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Li J, Chen F. Gauging road safety advances using a hybrid EWM-PROMETHEE II-DBSCAN model with machine learning. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1413031. [PMID: 39238537 PMCID: PMC11374619 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1413031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Enhancing road safety conditions alleviates socioeconomic hazards from traffic accidents and promotes public health. Monitoring progress and recalibrating measures are indispensable in this effort. A systematic and scientific decision-making model that can achieve defensible decision outputs with substantial reliability and stability is essential, particularly for road safety system analyses. Methods We developed a systematic methodology combining the entropy weight method (EWM), preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE), and density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN)-referred to as EWM-PROMETHEE II-DBSCAN-to support road safety monitoring, recalibrating measures, and action planning. Notably, we enhanced DBSCAN with a machine learning algorithm (grid search) to determine the optimal parameters of neighborhood radius and minimum number of points, significantly impacting clustering quality. Results In a real case study assessing road safety in Southeast Asia, the multi-level comparisons validate the robustness of the proposed model, demonstrating its effectiveness in road safety decision-making. The integration of a machine learning tool (grid search) with the traditional DBSCAN clustering technique forms a robust framework, improving data analysis in complex environments. This framework addresses DBSCAN's limitations in nearest neighbor search and parameter selection, yielding more reliable decision outcomes, especially in small sample scenarios. The empirical results provide detailed insights into road safety performance and potential areas for improvement within Southeast Asia. Conclusion The proposed methodology offers governmental officials and managers a credible tool for monitoring overall road safety conditions. Furthermore, it enables policymakers and legislators to identify strengths and drawbacks and formulate defensible policies and strategies to optimize regional road safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Li
- College of Arts and Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Faan Chen
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
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Wisutwattanasak P, Jomnonkwao S, Khampirat B, Raungratanaamporn IS, Ratanavaraha V. Multilevel structural equation modeling of willingness-to-pay for fatality risk reduction: perspectives of driver and district levels. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot 2024; 31:96-110. [PMID: 37812734 DOI: 10.1080/17457300.2023.2266841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Road accidents remain a serious problem and directly affect drivers. Therefore, the perspectives of drivers are important in improving road safety. The objectives of this study are to empirically examine damage due to road accidents using the willingness-to-pay (WTP) approach and to analyze the factors that influence WTP at the driver and district levels. This study obtained data on WTP derived from car drivers across Thailand, which covers 96 districts. The value of statistical life was 824,344 USD per fatality (2,296 million USD annually). The results of Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling revealed a statistically important insight. At the driver level, the Health Belief Model and sociodemographic exert influence on the intention to pay. The demographic factor that has the greatest influence on perceived risk and leads to a high intention to pay is the working age group (γ = 0.826). However, when considering the HBM, perceived susceptibility (γ = 0.901) emerges as the most valuable factor influencing drivers' concerns about road accidents. On the other hand, district-level factors have a negative influence on the intention to pay for road safety measures. Among these factors, the law enforcement (γ = -0.555) practices implemented by local authorities have the most significant impact on drivers' perspectives and intentions regarding WTP. This finding can be used as a guideline for budget allocation and policy recommendation for policymakers in improving road safety according to the area contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panuwat Wisutwattanasak
- Institute of Research and Development, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao
- School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Buratin Khampirat
- School of General Education, Institute of Social Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - I-Soon Raungratanaamporn
- School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha
- School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
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Gené-Sampedro A, Alonso F, Gene-Morales J, Monteiro PL, Useche SA. Could driving help us to "see better"? A comparative assessment of saccadic efficiency, visual speed, and attention. BMC Ophthalmol 2024; 24:90. [PMID: 38413901 PMCID: PMC10900731 DOI: 10.1186/s12886-024-03349-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed at comparing drivers' and non-drivers' results in the Adult Developmental Eye Movement with Distractors test (ADEMd) and the Useful Field of View test (UFOV). METHODS One hundred and twenty Spaniards (mean age 50.90 ± 17.32 years) without eye disease voluntarily participated in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Participants in a single experimental session completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic, health, eyesight, and driving information. They also performed the ADEMd and UFOV tests randomly following standardized protocols. The ADEMd is a visual-verbal test that measures saccadic efficiency and visual attention. Brown-Forsythe (B-F) tests with Games-Howell post-hoc adjustments were conducted to assess differences between groups. Groups were formed according to sex, age (young adults, adults, and older adults), and driver/non-driver for further analysis. Additionally, associations between dependent variables were assessed through Spearman's correlations. RESULTS Drivers obtained significantly better results in the ADEMd compared with non-drivers. Non-significant differences between drivers and non-drivers were encountered in the UFOV. Additionally, significant differences were observed between sexes and age groups. It is worth highlighting that non-driver's age significantly correlated with worse ADEMd performance (rho = .637 to .716). This correlation was non-significant in drivers. Similarly, reading hours significantly correlated with better ADEMd performance in non-drivers (rho = - .291 to - .363), but not in drivers. The only significant correlations between ADEMd and UFOV tests were found in drivers (rho = .307 to .410). CONCLUSION Considering all the discussed results, it could be hypothesized that the driving task promotes abilities, such as oculomotor and cognitive function, which are relevant for the performance in the ADEMd. However, this hypothesis is based on correlational outcomes and further studies should causally assess this possible relation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Gené-Sampedro
- Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety (INTRAS), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Optics and Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Francisco Alonso
- Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety (INTRAS), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibáñez 21, Valencia, 46010, Spain
| | - Javier Gene-Morales
- Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety (INTRAS), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Prevention and Health in Exercise and Sport (PHES) research group, Department of Physical Education of Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pedro Lourenço Monteiro
- Department of Physics, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
- CICS (Health Sciences Research Centre), University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Sergio A Useche
- Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety (INTRAS), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibáñez 21, Valencia, 46010, Spain.
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Influence of Psychological Perspectives and Demographics on Drivers’ Valuation of Road Accidents: A Combination of Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Preference Heterogeneity Model. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12090336. [PMID: 36135140 PMCID: PMC9495307 DOI: 10.3390/bs12090336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Property damage and loss from road traffic accidents are a major concern in developing countries; thus, studies on accident damage in such countries may include more latent factors. This study aims to examine the effect of psychological perspectives and sociodemographic status on drivers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for road accident risk reduction, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the random parameters multinomial logit model with heterogeneity in means and variances (RPMNLHMV). The CFA results from interviews with 1650 car drivers in Thailand demonstrate that concepts of the theory of planned behavior and health access process approach are key factors for describing drivers’ behavioral intention and WTP. The RPMNLHMV results indicate that drivers’ demographics affected drivers’ WTP to reduce road accidents, and psychological perspectives were also found to have an influence on WTP. The results also reveal unobserved characteristics that could affect drivers’ WTP. The study concludes that ignoring unobserved heterogeneity in studies on WTP to reduce road accidents can lead to biased results and neglect important influential factors. The methodological approaches applied herein offer another layer of insight into unobserved characteristics in road accident valuation. These findings could be used to provide relevant authorities practical insights for policy development on road accident mitigation and road safety education programs in accordance with drivers’ characteristics.
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Occupational Traffic Accidents among Teachers in Spain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095175. [PMID: 35564569 PMCID: PMC9105916 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Occupational traffic accidents are a leading cause of injuries or deaths among workers. Teachers in Spain are especially concerned about the problem of commuting due to their particular labor conditions. Multiple work-related factors are associated with the risk and severity of occupational traffic-related motor vehicle crashes. The objective of this research is to analyze the influence of the variables associated with the severity of occupational traffic accidents among teachers in Spain. A logistic regression model was used for the current study. The odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) were calculated for the injured worker on a sample of 20,190 occupational traffic accidents suffered by teachers. The results showed that women, Spanish nationality, younger than 55 years, and those driving a car were more likely to suffer a light crash. In contrast, men, foreign nationalities, older than 55 years, and those riding a motorbike were more likely to suffer a serious crash. Based on these findings, motor vehicle safety training could be designed and adapted to the riskiest profiles. Additionally, effective mobility plans for commuting could help reduce work-related traffic accidents.
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Jomnonkwao S, Wisutwattanasak P, Ratanavaraha V. Factors influencing willingness to pay for accident risk reduction among personal car drivers in Thailand. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260666. [PMID: 34843597 PMCID: PMC8629291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Thailand ranks near the top for the road accident fatality rate worldwide, and more and more vehicles are being registered in Thailand every year. Obtaining the opinions of road commuters may help us reduce road accidents in Thailand. This study seeks to understand damage value in road accidents for personal car drivers in Thailand, using the willingness to pay approach and establishing factors affecting willingness to pay with the theory of planned behavior (TPB). This study obtained data using questionnaires in face-to-face interviews with 1,650 personal cars drivers in Thailand. The average willingness to pay (WTP) for 50% fatality or injury reduction was 23.00 baht/person/50 km trip (US $0.74/person/50 km trip). We obtained the value of statistical life (VSL), assessing this to fall between US $815,385 and US $872,942, and the value of statistical injury (VSI), between US $150,059 and US $160,652. Overall, national damage was assessed at US $4,701,981,170 annually. According to the analysis of factors affecting WTP, TPB comprises four factors, namely, driver attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention. Analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) found all mentioned factors were relevant and positively influenced personal car drivers' WTP in Thailand, with a statistical significance at a 99% confidence interval (p < 0.01). This study can develop recommendations for relevant organizations to analyze the results as part of considerations regarding budget allocation and developments on road safety policy due to driver attitude as important as environmental factors or any other factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao
- School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Panuwat Wisutwattanasak
- School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha
- School of Transportation Engineering, Institute of Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
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Alonso F, Useche SA, Gene-Morales J, Esteban C. Compliance, practices, and attitudes towards VTIs (Vehicle Technical Inspections) in Spain: What prevents Spanish drivers from checking up their cars? PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254823. [PMID: 34280232 PMCID: PMC8289058 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Mechanical conditions of vehicles may play a determinant role in driving safety, the reason why vehicle periodical technical inspections (VTIs) are mandatory in many countries. However, the high number of drivers sanctioned for not complying with this regulation is surprisingly high, and there is not much evidence on what kind(s) of motives may explain this concerning panorama. This study aimed to identify the aspects that modulate the relationship between complying (or not) with VTI’s standards in a nationwide sample of Spanish drivers. The study design also addressed the drivers’ awareness regarding different risky behaviors while driving, depending on their sex and their crash record. Methods 1,100 Spanish drivers completed a survey on the aforementioned issues. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc adjustment was conducted to assess significant differences (p<0.05) in the study variables. Results Most of the surveyed drivers (99.18%) reported that they always comply with VTI’s requirements. The main reasons to comply were related to compliance with traffic regulation and fear of penalties, while the reasons attributed to its incompliance are, instead, stated as involuntary. Conclusion The findings of this study support the idea that more actions are needed to increase drivers’ awareness of the relevance of VTIs for road safety, as well as warning them about the dangers of neglecting vehicle checking beyond merely punishing measures. For this reason and given the greater prevalence of the issue among younger segments of the driving population, it is suggested that more emphasis on the matter could be made during novice driver’s training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Alonso
- DATS (Development and Advising in Traffic Safety) Research Group, INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sergio A. Useche
- DATS (Development and Advising in Traffic Safety) Research Group, INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Javier Gene-Morales
- DATS (Development and Advising in Traffic Safety) Research Group, INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- PHES (Prevention and Health in Exercise and Sport) Research Group, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cristina Esteban
- DATS (Development and Advising in Traffic Safety) Research Group, INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Ortega CAC, Mariscal MA, Boulagouas W, Herrera S, Espinosa JM, García-Herrero S. Effects of Mobile Phone Use on Driving Performance: An Experimental Study of Workload and Traffic Violations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18137101. [PMID: 34281034 PMCID: PMC8297239 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18137101] [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: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The use of communication technologies, e.g., mobile phones, has increased dramatically in recent years, and their use among drivers has become a great risk to traffic safety. The present study assessed the workload and road ordinary violations, utilizing driving data collected from 39 young participants who underwent a dual-task while driving a simulator, i.e., respond to a call, text on WhatsApp, and check Instagram. Findings confirmed that there are significant differences in the driving performance of young drivers in terms of vehicle control (i.e., lateral distance and hard shoulder line violations) between distracted and non-distracted drivers. Furthermore, the overall workload score of young drivers increases with the use of their mobile phones while driving. The obtained results contribute to a better understanding of the driving performance of distracted young drivers and thus they could be useful for further improvements to traffic safety strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A. Catalina Ortega
- Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain; (C.A.C.O.); (M.A.M.); (W.B.); (J.M.E.)
| | - Miguel A. Mariscal
- Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain; (C.A.C.O.); (M.A.M.); (W.B.); (J.M.E.)
| | - Wafa Boulagouas
- Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain; (C.A.C.O.); (M.A.M.); (W.B.); (J.M.E.)
| | - Sixto Herrera
- Departamento de Matemática Aplicada y Ciencias de la Computación, ETS de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain;
| | - Juan M. Espinosa
- Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain; (C.A.C.O.); (M.A.M.); (W.B.); (J.M.E.)
| | - Susana García-Herrero
- Escuela Politécnica Superior, Universidad de Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain; (C.A.C.O.); (M.A.M.); (W.B.); (J.M.E.)
- Correspondence:
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