中国道路交通安全现状、成因及其对策

交通事故已经成为威胁人民生命、财产安全的社会公害之一。笔者在大量统计数据的基础上 ,分析了中国道路交通及交通事故发展现状和造成交通事故的主要原因 ;提出解决交通安全问题应“以人为本” ,逐步改善车辆及道路环境的安全状况 ,加强政策法规的建设和实施 ,从而在全社会形成良好的软硬件交通安全环境 ,以期望对预防及减少交通事故的发生起到积极的作用     

基于交通文化的交通安全策略

以往对于交通安全的研究 ,很少有人从交通文化的深度进行分析 ,而对交通文化的研究确实具有现实意义和深远的战略价值。笔者针对这一问题 ,在阐述了交通文化的定义、特征的基础上 ,构建了交通文化系统的结构 ,说明了交通文化与交通安全的关系 ,提出了基于交通文化的驾驶员素质培训和安全教育、培养交通参与者交通安全意识、重视交通安全技术的研究和应用、加强道路交通管理和重视交通道德建设等交通安全策略。     

An examination of the characteristics and traffic risks of drivers suspended/revoked for different reasons

PROBLEM: Prior research has demonstrated that suspended/revoked drivers pose a significant traffic risk, but until now little has been known about whether, and if so how, this risk varies as a function of the reason for suspension/revocation. METHOD: This study classifies suspended/revoked drivers into subgroups based on their reason for suspension/revocation, and then develops demographic and driving record profiles for each group. Separate driving record profiles are developed for the following traffic safety indicators, measured 3 years prior to the suspension/revocation action: (a) total crashes, (b) fatal/injury crashes, (c) total traffic convictions, and (d) total incidents (crashes + convictions). RESULTS: The findings clearly show that: (a) suspended/revoked drivers are a heterogeneous group, both demographically and in their driving behavior; (b) some suspended drivers, such as those suspended/revoked for a non-driving offense, have low traffic risks that are not much higher than those of validly-licensed drivers, and; (c) all suspended groups have elevated crash and conviction rates, compared to validly-licensed drivers. DISCUSSION: The implications of these findings for current laws and policies targeting suspended/revoked drivers are discussed, and recommendations for improving these laws/policies are presented. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: None.     

深圳特区拟建隔声屏障路段的选择研究

根据深圳特区拟建隔声屏障道路的筛选原则,全面考虑了城市道路交通噪声污染程度?受污染的人口数?道路特点及立地条件,采用逐步筛选方法,得到深圳特区拟建隔声屏障的路段?调查发现:临街建筑物受交通噪声污染最严重的高度一般在12～15m?交通噪声污染的主要频率在500～2000Hz之间,频率分布与路型和车型基本无关      

铁岭市城市交通噪声测点优化的研究

通过在48条交通路段进行布点监测,监测数据采用模糊聚类分析的方法,优化出切合实际的铁岭市城市交通噪声的测点.     

Planning for the monitoring of pollutants from non‐stationary combustion sources†

The most important constituents of traffic exhaust are carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic hydrocarbons and lead. Satisfactory analytical methods are available for measuring these compounds, but the required expenditure in their application to air pollution studies is quite different. Due to correlations between the concentrations of several exhaust components in road air conclusions regarding the expected level of some substances can be drawn by measurement of another emitted compound. But the selection of indicator compounds must be made under the aspect of the source‐specific relationship of emitted substances. The temporal and spatial distribution of air pollutants in street air is affected by traffic emissions more than by meteorological conditions. “Fingerprints”; of typical organic gaseous components of traffic exhaust also were found in residential areas.     

Voluntary information programs and environmental regulation: Evidence from ‘Spare the Air’

This paper assesses whether individuals change their transportation choices in response to ‘Spare the Air’ (STA) advisories, a public voluntary information program in the San Francisco Bay Area that elicits reductions in ozone-producing activities. Since STAs are issued when ozone levels are predicted to exceed a particular threshold, we use a regression discontinuity design to identify the effect of STAs. We also use traffic conditions in Southern California, an area without STAs, to estimate difference-in-differences models. The results suggest that STAs reduce traffic volume and slightly increase the use of public transit, supporting a potential role for voluntary information programs that directly target individuals as a means for improving local air quality.     

Improving traffic safety: Conceptual considerations for successful action

Introduction

In the early stages of motorization, it did not take rigorous scientific research to achieve major improvements in traffic safety. Instead, early traffic-safety countermeasures were often based exclusively on common sense. Since then, scientific research has gradually increased in importance as the basis for developing successful interventions. This shift was not made by choice but mostly by necessity: Many of the “easy” problems have already been addressed, and the remaining problems are generally too complex for an approach based solely on common sense. Fortunately, our understanding of the complexities involved in traffic safety has recently made major gains, and common sense can now be supplemented, to some degree, by valid technical analysis.

Approach

This article discusses major conceptual issues that should be considered in guiding the future development of effective, science-based traffic-safety countermeasures.

Impact on industry

After briefly discussing the conceptual issues, the article offers a list of implications for action.     

Effects of speed humps on vehicle speed and pedestrian crashes in South Korea

Introduction: Speeding is a crucial risk factor for pedestrian safety because it shortens reaction time while increasing the impact force in collisions. Various types of traffic calming measures to prevent speeding have been devised. A speed hump—a raised bump installed in the pavement—has been widely used for this purpose. Method: To evaluate the effectiveness of speed humps, the speed profiles of vehicles passing speed humps were analyzed along with pedestrian crash records near speed humps. Results: The speed profiles showed that vehicles gradually diminished their speeds starting 30 m ahead of speed humps and, immediately after passing the humps, accelerated to regain their original speeds within a distance of 30 m. This speed reduction effect is substantial on both local and major roads: 18.4% and 24.0% reduction in speeds, respectively. The analysis of pedestrian crash records revealed that, inside the zones of speed reduction effect near speed humps (i.e., ±30 m from speed humps), fewer pedestrian crashes per roadway distance occurred and pedestrian injuries were less severe, compared with events outside the effect zones. This safety improvement was greater on major roads than local roads. Practical Applications: This work finds that the speed reductions that occurred near speed humps were gradual and influential ±30 m from their locations, suggesting that the hump installations should be close enough to the pedestrian crossings. It is noteworthy that, albeit that speed humps are more prevalent on local roads, the benefits of speed reduction effects from speed humps were more pronounced on major roads than on local roads. Therefore, speed humps on major roads can be considered a more effective measure for pedestrian safety.     

The role of sales of new motorcycles in a recent increase in motorcycle mortality rates

INTRODUCTION: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that mortality rates from crashes among motorcycle riders in the United States increased from 21.0 per 100 million motorcycle miles traveled in 1997 to 38.4 per 100 million motorcycle miles traveled in 2003. At the same time, annual domestic sales of new, on-road motorcycles increased from 247,000 in 1997 to 648,000 in 2003. METHOD: This study used data from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System and annual sales figures for on-road motorcycles to determine if newer motorcycles were more likely to be involved in fatal crashes and if fatal crashes involving newer motorcycles could account for the mortality increase after 1997. RESULTS: Mortality rates were 7.9, 8.1, 5.4, and 2.9 per 10,000 motorcycles sold for motorcycles <1, 1-3, 4-6, and 7-11 years old, respectively, from 1994 to 2003. Assuming complete registration, the number of motorcycles sold during the 2000-2003 time period accounted for 42.4% of the total number of motorcycles registered in 2003. Motorcycles sold during 2000-2003 were associated with 52.5% of all motorcycle deaths in 2003. The increase in the number of deaths associated with motorcycles less than four years old between 1997 and 2003 accounted for 78.1% of the total increase in motorcyclist deaths over this time period. CONCLUSIONS: Two possible explanations for the association between high sales volumes and mortality rates are: (a) increased exposure from more extensive use of motorcycles when they are new; and (b) inexperience with motorcycle riding or with specific motorcycles. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This study suggests that the deaths of growing numbers of motorcyclists are a consequence of the financial success of the motorcycle industry.