs的释放,各郊区PBDEs污染物来源则各不相同,主要为各郊区工业区生产过程中PBDEs的释放;主要污染物有BED-47和BDE-49;监测点街道灰尘中PBDEs的质量比分布差别较大,各个监测点PBDEs的污染还处于不断变化中。     

Serious road injuries in The Netherlands dissected

Objective: This article discusses the characteristics and injury patterns of serious road injuries (Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale [MAIS] 2+ inpatients) in The Netherlands.

Methods: In The Netherlands, the actual number of serious injuries is estimated by linking police data to hospital data. The distribution of serious road injuries over (1) travel mode and gender and (2) crash type and age are compared for the years 2000 and 2011. Moreover, the distribution of the injuries over the body regions is illustrated using colored injury body profiles.

Results: The number of serious injuries is higher for men than for women and increased from 16,500 in 2000 to 19,700 in 2011. In 2011, about half (51%) of the serious road injuries were due to a bicycle crash not involving a motor vehicle. The share of casualties aged 60 years and older is relatively high (43% in 2011) in these crashes. The injury body profiles show that head injuries (31%) and injuries to the lower extremities (37%) are most prevalent. Compared to other travel modes, pedestrians and riders of powered 2-wheelers relatively often sustain lower-leg injuries compared to other travel modes. Head injuries are most prevalent in cyclists who are injured in a crash with a motorized vehicle. Cyclists who are injured in a crash not involving a motor vehicle and casualties of 60 years and older relatively often include hip or upper-leg injuries.

Conclusion: The characteristics of serious road injuries differ from those of fatalities and the distribution of injuries over the body differs by travel mode, gender, and age.     

Estimated trends and patterns of road traffic fatalities in China, 2002–2012

Objective: This study examined the time trends and age distribution patterns of estimated road traffic fatalities (RTFs) in China over the period 2002–2012. Methods: Data on age-, sex-, and region-specific RTF rates were provided by the Chinese Ministry of Health. The crude rates were standardized and the Mann-Kendall test was used to test the significance of time trends. Annual number of RTFs was calculated. To minimize the effect of yearly variations, magnitude of changes in and age distribution patterns of the RTFs were examined using mean values of 2 years. Results: RTFs increased significantly in China during the study period. Several features were identified for the RTFs in China. First, RTF rates skyrocketed in rural areas including towns and counties. Second, a significant increase in RTFs was also observed in cities even though the change in RTF rates was not statistically significant there. Third, individuals aged 20–24, 40–49, and 55–64, especially in rural areas, were particularly at risk for RTFs in recent years. Finally, RTFs became more common among middle-aged and older adults than young Chinese, with roughly 57% of all RTFs occurring among individuals aged 45 and above during 2011–2012. Conclusions: RTFs increased dramatically in China during the past decade, especially in rural areas. Age distribution patterns of RTFs have changed there. Community-based public health education and intervention programs are warranted.