Combinations of factors contribute to young driver crashes

Examining the effects of music on visual attention and driving behaviors in male and female adolescents

OBJECTIVE

Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are a leading cause of injury-related deaths for youth 16-19 years and males experience significantly more of these events than females. This study examined how in-car listening to their favorite music influences visual attention and risky driving behaviors among males and females 17-19 years of age.

METHOD

An immersive driving simulator was used to automatically measure a variety of performance indicators and video recordings provided data on attention and one-handed driving. Participants completed two 25-minute drives in which hazards unexpectedly appeared, listening to their playlist of favorite music over the radio during one of these.

RESULTS

For both males and females, visual attention to the road was reduced significantly when driving with music playing. With regard to driving performance, there were no sex differences or effect of music on driving speed and hazard reaction time. For both males and females, steering performance was improved when listening to music. However, music influenced one-handed driving differentially based on sex of the driver. Males, but not females, engaged in more one-handed driving when listening to music, and this was associated with males hitting more hazards.

CONCLUSION

Generally, driving with music playing poses more risk to male than female teen drivers.

Examining fatal and non-fatal injuries of drivers in single-vehicle-involved crashes on urban roadways using random parameter logit model

Urban areas significantly impact crash injury severity due to high traffic density and complex road patterns. This study analysed factors influencing fatal and non-fatal injuries in single-vehicle crashes on urban roads in Ghana from 2017 to 2020, using data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). The Random Parameter Logit Model revealed that younger drivers (under 20) are at higher risk for both fatal and non-fatal injuries. Crashes involving saloon cars, pickups, and minibuses had higher injury risks. Severe frontal damage increases the likelihood of both non-fatal and fatal injuries. Newer vehicles (under 5 years) showed lower injury risks. Crashes at controlled intersections and daytime crashes were less likely to result in fatal injuries. Failure to yield the right of way and mechanical failures were significant contributors to injury severity. The study highlights the need for targeted road safety interventions.

Characteristics of media-reported road traffic crashes related to new energy vehicles in China

INTRODUCTION

New energy vehicles (NEVs) refer to vehicles entirely or primarily powered by energy sources outside of conventional fuels. As the number of NEVs increases, road traffic crashes related to NEVs have emerged as a new challenge for road traffic injury prevention. However, basic epidemiological data are scarce concerning NEV-related crashes.

METHODS

Using media-reported crash data from the Automated Road Traffic Crash Data Platform (ARTCDP), a data platform developed and validated by our research group to gather eligible reports automatically and systematically from online Chinese media concerning road traffic crashes, we examined the characteristics of new energy vehicles between 2015 and 2022 in China.

RESULTS

The ARTCDP captured 2,927 crashes related to NEVs from 2015 to 2022, accounting for 1.1% of total number of motor vehicle-related crashes indexed by the ARTCDP during the same time period. Of them, 2,262 (77.3%) crashes occurred in east and central China. NEV-related traffic crashes occurred most often on urban roads (68.8%), well-lit roads (72.2%), roads without adequate safety infrastructure facilities (63.2%), and at intersections (78.7%). 1,864 media reports described the reason for the crash, with 44.1% listing two or more factors to explain the NEV-related crashes. Brake system failure and dangerous or improper driving operations were more frequently reported in NEV-related crashes than in other motorvehicle crashes (55.6% vs. 18.3% and 37.5% vs. 20.8%, P < 0.01). NEV-related crashes occurred more often on rainy days and on foggy or smoggy days than other motor-vehicle crashes (83.6% vs. 72.2% and 4.1% vs. 0.7%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Media-reported news elucidate distinct characteristics of road traffic crashes involving NEVs versus other motor vehicles in China.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

NEV-related crashes represent an emerging road traffic safety challenge in China and worldwide. Characteristics revealed by media-reported NEV-related crashes merit the attention of policymakers, automobile industry, researchers, and law enforcement.

The Behaviors and Habits of Young Drivers Living in Small Urban Cities

While studies have typically examined the driving habits of young drivers living in large urban cities, few have examined the habits of young drivers living in smaller cities with large rural surrounding areas. Three surveys were disseminated to 193 young drivers, 65 police officers, and 62 driving instructors to examine the driving habits and challenging driving situations young drivers experience. Almost a fifth (18.1%) reported consuming alcohol prior to driving; alcohol consumption prior to driving was significantly associated with eating food/drinking beverages while driving, cellphone use, and speeding. The most challenging situations young drivers reported were night driving, encountering wild animals on the road, and driving in extreme weather conditions (e.g., ice, snow). Driving instructors reported that young drivers had challenges with lane positioning, speed control, and navigating traffic signs and signals. Additionally, police officers reported issuing tickets to young drivers primarily for failure to stop, distracted driving, impaired driving, and speeding. Young drivers living in smaller cities and rural communities have unique challenges, including interactions with wildlife, driving on gravel roads, and driving in poor weather and road conditions (e.g., ice, snow). Opportunities for young drivers to be exposed to these scenarios during driver training are critical for increasing awareness of these conditions and reducing crash risk.

Factors associated with road traffic injury in a high-risk zone of Bangladesh: a mixed-method study

INTRODUCTION

Road traffic injuries are a significant public health issue in low-income and middle-income countries. This study was designed to explore the pattern and factors associated with road traffic injury in a high-risk zone of Bangladesh.

METHOD

This mixed-method study included a total of 363 road traffic injury victims for the quantitative component, and 10 traffic-related officials and 10 drivers for the qualitative element. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire, key informant interviews and a focus group discussion using a focus group discussion guide. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were done using Stata V.17 and NVivo V.12, respectively.

RESULTS

Most participants were male, illiterate and young (<30 years) with age averaging 31.50±9.16 years. Of all road traffic injury victims, most had mild (45.18%) injuries, and the least had severe (5.79%) injuries, with head being the most common site (34.44%). The highest proportion of injuries were sustained by motor vehicle drivers (57.58%), followed by cyclists/rickshaw pullers (22.59%) and passengers (19.83%). Most vehicles were new (75.21%), and the rest were old (24.79%). Nearly one-third of the participants did not know about driving rules. The presence of knowledge was associated with less severe injury (p=0.031) compared with the absence of knowledge. The qualitative component of the study identified several factors related to road traffic injury, including driver factors (lack of sleep, bad driving habits and lack of helmets), driving activity factors (ignoring rules, overtaking, crossing speed limits and using bright headlights), road-related factors (broken roads, unplanned curves and angles, the need for spacious streets and the lack of appraisal of previous crash records) and traffic control factors (stringent traffic rules, effective implementation and training on using speed guns).

CONCLUSION

The factors related to road traffic injury identified in this study could be used to plan targeted interventions for road safety improvement.

The effectiveness of driving simulator training on driving skills and safety in young novice drivers: A systematic review of interventions

INTRODUCTION

This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of driving simulator training on simulated/on-road driving skills and safety in young novice drivers.

METHOD

Searches were performed in Embase, Global Health, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, and on Google advanced, Google Scholar, and the Transport Research International Documentation websites. A total of 1,630 unique sources (titles and abstracts) were screened by two reviewers independently with 99 full-text articles reviewed for inclusion. Studies were included if they were a primary driving simulator intervention study that consisted of a randomized controlled trial, quasi-experimental, prospective cohort, and case-control design, published in English between January 1, 2010 and January 26, 2024.

RESULTS

The review included 15 studies published in 2010-2022 (study sample size ranged from 30 to 183,197). Findings showed that driving simulator training (compared to control conditions) can immediately improve simulated driving skills (e.g., adjustment to stimuli, lane maintenance, and speed regulation), although it was unclear whether simulator training can improve on-road driving skills or safety, immediately or longitudinally. Studies showed low quality of evidence with increased risks of selection bias, confounding factors, and type I errors influencing findings.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Since it is not known whether driving simulator training has short-term or long-term benefits on drivers' real-world driving skills or safety, it should not replace any training offered in driver education programs. However, driving simulator training can be included in driver education programs to supplement the in-class and on-road training.

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of evidence in this review shows low confidence on whether findings accurately reflect true effects on driving skills or safety. Further research should enhance the quality of evidence and demonstrate the transfer effects of driving simulator training to valid measures of real-world driving before recommending any integration of simulator training into standard practice.

Age-related driver injury occurrence from crashes at curve-grade combined segments

OBJECTIVES

Due to their relatively complex roadway characteristics, horizontal and vertical curve segments are associated with decreased visibility and a higher risk of rollovers. Multiple studies have identified the associated risk of young and older drivers separately in such complicated driving environments. This study investigated the relationship between driver age and injury occurrence from crashes occurring along curve-grade combined segments.

METHODS

Crash data recorded in Ohio State between 2012 and 2017 were used in this study. Driver age was categorized into 3 groups: teen (age <20 years), adult (age 20-64), and older adult (age >64). Descriptive statistics were summarized using random forest, gradient boosting, and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) to estimate the probability of a driver incurring an injury in case of a crash at curve-grade combined segments. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) was used to select the best performing model. Partial dependence plots (PDPs) were used to interpret the model results.

RESULTS

The probability of injury occurrence is different for older drivers compared to teen and adult drivers. Although teen and adult drivers showed a higher probability of sustaining injuries in crashes with an increase in the degree of curvature, older drivers were more likely to sustain injuries in roadways with higher annual average daily traffic (AADT), steeper grades, and more occupants in the vehicle. Older drivers were observed to have a higher probability of sustaining injuries during peak hours and when unrestrained compared to teen and adult drivers.

CONCLUSIONS

The results emphasize the significance of tailored education and outreach countermeasures, particularly for teen and older drivers, aimed at decreasing the likelihood of injuries in such driving environments. This research adds to the expanding body of knowledge concerning the age-related occurrence of driver injuries resulting from crashes at curve-grade combined segments. The study findings provide insights into the potential over- or underrepresentation of certain age groups in analyzing crash injury occurrence. The insights gained from the machine learning analysis could also assist policymakers, transportation agencies, and traffic safety experts in developing targeted strategies to enhance road safety and protect vulnerable age groups.

Assessing the risks arising from a trailer connected behind a passenger car

Article pays attention to the impact of using the trailer on driving performances of a studied vehicle combination.The research was performed via extensive experimental measurements. A new methodology of determining a technical condition of the trailer' brakes was proposed and verified, which can be also applied during the regular technical inspection. Various load distributions in the trailer caused the centre of gravity's position of the vehicle was changed, which may increase the risk of skidding or disconnection of the trailer from the towing vehicle. Also, the vehicle's ability to accelerate and decelerate decreased considerably due to the loading up. There were assessed the braking characteristics of the combination of vehicles as well, depending on the technical condition of the trailer's brakes. The importance of this article lies in the quantification of selected factors on road safety in relation to driving with a combination of vehicles.

Young drivers' early access to their own car and crash risk into early adulthood: Findings from the DRIVE study

INTRODUCTION

Car ownership at early licensure for young drivers has been identified as a crash risk factor, but for how long this risk persists is unknown. This study examined crash hazard rates between young drivers with their own vehicle and those who shared a family vehicle at early licensure over 13 years.

METHODS

The DRIVE study, a 2003/04 survey of 20,806 young novice drivers in New South Wales, Australia was used to link to police crash, hospital and death records up to 2016. The first police-reported crash and crash resulting in hospitalisation/death was modelled via flexible parametric survival analysis by type of vehicle access at baseline (own vs. shared family vehicle).

RESULTS

After adjusting for covariates, drivers with their own vehicle at early licensure had an almost 30 % increased hazard rate for any crash after one year (95 % CI:1.16-1.42) compared with those who only had access to a family car and this attenuated but remained significantly higher until year 7 (HR: 1.1, 95 % CI: >1.00-1.20). For crashes resulting in hospitalisation or death, an almost 15-times higher hazard (95 % CI: 1.40-158.17) was observed at the start of follow up, remaining 50 % to year 3 (95 % CI:1.01-2.18).

CONCLUSIONS

Parents and young drivers should be aware of the increased risks involved in car ownership at early licensure. Development of poorer driving habits has been associated with less parental monitoring at this time. Graduated Driving Licensing educators, researchers and stakeholders should seek to address this and to identify improved safety management options.

Exploring nighttime pedestrian crash patterns at intersection and segments: Findings from the machine learning algorithm

INTRODUCTION

Pedestrian safety at nighttime is an ongoing critical traffic safety concern. Although poor visibility is primarily associated with nighttime pedestrian crashes, other contributing factors such as humans, vehicles, roadways, and environmental factors interact with each other to cause a crash. Additionally, the pattern of nighttime pedestrian crashes differs significantly according to the intersection and segment location, which requires further exploration.

DATA

This study applied Association Rules Mining (ARM), a rule-based machine learning method, to reveal the association of nighttime pedestrian crash risk factors according to the intersection and segment locations using 2,505 nighttime pedestrian fatal and injury crashes in Louisiana (2015-2019).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Based on the generated rules, the results show that nighttime pedestrian crashes at the intersection are associated with right-turn vehicle movement, older drivers (>64 years) at the high-speed intersection, senior pedestrians (>64 years) in rainy weather conditions, violation by pedestrian age group '<15 years', and alcohol-intoxicated pedestrian violation in business/industrial areas. Additionally, 'careless operation' at the intersection is associated with alcohol-involved drivers. Most of the nighttime pedestrian crashes at segments are associated with roadways with no physical separation and the absence of streetlights. Driver alcohol involvement and their physical condition (inattentive/distracted) are also associated with pedestrian crashes associated at the segment location at night. Other segment pedestrian crashes are linked to the interstate in dark conditions, open country locations, and high-speed roadways. Additionally, the crash site investigation identified several critical pedestrian safety concerns including the lack of crosswalk facilities, high driveway density, and pedestrian behavioral patterns (e.g., crossing at roadway segments close to the intersection location).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The findings of this study can be used for selecting the appropriate countermeasures based on a case-by-case basis. The exposure patterns can be used in educational campaigns to strategically reduce nighttime pedestrian crashes.

Driving Frequency Modulates Correlations Between Executive Functions and Driving Performance: A Driving Simulator Study

Driving a car requires a complex combination of various cognitive functions (e.g., visual perception, motor control, decision making, and others), and deficits in any of these processes may compromise driving safety. Amongst these, executive functions such as inhibitory control, task switching, and decision-making are important, as they enable drivers to process information from their surroundings and respond appropriately to changing road conditions. Although previous research has focused on laboratory measures of individual executive functions, it remains unclear whether performance on such laboratory tests readily translates to actual on-the-road driving performance, especially since drivers' skill levels can vary widely, based on their driving frequency. To this end, we divided 30 participants into two categories based on their driving frequency (i.e., daily commuter vs. weekend only drivers), and we used three well-known executive functioning tasks (the stop signal task, Iowa gambling task or IGT, and a task-switching test) to see whether scores on these tasks predicted such driving performances and behaviors such as braking time, lane-keeping, speed limit violations, and inter-vehicle distance (e.g., in a driving simulator). Participants went through a follow-lead-car scenario in the driving simulator for 20 minutes and then completed the three executive tasks. We found that stop signal reaction time (SSRT) best predicted driving performance, and remained predictive against driver distraction, as well as variabilities in driving frequency. The IGT predicted speed limit violations in high-frequency drivers, whereas task-switching cost predicted lane keeping performance in low-frequency drivers. Together, these results highlight the importance of driving frequency when considering correlates between executive functions and driving performance and behavior. They also imply that executive tasks better predict driving performance in low-frequency (or inexperienced) drivers, while driver temperament (i.e., impulsiveness as indicated by IGT) better predicted driving performance in high-frequency (or experienced) drivers.

The Impact of Protective Devices Across the Spectrum of Trauma Care and Across Racial Groupings

INTRODUCTION

Protective devices such as seat belts and helmets save lives. Most studies only address one aspect of the injury profile - compliance or mortality - not the entire spectrum of trauma care, and little attention is paid to racial differences in the use or impact of protective devices.

METHODS

Patients with blunt mechanisms where using protective devices would be expected were included and were divided into utilizing (P) vs not utilizing protection (Non-P). Chart review included demographics, injuries sustained, hemodynamics, and blood alcohol level. Outcomes included need for emergent operation, complications and death.

RESULTS

Non-P patients were more likely male, presented at night and intoxicated. Highest risk behavior (intoxicated Non-P) presented at night (25.7% of nighttime presentations), and rarely during daytime (6.7% daytime presentations). Non-P were more likely hypotensive and sustain a traumatic brain injury. No race related differences were noted among young patients. Among older (>/=50 years) patients, White patients were least likely Non-P and least likely presented at night. Non-P required more emergent operative intervention, ICU admission, and longer hospital stay. Overall, Non-P was associated with increased risk of death (OR = 1.6 (95% CI = 1.28 - 2.11).

CONCLUSION

Given unique age and racial differences, we advocate for culturally and age specific public service campaigns.

Differences in Work and Commuting Accidents between Employees and Students at Higher Education Institutions in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, from December 2014 to December 2019

Accidents are one of the most important public health concerns because of their high prevalence and considerable health outcomes. Although higher education institutions (HEIs) play an important role in health promotion and disease prevention, accidents are rarely investigated in this setting. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to address this gap by analyzing the frequency and characteristics of employee and student accidents at HEIs in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. A dataset of all accidents that happened to employees and students at HEIs in Rhineland-Palatinate from December 2014 to December 2019 and the characteristics of these accidents was provided by the responsible statutory accident insurance (Accident Insurance Fund of Rhineland-Palatinate). Modified thousand-men quotas (the rate of injuries per 1000 people) were calculated to investigate the differences in frequencies and characteristics of accidents between employees and students, as well as between institutions. A total of 3810 accidents (n = 1326; 34.8% work and n = 2484; 65.2% commuting) were reported, of which 426 involved employees and 3384 involved students. The frequency and characteristics of the accidents varied between employees and students, as well as between institutions. Sports programs at HEIs for example imply high risks for unintentional injuries especially for students (as they make up the majority of participants). Other main findings are that medical students, as well as students of subjects including laboratory work, are at a higher risk to experience study-related accidents whereas employees seem to be at a higher risk when working in a technical field. The results call for the development of accident prevention concepts at HEIs and the implementation of interventions in respective institutions and target groups.

Evaluation of Driver's Reaction Time Measured in Driving Simulator

This article evaluates the driver’s reaction times in a driving simulator environment. The research focused mainly on young drivers under the age of 26, who cause many accidents. Each participating driver provided basic information later used for mathematical-statistical analysis. The main advantage of driving simulators is limitless usage. It is possible to simulate situations that would be unacceptable in real road traffic. Therefore, this study is also able to examine drunk driving. The main goal of the article is to evaluate if gender, practice, or alcohol significantly affected the reaction time of 30 drivers. We also focused on drinking before driving for a smaller number of the drivers; ten of them performed driving under the influence of alcohol. For these mathematical-statistical purposes, we used a one-sample t-test, a paired-samples t-test, an independent-sample t-test, and a correlation analysis together with the assessment of its statistical significance.

An analysis of the novice motorcyclist crashes in Taiwan

OBJECTIVE

Motorcycles comprised over 60% of motor vehicles in Taiwan. There were still many motorcycle crashes in Taiwan, especially among young riders. This study investigated the characteristics of novice motorcyclist crashes in Taiwan over the period January 2011 to December 2016. Various risk factors affecting the severity of novice motorcyclist crashes, such as the rider characteristics, licensing conditions, and the environment, were examined.

METHODS

To model the count data with multiple crash severities, several regression models were considered. The multinomial logit (MNL) model, ordered logit (OL) model, and partial proportional odds (PPO) model were chosen and investigated for the relationships between the severity of novice motorcyclist crashes and potential risk factors.

RESULTS

The results showed that the novice rider who was underage or unlicensed had a higher probability of a fatal crash. Male sex, helmet use, drinking, college student, frontal impact, urban or dry road, and daytime all played significant roles in novice motorcyclist crashes.

CONCLUSIONS

Taiwan traffic safety needs further policy adjustments and public education toward novice motorcycle crashes. Adequate driving training and providing a user-friendly environment for novice riders could help. Taiwan should consider graduated driver licensing systems for skill-building and riding supervision for new motorcyclists.

The Analysis of Spatial Patterns and Significant Factors Associated with Young-Driver-Involved Crashes in Florida

Over the last three decades, traffic crashes have been one of the leading causes of fatalities and economic losses in the U.S.; compared with other age groups, this is especially concerning for the youth population (those aged between 16 and 24), mostly due to their inexperience, greater inattentiveness, and riskier behavior while driving. This research intends to investigate this issue around selected Florida university campuses. We employed three methods: (1) a comparative assessment for three selected counties using both planar Euclidean Distance and Roadway Network Distance-based Kernel Density Estimation methods to determine high-risk crash locations, (2) a crash density ratio difference approach to compare the maxima-normalized crash densities for the youth population and those victims that are 25 and up, and (3) a logistic regression approach to identify the statistically significant factors contributing to young-driver-involved crashes. The developed GIS maps illustrate the difference in spatial patterns of young-driver crash densities compared to those for other age groups. The statistical findings also reveal that intersections around university areas appear to be significantly problematic for youth populations, regardless of the differences in the general perspective of the characteristics of the selected counties. Moreover, the speed limit countermeasures around universities could not effectively prevent young-driver crash occurrences. Hence, the results of this study can provide valuable insights to transportation agencies in terms of pinpointing the high-risk locations around universities, assessing the effectiveness of existing safety countermeasures, and developing more reliable plans with a focus on the youth population.

Crash involvement among unlicensed 17 year old drivers before and after licensing at 17 was allowed

Unlicensed driving among youth is associated with increased crash risk, and partly motivated by a wish to learn to drive. In this paper we examine whether crash involvement among 17-year-old unlicensed drivers changed after post-licence accompanied driving from the age of 17 was allowed in Denmark in 2017. The study includes police-registered crashes occurring three years before and three years after the change (2014-2019). Results show an increase in crash involvement among 17-year-olds and a small increase in crash involvement among unlicensed 17-year-olds, if population size is taken into account, but no differences in the crash and person characteristics before and after the change. Being male, speeding, and impairment at the time of the crash predicted unlicensed crash involvement. A latent class clustering analysis (LCCA) identified seven clusters of crashes involving an unlicensed 17-year-old. The cluster characteristics reveal different patterns in the associated factors such as females and parked vehicles being more likely to be included in C1, alcohol impaired in C2 and drug impaired in C7. Brief crash descriptions provided by the police indicate that driving with extra motives such as showing-off or pleasure are prevalent in all clusters. Results confirm, that unlicensed crash involvement among 17-year olds is associated with risk-taking behaviours such as speeding, impaired driving, showing-off, and the car being pursued by the police. However, unfortunate manoeuvres and loss of control of the vehicle possibly related to poor driving skills are also associated with the crashes. Crash characteristics such as impairment by alcohol and drugs indicate that unlicensed crash involvement is a distinct safety challenge associated with health risk behaviours rather than a transport related need for a driver's license. Additional studies exploring the motivations and circumstances associated with unlicensed driving among 17-year olds are needed along with measures to prevent car access among unlicensed youth..

Statistical Evaluation of BIS-11 and DAQ Tools in the Field of Traffic Psychology

This paper focuses on the statistical evaluation of two independent research tools in the field of traffic psychology. Our research focuses on young drivers in the Slovak Republic and conducts an international comparison. At present, these young drivers make up only about 7% of the total number of drivers, but they cause about 20% of accidents. The paper analyzes the traffic accident rate of young as well as inexperienced drivers. All drivers in the survey had a short period of driving experience. The traffic-psychological survey obtained detailed data via two independent tools. We aimed to find relations between the factors and subfactors of the tools used, namely the BIS-11 (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale) and DAQ (Driver Attitude Questionnaire). The researchers also used these tools in other countries, so it was possible to compare the results obtained. The results from these tools should reveal the psychological causes of as many traffic accidents as possible. Our paper shows the possibilities for the evaluation of the tools used with correlation analysis. The results of our research are shown in symmetrical matrixes of correlation coefficients. Our study also compares its values with the results of foreign authors. Such research has revealed some facts about young drivers’ violations connected with drunk driving, speeding, and other traffic offenses. Our aim was to find connections between the driver’s history (skills, traffic accidents, age, etc.) and psychological characteristics, and we have answered several research questions. In conclusion, we have highlighted the most significant relationships between the factors of driver psychology.

Association between Crash Attributes and Drivers' Crash Involvement: A Study Based on Police-Reported Crash Data

Understanding the association between crash attributes and drivers’ crash involvement in different types of crashes can help figure out the causation of crashes. The aim of this study was to examine the involvement in different types of crashes for drivers from different age groups, by using the police-reported crash data from 2014 to 2016 in Shenzhen, China. A synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) together with edited nearest neighbors (ENN) were used to solve the data imbalance problem caused by the lack of crash records of older drivers. Logistic regression was utilized to estimate the probability of a certain type of crashes, and odds ratios that were calculated based on the logistic regression results were used to quantify the association between crash attributes and drivers’ crash involvement in different types of crashes. Results showed that drivers’ involvement patterns in different crash types were affected by different factors, and the involvement patterns differed among the examined age groups. Knowledge generated from the present study could help improve the development of countermeasures for driving safety enhancement.