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Okati-Aliabad H, Hashemi Habybabady R, Sabouri M, Mohammadi M. Different types of mobile phone use while driving and influencing factors on intention and behavior: Insights from an expanded theory of planned behavior. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300158. [PMID: 38446800 PMCID: PMC10917291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Mobile phone use while driving (MPUWD) is a significant concern due to its negative impact on road safety. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess different types of MPUWD and identify factors influencing intention and behavior among drivers in Zahedan. A total of 392 participants provided information on demographic and driving characteristics, as well as constructs derived from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) augmented with moral norms. Findings revealed that a majority of drivers (86.4%) engaged in MPUWD, primarily involving calling, using applications, and texting. However, most participants did not intend to use their phones while driving in the following week. Multiple regression analysis identified age, receiving driving fines, subjective norm, and perceived behavior control as significant predictors of intention for MPUWD. Additionally, factors such as age, receiving driving fines, driving hours, car gearbox type, attitude, perceived behavior control, behavioral intention, and moral norm were significant predictors of actual MPUWD. Older participants demonstrated better behavior in various mobile phone activities while driving. Overall, the study emphasized that the main TPB constructs and moral norms have a greater influence compared to other variables in predicting MPUWD. Perceived behavioral control was the most important predictor of the intention and behavior of MPUWD. Understanding these factors can guide efforts to discourage MPUWD through targeted interventions and strategies to promote safer driving practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Okati-Aliabad
- Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Sabouri
- Student Research Committee, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
| | - Mahdi Mohammadi
- Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
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Bakhtari Aghdam F, Shaheian K, Sadeghi-Bazargani H, Kousha A, Ponnet K, Abbasalizad Farhangi M, Jahangiry L. Drivers' unsafe behaviors in Iran: An investigation in West Azerbaijan. Front Public Health 2022; 10:815380. [PMID: 36530723 PMCID: PMC9755251 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.815380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The present study aims to investigate one of the major causes of traffic accidents: drivers' unsafe behaviors while driving. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the behaviors of 946 drivers at traffic lights were observed in the morning, at noon, and in the evening using direct in-field observation. The unsafe behaviors of the drivers included not fastening the seat belt, using a cellphone or handsfree device, smoking, being distracted by a child, talking with passengers, not observing the stop line, eating and drinking, and getting out of the car, letting out a passenger, or arguing with a passenger at the traffic light. Results Of the drivers at the traffic light, 60% did not obey the stop line, and 72% did not fasten their seat belt. Also, 13.6% used their cellphones, and 22% talked with passengers. The frequency of the other unsafe behaviors was <3%. For wearing seat belts, drivers aged 41-50 years wore seat belts almost five times more than drivers under 25 years of age (4.94 [2.36-10.320]; p < 0.001), and drivers aged 50 years and older were almost three times likelier to wear seat belts than drivers under 25 years of age (2.8 [1.31-6.08]; p < 0.001). The results showed that the drivers were significantly likelier to wear seat belts on Saturdays (after the weekend) (0.56 [0.40-0.78]; p = 0.001). Regarding using mobile phones while driving, women were twice as likely to use mobile phones as men (2.20 [1.30-3.72]; p < 0.001). Drivers aged 26-40 years used mobile phones significantly less than drivers under 25 years of age (0.24 [0.14-0.43]; p < 0.001) and drivers aged 41-50 years were significantly less likely to use mobile phones than drivers under 25 years of age (0.19 [1.31-6.08]; p < 0.001). Conclusion The results showed that the occurrence of wearing a seat belt in Shahin Dej was low. We observed a significant association between wearing a seat belt, age, whether it was Saturday (a day after weekend for Iranians). Additionally, similar associations were observed between using mobile phones and gender, age, and day of the week.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Bakhtari Aghdam
- Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran,Department of Health Education and Promotion, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Karim Shaheian
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Ahmad Kousha
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Koen Ponnet
- Faculty of Social Sciences, imec-mict-Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Leila Jahangiry
- Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran,*Correspondence: Leila Jahangiry
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Al-Hajj S, El Hechi M, Chahrour M, Farran SH, Kaafarani H. Factors affecting road safety compliance in a low- and middle-income country: An observational study from Lebanon. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000154. [PMID: 36962149 PMCID: PMC10021161 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Road traffic injury is a major public health problem in Lebanon. This study aims to assess compliance with safety measures including seatbelt and helmet use in adults and children, and the prevalence of distracted driving among road users across Lebanon different governorates. It further aims to investigate predictors of compliance with seatbelt and helmet use. A cross-sectional observational field study was conducted at multiple governorates in Lebanon. Data collected included information on vehicles, road users and passengers. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify trends in compliance with safety measures and distracted driving, and predictors of compliance. A total of 13,790 road users were observed. The rate of seatbelt and helmet use were 37.4% and 38.9%, respectively, among adults. Distracted behavior was present in 23.7% of car drivers and 22.8% of motorcyles adult riders. Compliance with seatbelt use was lower outside the capital city Beirut [OR = 5.236 (4.566-6.004), P <0.001], in males [OR = 1.688 (1.52-1.874), P <0.001], in drivers of taxi/vans [OR = 1.929 (1.71-2.175), P <0.001] or trucks [OR = 3.014 (2.434-3.732), P <0.001], and vehicles of lower price [OR = 3.291 (2.836-3.819), P <0.001]. Children vehicle passengers were 87.9% while motorcycles pillion riders were 12.1%. The rates for child car restraint and helmet use were 25.8% and 20.1%, respectively. Predictors of failure to use a child restraint system in vehicles were the youngest age group (0-5 years) [OR = 2.06, CI (1.40-3.02), P<0.001], sitting in the back seat [OR = 1.56, CI (1.09-2.23), P<0.001], ridding in the afternoon [OR = 1.43, CI (1.05-1.94), P = 0.02], and being outside Beirut [OR = 2.12, CI (1.41-3.17), P<0.00]. Public awareness efforts and better enforcement of road safety legislations are needed to increase the alarmingly low rates of compliance with safety measures and safeguard lives on the road.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar Al-Hajj
- Epidemiology and Population Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Majed El Hechi
- Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mohamad Chahrour
- Epidemiology and Population Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sarah H Farran
- Epidemiology and Population Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Haytham Kaafarani
- Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Jerome Z, Arvin R, Khattak AJ. Analyzing drivers' hazard recognition: Precursors to single-vehicle collisions. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2021; 160:106304. [PMID: 34339912 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2021.106304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Extensive driver behavior and performance information provided by real-world video surveillance and sensor data in the SHRP2 Naturalistic Driving Study has enabled the examination of new layers and pathways leading to crash outcomes. We note that the prominence of hazards and the importance of recognizing them vary systematically across single vs. multi-vehicle crashes, and address a fundamental question about safety: why do around three-quarters of drivers involved in single-vehicle crashes not recognize, perceive, or react to the precipitating event (PE)? Using a path-analytic framework through marginal effects, this study investigates factors correlated to recognition of the PE in single-vehicle events, and how these correlations may act as crash precursors. Logit models, accounting for heterogeneity among events and drivers by estimating both fixed and random parameters, quantified correlations among key variables, given a crash or near-crash event (N = 543). The type of PE, roadway environment factors, and driving maneuvers heavily influenced recognition chances. Drivers had a harder time recognizing less conspicuous hazards (e.g. departing the travel way, decreased recognition chances by 48.29%), but seemed better at recognizing prominent hazards (e.g. vehicle losing control, increased recognition chances by 46.71%). In addition, drivers are less likely to recognize PEs when executing less involved driving maneuvers in more relaxed environments, such as daylight (decreased recognition chances by 16.00%), but are more adept in environments that already demand more attention. Recognition reduced the chances of a crash by 12.23%, so we found similar correlations with crash outcome. Future intelligent transportation systems may focus on increasing driver recognition of potential hazards by bringing attention to less conspicuous hazards and less involved driving environments and actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Jerome
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States
| | - Ramin Arvin
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States.
| | - Asad J Khattak
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States
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Valero-Mora PM, Zacarés JJ, Sánchez-García M, Tormo-Lancero MT, Faus M. Conspiracy Beliefs Are Related to the Use of Smartphones behind the Wheel. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18157725. [PMID: 34360021 PMCID: PMC8345770 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The belief in conspiracy theories predicts behaviors related to public health such as the willingness to receive vaccines. This study applies a similar approach to an aspect of road safety: the use of smartphones while driving. A representative sample of 1706 subjects answered a series of questions related to what can be regarded as erroneous or conspiracy beliefs against restricting or banning the use of smartphones while driving. The results show that those having such conspiracy beliefs reported a greater use of smartphones behind the wheel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M. Valero-Mora
- Departamento de Metodología de las CC del Comportamiento, Universitat de València, Blasco Ibáñez, 21, CP 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Juan José Zacarés
- Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Universitat de València, Blasco Ibáñez, 21, CP 46010 Valencia, Spain; (J.J.Z.); (M.S.-G.)
| | - Mar Sánchez-García
- Departamento de Psicología Evolutiva y de la Educación, Universitat de València, Blasco Ibáñez, 21, CP 46010 Valencia, Spain; (J.J.Z.); (M.S.-G.)
| | | | - Mireia Faus
- Independent Researcher, CP 46010 Valencia, Spain; (M.T.T.-L.); (M.F.)
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Montuori P, Sarnacchiaro P, Nubi R, Di Ruocco D, Belpiede A, Sacco A, De Rosa E, Triassi M. The use of mobile phone while driving: Behavior and determinant analysis in one of the largest metropolitan area of Italy. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2021; 157:106161. [PMID: 33971486 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2021.106161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The use of mobile phones while driving is one of the main causes of road accidents and it is a phenomenon in continuous growth. The key aim of this study is to analyse simultaneously knowledge, attitudes, and behavior toward the use of mobile phones while driving in one of the largest and populous metropolitan areas of Italy, Naples. The data acquired from 774 questionnaires - administered to subjects evenly divided by gender and with an average age of 39 years - revealed that 69 % have used their mobile phone while driving at least once in their lifetime. Among those who used the phone, 63.6 % use it to make phone calls while 75.2 % only to answer them; 49.1 % read messages and only 33.3 % write them. It is also notable that 34.1 % do not stop to answer a call and only 10 % do not value the use of headsets while driving as fundamental. The results indicate that cell phone usage while driving is common in the study population, despite many having university-level education and satisfactory risks awareness. The multiple linear regression analysis shows how knowledge is not correlated to the behavior held. On the contrary, attitudes are strongly correlated to knowledge and behavior, meaning that good attitudes bring forth positive behavior. According to the collected data and statistical analysis, it is possible to identify factors that can greatly affect the use of mobile phone while driving and establish targeted prevention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Montuori
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Via Sergio Pansini nº 5, 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Pasquale Sarnacchiaro
- Department of Law and Economics, University of Roma "Unitelma Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 295, Rome, 0016, Italy
| | - Raffaele Nubi
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Via Sergio Pansini nº 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Donatella Di Ruocco
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Via Sergio Pansini nº 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Belpiede
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Via Sergio Pansini nº 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonia Sacco
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Via Sergio Pansini nº 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Elvira De Rosa
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Via Sergio Pansini nº 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Triassi
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Via Sergio Pansini nº 5, 80131, Naples, Italy
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Kalantari AH, Monavar Yazdi S, Hill T, Mohammadzadeh Moghaddam A, Ayati E, Sullman MJM. Psychosocial factors associated with the self-reported frequency of cell phone use while driving in Iran. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249827. [PMID: 33882099 PMCID: PMC8059850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell phone use while driving is a common contributing factor in thousands of road traffic injuries every year globally. Despite extensive research investigating the risks associated with cell phone use while driving, social media campaigns to raise public awareness and a number of laws banning phone use while driving, this behaviour remains prevalent throughout the world. The current study was conducted in Iran, where road traffic injuries are the leading causes of death and disability, and where drivers continue to use their cell phones, despite legislative bans restricting this behaviour. A total of 255 drivers in the city of Mashhad (male = 66.3%; mean age = 30.73 years; SD = 9.89) completed either an online or a paper-based survey assessing the self-reported frequency of using a cell phone while driving. Psychosocial factors contributing to cell phone use while driving and support for legislation restricting this behaviour, as well as the Big Five personality traits, were also measured. Overall, the results showed that almost 93% of drivers use their cell phones while driving at least once a week, with 32.5% reporting they always use their cell phones while driving. Ordinal logistic regression revealed that the presence of a child passenger, age, perceived benefits and risks of using cell phones while driving, as well as the perceived ability to drive safely while using a cell phone, were strongly associated with the frequency of cell phone use while driving. As for personality traits-extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness significantly predicted the frequency of cell phone use in this sample of Iranian drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tetiana Hill
- Hertfordshire Business School, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Abolfazl Mohammadzadeh Moghaddam
- Department of Civil Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
- Techno-Economic Road Safety Research Center, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Esmaeel Ayati
- Techno-Economic Road Safety Research Center, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
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Arvin R, Khattak AJ. Driving impairments and duration of distractions: Assessing crash risk by harnessing microscopic naturalistic driving data. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2020; 146:105733. [PMID: 32916552 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2020.105733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Distracted and impaired driving is a key contributing factor in crashes, leading to about 35% of all transportation-related deaths in recent years. Along these lines, cognitive issues like inattentiveness can further increase the chances of crash involvement. Despite its prevalence and importance, little is known about how the duration of these distractions is associated with critical events, such as crashes or near-crashes. With new sensors and increasing computational resources, it is possible to monitor drivers, vehicle performance, and roadway features to extract useful information, e.g., eyes off the road, indicating distraction and inattention. Using high-resolution microscopic SHRP2 naturalistic driving data, this study conducts in-depth analysis of both impairments and distractions. The data has more than 2 million seconds of observations in 7394 baselines (no event), 1228 near-crashes, and 617 crashes. The event data was processed and linked with driver behavior and roadway factors. The intervals of distracted driving during the period of observation (15 seconds) were extracted; next, rigorous fixed and random parameter logistic regression models of crash/near-crash risk were estimated. The results reveal that alcohol and drug impairment is associated with a substantial increase in crash/near-crash event involvement of 34%, and the highest correlations with crash risk include duration of distraction through dialing on a cellphone, texting while driving, and reaching for an object. Using detailed pre-crash data from instrumented vehicles, the study contributes by quantifying crash risk vis-à-vis detailed driving impairment and information on secondary task involvement, and discusses the implications of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramin Arvin
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Asad J Khattak
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.
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Nguyen-Phuoc DQ, Oviedo-Trespalacios O, Su DN, De Gruyter C, Nguyen T. Mobile phone use among car drivers and motorcycle riders: The effect of problematic mobile phone use, attitudes, beliefs and perceived risk. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2020; 143:105592. [PMID: 32485432 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2020.105592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mobile phone use while driving presents significant risks, potentially leading to injury or death through distracted driving. Using a case study of Vietnam, this research aimed to understand the effect of problematic mobile phone use (also known as mobile phone addiction or compulsive mobile phone use), attitudes and beliefs, and perceived risk on the frequency of mobile phone use among motorcyclists and car drivers. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to motorcyclists (n1= 529) and car drivers (n2= 328) using an online survey and face-to-face survey. The survey took around 20-min to complete and participants were entered into a lottery for supermarket vouchers. Of the motorcyclists, 42% of the sample (the highest proportion) was in the 18-25 age group while the 36-45 age group accounted for the highest proportion among car drivers (34.8%). Using structural equation modelling (SEM), key findings showed that each construct influenced mobile phone use, but in different ways for motorcycle riders and car drivers. Attitudes and beliefs had the largest effect on mobile phone use while riding among motorcyclists, with problematic mobile phone use having the smallest influence. In contrast, problematic mobile phone use had the largest effect on mobile phone use while driving a car, with attitudes and beliefs having the smallest effect. The findings of this study point to the need for tailored interventions involving a range of actors (policymakers, police enforcement, mental health professionals, advocacy groups and the wider community) to raise awareness, modify attitudes and increase risk perception associated with mobile phone use while driving/riding. This can be achieved thorough educational tools and road safety campaigns which are focused on reducing this risky driving behaviour. This includes customising road safety programs for individuals and groups affected by problematic mobile phone use such as targeted advertising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duy Q Nguyen-Phuoc
- Division of Construction Computation, Institute for Computational Science, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Faculty of Civil Engineering, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
| | - Oscar Oviedo-Trespalacios
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), Faculty of Health, 130 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia; Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad del Norte, Barranquilla, Colombia.
| | - Diep Ngoc Su
- University of Economics - The University of Danang, 71 Ngu Hanh Son, Danang City, Vietnam.
| | - Chris De Gruyter
- Centre for Urban Research, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, City Campus, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia.
| | - Teron Nguyen
- Faculty of Bridge and Road Engineering, University of Science and Technology - The University of Danang, 54 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Lien Chieu District, Danang City, Vietnam.
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Wali B, Khattak AJ, Ahmad N. Examining correlations between motorcyclist's conspicuity, apparel related factors and injury severity score: Evidence from new motorcycle crash causation study. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2019; 131:45-62. [PMID: 31233995 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Motorcyclists are vulnerable road users at a particularly high risk of serious injury or death when involved in a crash. In order to evaluate key risk factors in motorcycle crashes, this study quantifies how different "policy-sensitive" factors correlate with injury severity, while controlling for rider and crash specific factors as well as other observed/unobserved factors. The study analyzes data from 321 motorcycle injury crashes from a comprehensive US DOT FHWA's Motorcycle Crash Causation Study (MCCS). These were all non-fatal injury crashes that are representative of the vast majority (82%) of motorcycle crashes. An anatomical injury severity scoring system, termed as Injury Severity Score (ISS), is analyzed providing an overall score by accounting for the possibility of multiple injuries to different body parts of a rider. An ISS ranges from 1 to 75, averaging at 10.32 for this sample (above 9 is considered serious injury), with a spike at 1 (very minor injury). Preliminary cross-tabulation analysis mapped ISS to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) injury classification and examined the strength of associations between the two. While the study finds a strong correlation between AIS and ISS classification (Kendall's tau of 0.911), significant contrasts are observed in that, when compared to ISS, AIS tends to underestimate the severity of an injury sustained by a rider. For modeling, fixed and random parameter Tobit modeling frameworks were used in a corner-solution setting to account for the left-tail spike in the distribution of ISS and to account for unobserved heterogeneity. The developed random parameters Tobit framework additionally accounts for the interactive effects of key risk factors, allowing for possible correlations among random parameters. A correlated random parameter Tobit model significantly out-performed the uncorrelated random parameter Tobit and fixed parameter Tobit models. While controlling for various other factors, we found that motorcycle-specific shoes and retroreflective upper body clothing correlate with lower ISS on-average by 5.94 and 1.88 units respectively. Riders with only partial helmet coverage on-average sustained more severe injuries, whereas, riders with acceptable helmet fit had lower ISS Methodologically, not only do the individual effects of several key risk factors vary significantly across observations in the form of random parameters, but the interactions between unobserved factors characterizing random parameters significantly influence the injury severity score as well. The implications of the findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Numan Ahmad
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee, USA.
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Mahmoudzadeh A, Razi-Ardakani H, Kermanshah M. Studying crash avoidance maneuvers prior to an impact considering different types of driver’s distractions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2018.12.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Preventing Tire Blowout Accidents: A Perspective on Factors Affecting Drivers’ Intention to Adopt Tire Pressure Monitoring System. SAFETY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/safety4020016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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