Influence of light zones on drivers' visual fixation characteristics and traffic safety in extra-long tunnels

Objective: Special light zone is a new illumination technique that promises to improve the visual environment and improve traffic safety in extra-long tunnels. The purpose of this study is to identify how light zones affect the dynamic visual characteristics and information perception of drivers as they pass through extra-long tunnels on highways.

Methods: Thirty-two subjects were recruited for this study, and fixation data were recorded using eye movement tracking devices. A back-propagation artificial neural network was employed to predict and analyze the influence of special light zones on the variations in the fixation duration and pupil area of drivers. The analytic coordinates of focus points at different light zones were clustered to obtain different visual fixation regions using dynamic cluster theory.

Results: The findings of this study indicated that the special light zones had different influences on fixation duration and pupil area compared to other sections. Drivers gradually changed their fixation points from a scattered pattern to a narrow and zonal distribution that mainly focused on the main visual area at the center, the road just ahead, and the right side of the main visual area while approaching the special light zones. The results also showed that the variation in illumination and landscape in light zones was more important than driving experience to yield changes in visual cognition and driving behavior.

Conclusions: It can be concluded that the special light zones can help relieve drivers' vision fatigue to some extent and further develop certain visual stimulus that can enhance drivers' attention. The study would provide a scientific basis for safety measurement implementation in extra-long tunnels.     

Risk factors for being the at-fault driver: A case–control study

Objective: It is estimated that road traffic accidents are globally responsible for approximately 1.2 million deaths and 20 to 50 million injuries. About 70% of traffic incidences (TIs) occur in developing countries and among countries with high TI rates; Iran is the first. The aim of this study was to measure the association between being responsible for a traffic accident and some vehicle, human; and environmental related factors in Yasuj, a city with a high incidence of road traffic injuries and deaths in Iran.

Methods: This is a time-, date-, and place-matched case–control study conducted in 2015 using all traffic accidents registered and investigated by police during 2012. In total, 194 drivers were considered the at-fault driver in a traffic accident and the 194 drivers in the same collisions were included in the analysis.

Results: Based on the results from multivariate conditional logistic regression, significant associations between vehicle maneuver (OR_{Turn to right or left/Moving forward} = 11.10, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.77–69.58, P = .01) and age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11, 95% CI, 1.004–1.22, P = .04) and the chance of being an at-fault driver were found.

Conclusion: Driver behavior–related interventions including training and law enforcement seem to be more effective in reducing road traffic accidents in Iran.     

城市道路交通噪声的预测模型验证

《环境影响评价技术导则声环境》(HJ2.4-2009)对于公路道路交通噪声预测模式中的单车辐射声级没有给出固定的计算方式,本文对某两条城市道路采用实际环境影响评价中常用的各种预测模型计算并与实测值进行分析比较,结果发现,单车辐射声级采用2006版规范进行计算,同时结合2009新导则的预测模型得到的预测值与实测值较为相符。     

高速公路声屏障优化设计与施工技术探讨

以合淮阜高速公路为实例,在分析声屏障声学原理的基础上,对声屏障的位置、高度、长度、结构和绿化等进行了优化,并提出了合适的施工方法。建造以后的各项指标测试表明,该声屏障取得了良好的降噪效果、生态效益和社会效益。     

交通拥挤负外部性产生的原因及内部化手段的环境经济学分析

应用微观经济学中的供需理论及环境经济学相关理论,从外部性理论的角度分析了城市道路交通拥挤产生的根本原因,将庇古税与补贴、科斯定理及政府管制应用于交通领域,并对这三种交通拥挤的负外部性内部化手段进行了环境经济学分析。     

Nighttime effectiveness of the pedestrian hybrid beacon,rectangular rapid flashing beacon,and LED-embedded crossing sign

Introduction: A large majority of pedestrian fatal crashes occurred during the nighttime. The focus of this research was to identify if the following pedestrian crossing treatments were more or less effective at night: pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB), rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB), or LED-embedded crossing warning sign (LED-Em). Method: For each treatment, two statistical evaluations were used on the staged pedestrian data: ANCOVA models that considered per site mean yield rates and logistic regression that considered the individual driver response to the crossing pedestrian. Results: For the PHB, essentially no difference was found between the very high daytime and nighttime driver yielding values. The research found RRFBs to be more effective at night, and the LED-Em to be more effective during the day. Using the results from the logistic regression evaluation, higher driver yielding was observed at LED-Em sites in the lower speed limit group (30 or 35 mph (48.3 or 56.3 kph), with 2 lanes (rather than 4 lanes), with narrow lanes of 10.5 or 11 ft (3.2 or 3.4 m) widths (rather than 11.5 or 12 ft (3.5 or 3.7 m) widths), and lower hourly volumes. The results from the ANCOVA model for LED-Ems also showed a statistically significant difference for yield lines (higher yielding when present). Conclusions: This analysis represents the only known study to date on the effectiveness of pedestrian crossing treatments at night. Practical Applications: This study provides additional support for the PHB as a treatment because the PHB was found to be highly effective during the nighttime as well as the daytime. The value of using advance yield lines was also demonstrated. The findings offer a caution regarding the use of the LED-Em treatment on higher speed, higher volume, or wider roads.     

基于隐性危险驾驶人感知特性及判别模型研究*

为研究驾驶人在隐性危险场景中危险感知行为,基于Bayes判别法,将驾驶行为指标作为输入变量,建立驾驶人危险感知能力预测模型。结果表明:驾驶员在显性危险场景的纵向加速度显著低于隐性危险场景;驾驶人在隐性危险场景中TTC值小于显性危险场景;在被试车辆与轿车、行人、非机动车冲突3种交通冲突场景中,驾驶人对行人危险感知能力最弱。研究结果对提高道路交通安全水平以及驾驶人应急避险能力具有一定实际指导意义。     

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。     

Exploring relationships between microscopic kinetic parameters of tires under normal driving conditions,road characteristics and accident types

IntroductionFreeway accidents are a leading cause of death in China, which also triggers substantial economic loss and an emotional burden to society. However, the internal mechanism of how microscopic kinetic parameters of vehicles influenced by road characteristics determine the occurrence of different types of accidents has not been explicitly studied. This research aimed to explore the “link role” of tire microscopic kinetic parameters in road characteristic variables and traffic accidents to aid in facilitating the traffic design and management, and thus to prevent traffic accident. Method: A mountain freeway in Zhejiang Province, China was used as the research object and the data used in this paper were obtained through a real-time vehicle experiment. Multiple estimation models, including the standard ordered logit (SOL) model, fixed parameters logit (FPL) model, and random parameters logit (RPL) model were established. Results: The findings show that road characteristics will affect the longitudinal kinetic characteristics of the vehicle and, consequently, map the level of risk of rear-end accidents. Driving compensation effects were also identified in this paper (i.e., the drivers tend to be more cautious in complicated driving circumstances). Another finding relating to the mountain freeway is that different tunnel characteristics (e.g., tunnel entrance and tunnel exit) have different effects on different types of traffic accidents. Practical Applications: The framework proposed in this article can provide new insight for researchers to enlarge the research subjects of both explanatory and outcome variables in accident analysis. Future research could be implemented to consider more driving conditions.     

Public Attitudes Towards Policy Instruments for Congestion Mitigation in Shanghai

Congestion causes many externalities for the society, including time delays, excessive fuel consumption, air pollution, noise and safety concerns. In Shanghai, various policy options have been explored, piloted or applied; however, not all of them may be understood and accepted by the public. A survey was conducted to investigate people＇s attitudes towards several policy options. The main findings reveal that Shanghai residents are resistant to certain policies, such as congestion charges, higher parking charges in congested areas and car restrictions. Instead, they favor public transport provisions. The paper suggests that there is a case for promoting public transport and more efficient trips when the car ownership is still low, and for investing in a policy of educating the public on the ＇true＇ costs and causes of congestion before embarking on ,an intensive policy of congestion charges or restrictions.