Determinants of severe injury and mortality from road traffic accidents among motorcycle and car users in Southern Thailand

Abstract

This study aimed to identify factors associated with severe injury and mortality from road traffic accidents (RTA) among motorcycle and car users in southern Thailand. The data were obtained from the Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Thailand, for years 2008–2013. Chi-squared tests were used to assess associations between determinants and outcomes and these associations were then estimated after adjusting for possible confounding with other factors using logistic regression. Severe injury and mortality contributed 11.6% and 5% to RTA of motorcycle users, and 14.3% and 7.5% for car users. Among motorcycle users, male gender, older age, and not wearing a helmet increased severe injury and mortality rates, whereas drivers had more severe injuries than passengers. Older car users had higher severe injury and mortality rates, whereas not fastening seat belts had higher mortality. Safety device use should be made mandatory for both drivers and passengers. Male motorcycle users and the elderly should be focused on.     

Speed in a high-speed society

Abstract

Speed control is the most important aspect of promoting road safety world-wide. The question is how are speeds developing? The European Transport Safety Council concludes: There is little progress on reducing speeds in Europe. Similar conclusions can be drawn from the US and Australia. Attitude surveys show that people’s answers are not very consistent and represent statements without any strong bearing on norms or behaviour. Many factors are ‘pro-speed’: higher performance vehicles, more comfort, media coverage, etc. Enforcement, particularly with cameras and with section control is efficient, but the scale of adoption is too small. Traffic calming is efficient in cities, but the most obvious measure is one that makes it impossible to drive faster than the speed limit. During the last 30 years, a few trials have taken place which are promising; speeds at or below the speed limit, improved behaviour, and attitudes. The predicted effect is a reduction of up to 50% of fatalities in a regulation-driven scenario and a benefit to cost ratio of 3.5 to 4.8. It is time for authorities to see to it that lower speeds with the help of efficient vehicle-based solutions becomes part of the agenda.     

Impact of traffic citations to reduce truck crashes on challenging roadway geometry

Wyoming's Interstate 80 has one of the highest truck crash rates in the United States. This is due to a variety of reasons, including high percentage of truck traffic, adverse weather conditions and mountainous terrain. These factors have caused the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) to spend extensive resources on inspecting commercial vehicles and enforcement of traffic laws in this corridor. This study estimated the correlation between traffic citations and truck crashes. In addition, the paper evaluated the increased risk of truck crashes in adverse weather and road conditions. The explanatory variables included geometric features, weather condition, traffic volume and types of citations. This research concluded that speeding related citations and truck crashes are negatively correlated, and the risk of truck crashes is significantly higher when weather is not clear, and the road is not dry.     

“一带一路”视域下中国与哈萨克斯坦的能源运输研究

在“一带一路”合作倡议推动下,中哈能源贸易合作得到进一步深化。而承载两国能源合作的物流运输,起着关键性作用。通过梳理相关文献及中哈能源运输现状等,发现能源跨境运输方式主要以管道及水运运输为主,且两国存在运输成本偏高、运输结构不合理、能源运输人才匮乏及相关法律制度不完善等问题。建议从完善法律制度、加强人才培养及深化物流合作关系等方面提升中哈能源运输水平。     

Modelling risk factors for fatal pedestrian crashes in Kolkata,India

Abstract

In developing countries, pedestrian safety is an issue of major concern. Although an extensive body of literature is available on the identification of elements related to the pedestrian’s risk; the studies are primarily conducted in urban areas of developed countries. The findings from these studies may only be partially relevant to the cities of an emerging country such as India. The present study analyzes historical crash records obtained from the “Kolkata Police” and identifies the risk factors at the road network level for the hazardous corridors posing a high risk to the pedestrians. The study findings reveal that pedestrians’ fatalities at intersections are associated with a high vehicular volume, higher pedestrian-vehicular interaction, high approach speed, overtaking tendency of vehicles, certain land-use type, encroachment of footpath, inadequate sight distance, inaccessible pedestrian crosswalk, wider minor carriageway, the absence of a pedestrian signal head, and lack of enforcement. On the other hand, the models outcomes reveal that pedestrians’ fatalities at midblock road segments are associated with low pedestrian volume, high approach speed, overtaking tendency of the vehicle, encroachment of footpath, on-street parking, wider road width, certain land-use type, inadequate sight distance, insufficient lighting, and inadequate pavement markings.     

丽江古城慢旅游及其成因研究

近年来,慢旅游的话题开始得到学者关注,但已有研究较少从"旅游与现代性"的角度对个案进行实证分析。本文基于对去过丽江古城的受访者和潜在旅游者的访谈数据,借助质性研究方法对访谈文本进行高频词提取和扎根理论编码分析,探讨丽江古城慢旅游的两个维度:环境和慢旅游体验。本文还挖掘出丽江古城作为慢旅游目的地的形成原因:其所处的自然环境与当地生活理念的互动构成了当地慢旅游的基础;旅游利益相关者制造了"慢"的符号和象征意义,契合了当代旅游者的需求和认同,助推了丽江古城慢旅游的存在和发展。     

可持续造物--慢时尚服饰设计文化初探

随着时尚产业与社会环境矛盾的日益激化,可持续时尚作为解决这一问题的必由之路成了所有从业者的关注焦点。慢时尚服饰设计作为可持续时尚的主要模式之一,在"造物"上要求生产、使用以及处置道德,将设计重点从如提高消费频次转移到服装资源的再利用、自然环境亲和、服装的适用性和精神性需求以及地方时尚文化上来。在"载物"上,要求帮助消费者寻找自我的真实需求,并建立自身与服装的联系,避免非理性消费,设计师则要以制造者、教育者以及活动家的身份,肩负起发展可持续时尚的重任。     

基于二阶聚类的空域飞行冲突危险性分级评估

飞行冲突危险性评估是空中交通安全管理的重要组成部分,是提升空中交通系统运行安全性与效率的关键手段.以国内外现有飞行冲突评估体系为基础,重新构建动态化的飞行冲突评估体系.通过信息熵给体系中各指标赋权用以描述飞行冲突危险性的影响,并基于实际飞行冲突数据计算飞行冲突危险性时间序列,进而全面分析单个飞行冲突事件以及冲突所在空域的危险性演化过程.最终基于二阶聚类针对空域飞行冲突危险性展开分级评估,有效弥补直接累加对于空域飞行冲突信息的掩盖.