Analyzing injury severity factors at highway railway grade crossing accidents involving vulnerable road users: A comparative study

Objective: The main objective of this study is to identify the main factors associated with injury severity of vulnerable road users (VRUs) involved in accidents at highway railroad grade crossings (HRGCs) using data mining techniques.

Methods: This article applies an ordered probit model, association rules, and classification and regression tree (CART) algorithms to the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) HRGC accident database for the period 2007–2013 to identify VRU injury severity factors at HRGCs.

Results: The results show that train speed is a key factor influencing injury severity. Further analysis illustrated that the presence of illumination does not reduce the severity of accidents for high-speed trains. In addition, there is a greater propensity toward fatal accidents for elderly road users compared to younger individuals. Interestingly, at night, injury accidents involving female road users are more severe compared to those involving males.

Conclusions: The ordered probit model was the primary technique, and CART and association rules act as the supporter and identifier of interactions between variables. All 3 algorithms' results consistently show that the most influential accident factors are train speed, VRU age, and gender. The findings of this research could be applied for identifying high-risk hotspots and developing cost-effective countermeasures targeting VRUs at HRGCs.     

Health burden of serious road injuries in the Netherlands

Background: The consequences of injuries in terms of disabilities and health burden are relevant for policy making. This article provides an overview of the current knowledge on this topic and discusses the health burden of serious road injuries in The Netherlands.

Methods: The overview of current knowledge on disabilities following a road crash is based on a literature review. The health burden of serious road injuries is quantified in terms of years lived with disability (YLD), by combining incidence data from the Dutch hospital discharge register with information about temporary and lifelong disability.

Results: Literature shows that road traffic injuries can have a major impact on victims' physical and psychological well-being and functioning. Reported proportions of people with disability vary between 11 and 80% depending on the type of casualties, time elapsed since the crash, and the health impacts considered. Together, all casualties involving serious injuries in The Netherlands in 2009 account for about 38,000 YLD, compared to 25,000 years of life lost (YLL) of fatalities. Ninety percent of the burden of injury is due to lifelong consequences that are experienced by 20% of all those seriously injured in road accidents. Lower leg injuries and head injuries represent a high share in the total burden of injury as have cyclists that are injured in a crash without a motorized vehicle. Pedestrians and powered 2-wheeler users show the highest burden of injury per casualty.

Conclusion: Given their major impacts and contribution to health burden, road policy making should also be aimed at reducing the number of serious road injuries and limiting the resulting health impacts.     

基于SNA的重特大道路交通事故风险指标体系构建

为加强对重特大道路交通事故的控制和预防,从95份重特大道路交通事故调查报告中提取相关数据,运用社会网络分析（SNA）构建重特大道路交通事故原因间的关系网络。通过社会网络相关指标,找到导致事故的关键原因,以及哪些原因组合导致事故的能力最强,得到重特大道路交通事故原因特征。建立重特大道路交通事故风险指标体系,并通过实例分析验证指标体系的合理性。研究结果可以进一步加深对重特大道路交通事故原因以及彼此间相互作用关系的认识,风险指标体系的建立可为重特大道路交通事故的预防预警工作提供参考。     

Road traffic crashes among farm vehicle drivers in southern China: A cross-sectional survey

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence and potential risk factors of farm vehicle–related road traffic crashes among farm vehicle drivers in southern China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to interview 1,422 farm vehicle drivers in southern China. Farm vehicle–related road traffic crashes that occurred from December 2013 to November 2014 were investigated. Data on farm vehicle–related road traffic crashes and related factors were collected by face-to-face interviews.

Results: The prevalence of farm vehicle–related road traffic crashes among the investigated drivers was 7.2%. Farm vehicle–related road traffic crashes were significantly associated with self-reported vision problem (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 6.48, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.86–10.87), self-reported sleep disorders (AOR = 10.03, 95% CI, 6.28–15.99), self-reported stress (AOR = 20.47, 95% CI, 9.96–42.08), reported history of crashes (AOR = 5.40, 95% CI, 3.47–8.42), reported history of drunk driving (AOR = 5.07, 95% CI, 2.97–8.65), and reported history of fatigued driving (AOR = 5.72, 95% CI, 3.73–8.78). The number of road traffic crashes was highest in the daytime and during harvest season. In over 96% of farm vehicle–related road traffic crashes, drivers were believed to be responsible for the crash. Major crash-causing factors included improper driving, careless driving, violating of traffic signals or signs, and being in the wrong lane.

Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that farm vehicle–related road traffic crashes have become a burgeoning public health problem in China. Programs need to be developed to prevent farm vehicle–related road traffic crashes in this emerging country.     

“一带一路”倡议下跨境流域生态补偿——国际经验与中国对策

跨境流域生态补偿机制的构建,是实现"一带一路"倡议目标的重要基础,有助于化解资源冲突、协调区域发展、增进利益协同,进而增强政治互信,加快经济融合,提升文化包容,推进命运共同体构建。本文基于对西方国家跨境流域生态补偿研究与实践的梳理,总结归纳出西方跨境流域生态补偿中强调流域生态系统分析、注重不同付费原则相互配搭、重视双/多边协商、建立多层次综合管理体系等经验。在此基础上,针对现阶段中国跨境流域生态补偿所面临的挑战,提出加强跨境协商合作平台建设、重视对跨境流域生态系统研究以及构建多层次协同管理体系等应对措施。     

上海市崇明岛公路两侧土壤重金属污染研究

采集了上海市崇明岛陈海、北沿公路两侧土壤和灰尘样品270余个,测定了样品的Pb、Cd、Cu、 Zn和Cr重金属含量。结果表明,陈海和北沿公路两侧土壤重金属Pb、Cd、Cu、 Zn和Cr的平均含量达到277、0279、258、918和776 mg/kg,土壤Cd污染较严重。采集的路面灰尘样品Pb、Cd、Cu、 Zn和Cr的平均含量达到512、049、489、209和970 mg/kg,超过土壤背景值2~4倍,是土壤重金属的主要二次污染源。公路防护林体系较差的北沿公路路侧土壤纵向剖面（垂直于公路走向）重金属含量随距路肩距离增加呈指数下降,土壤重金属重污染区在距路肩15 m范围内。防护林体系较完善的陈海公路距路肩15 m范围内土壤重金属污染较小,土壤重金属重污染区出现在距路肩20~50 m范围内。     

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。     

公路改扩建经过自然保护区缓冲区的技术论证

鸦来公路鹤峰县城关至宣恩县当阳坪段改建工程受走廊带限制经过湖北七姊妹山国家级自然保护区缓冲区和实验区,文章在未修改自然保护区功能区的前提下,对原有公路自然保护区段进行植被恢复缓解自然保护区新建公路的影响,并对上述影响进行比较、分析,得出总体效果呈现正影响,在保护区内实施生态影响"以新带老"建设工程可行,建议在《中华人民共和国自然保护区条例》修编时考虑增加对有利于保护区的工程允许建设的有关规定。     

对道路交通噪声预测模式的探讨

目前道路交通噪声预测尚未有国家统一规定的计算模式,本文通过分析道路与公路性质差异及现行几种预测模型的区别,指出不同预测模式的采用、参数的选取将对公路交通噪声预测结果产生影响,提出公路噪声预测模式应用于道路环评需注意的问题。     

案例分析公路项目环保验收调查主要内容及问题对策

结合公路建设项目的特点以及国家环境保护相关法律、法规的要求,分析了公路建设项目竣工环境保护验收调查工作的主要内容,提出了验收调查过程中发现的问题并给出了对策建议。