International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

2023

Jump to: 2022, 2021

22 pages, 596 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Road Safety: A Literature Review

by Francisco González-Sala, Macarena Tortosa-Pérez, María Peñaranda-Ortega and Francisco Tortosa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4655; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054655 - 6 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4570

Abstract

Background: Legalizing medical and recreational cannabis and decriminalizing this substance may have unanticipated effects on traffic safety. The present study aimed to assess the impact of cannabis legalization on traffic accidents. Methods: A systematic review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items [...] Read more.

Background: Legalizing medical and recreational cannabis and decriminalizing this substance may have unanticipated effects on traffic safety. The present study aimed to assess the impact of cannabis legalization on traffic accidents. Methods: A systematic review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) declaration of the articles included in the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases. The number of papers included in the review was 29. Results: The results show that in 15 papers, there is a relationship between the legalization of medical and/or recreational cannabis and the number of traffic accidents, while in 5 papers, no such relationship is observed. In addition, nine articles indicate a greater number of risk behaviors related to driving after consumption, identifying young, male, and alcohol consumption together with cannabis as the risk profile. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the legalization of medical and/or recreational cannabis has negative effects on road safety when considering the number of jobs that affect the number of fatalities. Full article

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11 pages, 337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Kaahaajat: Finnish Attitudes towards Speeding

by Steve O’Hern, Valtteri Vuorio and Amanda N. Stephens

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1995; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031995 - 21 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1586

Abstract

People driving in excess of the posted speed limit (referred to as speeding in English or Kaahaajat in Finnish) is a common road user behaviour. In Finland, between 2000 and 2020, speeding was identified as the key contributing factor in 41% of fatal [...] Read more.

People driving in excess of the posted speed limit (referred to as speeding in English or Kaahaajat in Finnish) is a common road user behaviour. In Finland, between 2000 and 2020, speeding was identified as the key contributing factor in 41% of fatal motor vehicle collisions. This may be because disregarding speed limits on motorways and on residential roads are the most common violations performed by Finnish drivers. This study identifies factors influencing speeding while driving in Finland. In particular, 703 responses from Finnish drivers of the ESRA2 (E-Survey of Road users’ Attitudes) were analysed to understand the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) factors underpinning speeding behaviours in three road environments: inside built-up areas; outside of built-up areas; and on motorways and freeways. Three binary logistic regression analyses were used to understand which elements of TPB were associated with self-reported speeding in each of these environments. Approximately two thirds of participants reported speeding in each of the three road environments. Attitudes and subjective norms were associated with speeding in built-up areas and on motorways or freeways. In addition, perceived behavioural control and age were significantly associated with speeding outside of built-up areas. The findings highlight how a systematic approach is needed to address speeding considering enforcement, engineering, legislation, and education. Full article

2022

Jump to: 2023, 2021

18 pages, 2114 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does the Implementation of Ride-Hailing Services Affect Urban Road Safety? The Experience of Madrid

by María Flor, Armando Ortuño and Begoña Guirao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 3078; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19053078 - 5 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2975

Abstract

In recent years, changes have occurred in consumption, ownership, and social relations, giving rise to new economic models in which technology enables new ways of connecting, creating, and sharing value. The nature of transport has transformed with the emergence of mobile applications, such [...] Read more.

In recent years, changes have occurred in consumption, ownership, and social relations, giving rise to new economic models in which technology enables new ways of connecting, creating, and sharing value. The nature of transport has transformed with the emergence of mobile applications, such as Uber and Cabify, which offer an alternative to the services traditionally provided by the taxi and chauffeur-driven hire vehicle (CDV) sectors. These services have developed within a context of market regulation of the taxi and CDV which are subject to considerable unjustified restrictions for entering and operating in the market, including the numerus clausus of licenses, the limited geographical scope of the license and, in the case of taxis, the regulation of prices as inflexible public rates. Bearing in mind the latest legislative changes affecting mostly the provision of the services of these platforms, this study analyzes whether the number of traffic accident victims has fallen since the introduction of these services in the city of Madrid using a Random Effects Negative Binominal model. The results show that the deployment of these platforms is associated with a reduction of 25% in the number of serious injuries and deaths. Full article

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20 pages, 2417 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Built Environment Factors on Elderly Pedestrian Road Safety in Cities: The Experience of Madrid

by Daniel Gálvez-Pérez, Begoña Guirao, Armando Ortuño and Luis Picado-Santos

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2280; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042280 - 17 Feb 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4166

Abstract

With the progressive ageing of the population, the study of the relations between road safety and elderly users is becoming increasingly relevant. Although the decline of pedestrian skills in the elderly has been widely studied in the literature, few studies have been devoted [...] Read more.

With the progressive ageing of the population, the study of the relations between road safety and elderly users is becoming increasingly relevant. Although the decline of pedestrian skills in the elderly has been widely studied in the literature, few studies have been devoted to the contributing built environmental factors of the elderly pedestrian collisions, such as the sidewalk density, the presence of traffic lights, or even some indicator related to land use or the socioeconomic features of the urban fabric. This paper contributes to the limited literature on elderly pedestrian safety by applying a negative binomial regression to a set of built environmental variables to study the occurrence of accidents involving elderly and younger (non-elderly) pedestrians in Madrid (Spain) between 2006 and 2018. The model considers a selection of built environmental factors per city district, linked to land use, infrastructure, and socioeconomic indicators. Results have highlighted that the elderly pedestrian collisions could be avoided with the existence of a wider sidewalk in the district and a greater traffic lights density. Unlike younger pedestrian accidents, these accidents are much more favored in ageing districts with higher traffic flows. Full article

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2021

Jump to: 2023, 2022

18 pages, 2806 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Driver Behavior When Overtaking Cyclists Riding in Different Group Configurations on Two-Lane Rural Roads

by Ana María Pérez-Zuriaga, Sara Moll, Griselda López and Alfredo García

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12797; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312797 - 4 Dec 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2576

Abstract

The presence of cyclists on Spanish rural roads is ever increasing and currently frequent, and thus becoming a serious safety concern. In rural environments, the risk of a crash is higher than in rural areas. The main cause is the higher speed of [...] Read more.

The presence of cyclists on Spanish rural roads is ever increasing and currently frequent, and thus becoming a serious safety concern. In rural environments, the risk of a crash is higher than in rural areas. The main cause is the higher speed of motor vehicles during overtaking manoeuvres. This manoeuvre is especially challenging when cyclists ride in groups as they may change size, length, shape, and speed along their route. These variables and those related to road cross-section can influence driver behaviour when overtaking a group of cyclists. To study this, instrumented bicycles were used to ride along five road segments with different geometric and traffic characteristics. Cyclists rode individually and in groups. Overtaking was evaluated by analysing the lateral distance, the speed, and other characteristics of the manoeuvre. Wider roads presented higher lateral clearances and overtaking speeds. Narrower roads had a high opposing lane invasion but a high level of compliance with the minimum lateral clearance. A higher clearance and lower speed of overtaking vehicles was registered when cyclists rode in line. Compliance with the 1.5 m clearance depended on the group configuration, being higher when cyclists rode in line. However, overtaking cyclists riding two abreast presented more accelerative manoeuvres, especially on narrow roads. Full article

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14 pages, 21367 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Micromobility Users’ Behaviour and Perceived Risk during Meeting Manoeuvres

by Alejandra Sofía Fonseca-Cabrera, David Llopis-Castelló, Ana María Pérez-Zuriaga, Carlos Alonso-Troyano and Alfredo García

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12465; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312465 - 26 Nov 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2845

Abstract

Mobility patterns and lifestyles have changed in recent years in cities worldwide, thanks to the strong rise in modes of travel commonly referred to as micromobility. In this context, e-scooters have experienced a great rise globally which has led to an increase of [...] Read more.

Mobility patterns and lifestyles have changed in recent years in cities worldwide, thanks to the strong rise in modes of travel commonly referred to as micromobility. In this context, e-scooters have experienced a great rise globally which has led to an increase of crashes involving this type of micromobility vehicle in urban areas. Thus, there is a need to study e-scooter users’ behaviour and their interaction with cyclists. This research aimed at characterizing the meeting manoeuvre between micromobility users along diverse typologies of two-way bicycle track by using an instrumented e-scooter. As a result, bicycle tracks having concrete or vegetated curb presented lower clearance distance (≈0.8 m) than those without edge elements (>1 m), with no statistically significant differences found between the interaction with bicycles and e-scooters. Additionally, an online questionnaire was proposed to assess users’ perceived risk during the meeting manoeuvre, concluding that micromobility users feel safer and more comfortable riding on pavements away from parked or moving motorized traffic, and on protected bicycle tracks. Full article

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11 pages, 343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cigarette Smoking as a Predictor of Male DUI Recidivism

by Claudio Terranova, Giovanni Forza, Elena Beccegato, Angelo Ruggeri, Guido Viel, Alessia Viero and Massimo Montisci

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10761; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010761 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1939

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the predictors of recidivism in first-time driving under the influence (DUI) offenders, analyzing variables derived from medico-legal and toxicological examinations. The research was structured as a comparative study for the period 2012–2019. DUI offenders with a blood alcohol [...] Read more.

This study aimed to investigate the predictors of recidivism in first-time driving under the influence (DUI) offenders, analyzing variables derived from medico-legal and toxicological examinations. The research was structured as a comparative study for the period 2012–2019. DUI offenders with a blood alcohol concentration >0.5 were included in the study. The case group consisted of recidivist offenders, while the comparison group consisted of first-time offenders. Personal data, socioeconomics, and parameters linked to the DUI were compared between the two groups. Significance was determined by chi-square and Mann–Whitney tests. To prevent confounding effects, multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Our sample encompassed 1678 subjects (196 in the case group, 1482 in the comparison group). Gender, driving license category, education, and tobacco use resulted in significant differences between the groups. In a model including age at DUI, education, and smoking habit as independent variables, higher educational levels (high school, bachelor’s) and older age protected against recidivism, whereas smoking >20 cigarettes/day was an independent risk factor for recidivism. Recidivist offenders have specific characteristics indicating different therapeutic programs and carefulness in driving license regranting. A higher tobacco consumption in recidivists suggests that the use of this substance could influence the risk of DUI for reasons that will need to be explored. Full article

17 pages, 6831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Significant Factors Affecting Frequent Lane-Changing Related to Road Safety: An Integrated Approach of the AHP–BWM Model

by Danish Farooq, Sarbast Moslem, Arshad Jamal, Farhan Muhammad Butt, Yahya Almarhabi, Rana Faisal Tufail and Meshal Almoshaogeh

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(20), 10628; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010628 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3437

Abstract

Frequent lane changes cause serious traffic safety concerns for road users. The detection and categorization of significant factors affecting frequent lane changing could help to reduce frequent lane-changing risk. The main objective of this research study is to assess and prioritize the significant [...] Read more.

Frequent lane changes cause serious traffic safety concerns for road users. The detection and categorization of significant factors affecting frequent lane changing could help to reduce frequent lane-changing risk. The main objective of this research study is to assess and prioritize the significant factors and sub-factors affecting frequent lane changing designed in a three-level hierarchical structure. As a multi-criteria decision-making methodology (MCDM), this study utilizes the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) combined with the best–worst method (BWM) to compare and quantify the specified factors. To illustrate the applicability of the proposed model, a real-life decision-making problem is considered, prioritizing the most significant factors affecting lane changing based on the driver’s responses on a designated questionnaire survey. The proposed model observed fewer pairwise comparisons (PCs) with more consistent and reliable results than the conventional AHP. For level 1 of the three-level hierarchical structure, the AHP–BWM model results show “traffic characteristics” (0.5148) as the most significant factor affecting frequent lane changing, followed by “human” (0.2134), as second-ranked factor. For level 2, “traffic volume” (0.1771) was observed as the most significant factor, followed by “speed” (0.1521). For level 3, the model results show “average speed” (0.0783) as first-rank factor, followed by the factor “rural” (0.0764), as compared to other specified factors. The proposed integrated approach could help decision-makers to focus on highlighted significant factors affecting frequent lane-changing to improve road safety. Full article

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16 pages, 4542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Environmental Noise, Distance and Warning Sound on Pedestrians’ Auditory Detectability of Electric Vehicles

by Min-Chih Hsieh, Hung-Jen Chen, Ming-Le Tong and Cheng-Wu Yan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(17), 9290; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179290 - 2 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2610

Abstract

With developments in science and technology, the number of electric vehicles will increase, and they will even replace ICE vehicles. Thus, perceiving the presence of approaching electric vehicles on the road has become an important issue. In this study, the auditory detectability of [...] Read more.

With developments in science and technology, the number of electric vehicles will increase, and they will even replace ICE vehicles. Thus, perceiving the presence of approaching electric vehicles on the road has become an important issue. In this study, the auditory detectability of the electric vehicle warning sound at different volumes, distances, and environmental noise levels was investigated. To this end, the detection rate was recorded in experiments with three environmental noise levels (50, 60, and 70 dBA), two sound pressure levels (SPLs) of the warning sound (46 and 51 dBA), three frequency combinations of the warning sound (5000, 2500, 1250, and 630 Hz for high frequencies; 2500, 1250, 630, and 315 Hz for medium frequencies; and 1250, 630, 315, and 160 Hz for low frequencies), and five distances (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 m). The main results showed that the detection rate at 51 dBA was significantly higher than that at 46 dBA under a high-frequency warning sound; however, the detection rates were similar under medium- and low-frequency warning sounds. The participants’ rates of detection for warning sounds were less than 20% under all experimental conditions, and a high-frequency warning sound was not affected by environmental noise. With regard to distances, no significant effects were observed between the distances and the detection rate at any of the three frequencies. In addition, auditory thresholds based on high-, medium-, and low-frequency warning sounds were found through logistic regression analysis results. The results of this study can be used as a reference for the future design of warning sounds. Full article

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13 pages, 388 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conspiracy Beliefs Are Related to the Use of Smartphones behind the Wheel

by Pedro M. Valero-Mora, Juan José Zacarés, Mar Sánchez-García, María Teresa Tormo-Lancero and Mireia Faus

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(15), 7725; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157725 - 21 Jul 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2687

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 [...] Read more.

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. Full article

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13 pages, 846 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Could Road Safety Education (RSE) Help Parents Protect Children? Examining Their Driving Crashes with Children on Board

by Francisco Alonso, Sergio A. Useche, Eliseo Valle, Cristina Esteban and Javier Gene-Morales

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(7), 3611; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073611 - 31 Mar 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3581

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that driving behavior and traffic safety outcomes of parents may be influenced by the extent to which they receive information and education on road safety, as well as the fact of driving with their children on board, which may increase [...] Read more.

Recent evidence suggests that driving behavior and traffic safety outcomes of parents may be influenced by the extent to which they receive information and education on road safety, as well as the fact of driving with their children on board, which may increase their risk perception. However, there are no studies specifically addressing the case of crashes suffered while driving with children. Hence, this study aimed to describe the relationship between road safety education-related variables and parents’ traffic safety outcomes while driving with children on board. For this cross-sectional study, data was retrieved from a sample composed of 165 Spanish parents—all of them licensed drivers—with a mean age of 45.3 years. Through binary logistic regression (logit) analysis, it was found that factors such as gender, having received road safety education (RSE), and having been sanctioned for the performance of risky driving behavior contribute to modulating the likelihood of suffering crashes while driving with children on board. Gender differences showed a riskier status for male parents. In this study, a set of risk factors explaining the involvement in traffic crashes when driving with children as passengers was identified among parents: gender, traffic sanctions, valuation, and exposure to road safety campaigns. Also, substantial limitations in the self-reported degree of received RSE were found, especially considering that risky driving behavior and traffic crash rates with children on board still have a high prevalence among parents. Full article

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Traffic and Road Safety: Multifactorial Analysis of Driving and Walking Behavioral Style (Closed)

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2023

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