Edgar Sokolovskij

Traffic control elements influence on accidents, mobility and the environment

This paper presents the main traffic control elements, which were classified into groups. One group presents traffic control elements, which have different effects on accidents: reduce the number of accidents, do not have statistically significant effect on the number of accidents and those which appear to lead to an increased number of accidents. Next group presents traffic control elements, which have effect on mobility and the environment. Some of them can improve mobility on road, others reduce mobility on road. Presented elements, which are useful for the environment, are considered.

Automobile Braking and Traction Characteristics on the Different Road Surfaces

Abstract The present article depicts the results of the investigation into automobile braking parameters and traction characteristics on the different road surfaces. The results of the investigation into automobile braking (the automobile deceleration and coefficient of traction), while braking in winter conditions, i.e. on ice and snow, are presented. The values of deceleration of the automobile while braking on various non‐typical surfaces, on the asphalt, covered with the motor oil or resin, while driving across the petrol spot, and on other surfaces of the road, are presented. Such data are necessary while modelling the automobiles movement in various road conditions and while carrying out the examination of traffic accidents.

Research into the Quality of Fuels and Their Biocomponents

Abstract The article provides a closer look into the quality properties of fuels, analyses the merits and demerits of using biocomponents in petrol and diesel and overviews the ways of improving the quality of fuels. Work carried out by the authors covers the determination of the basic quality properties (density, kinematic viscosity and flash point) of petrol, diesel, methanol, ethanol, buthanol as well as rape methyl and rape ethyl esters. The paper investigates how these qualities influence the operational performance of the engine and puts forward the age‐dependence analysis of diesel quality properties.

The impact of road roughness on the duration of contact between a vehicle wheel and road surface

AbstractThe paper analyses the impact of the road micro-profile on the duration and the type of the vehicle wheel contact with the road surface driving at different speed. The selected vehicle bicycle model describes vertical displacements of front and rear wheels and their suspension as well as the impact of the vehicle body motion and longitudinal oscillation. International Roughness Index (IRI) and micro-profile irregularities of the road section analysed in the paper were identified using specialized road testing equipment. The experimental investigations measuring the vehicle suspension displacement and the body acceleration were carried out. Frequency characteristics of suspension motion and regularities of vertical movement of the wheel were identified after dividing the investigated road section according to driving modes. The analysis into the wheel contact with the road surface and identified correlations enable to determine the vehicle stability on selected quality roads.

Investigating traffic accidents: The interaction between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian

The paper presents the methodology for expert investigation of traffic accidents involving running over pedestrians. This methodology is aimed at determining the availability of any technical possibility for a motor vehicle driver, driving at a particular speed, to avoid hitting the pedestrian in a particular situation. Furthermore, the paper presents the analysis of different investigation methods and the description of investigation procedures. Various patterns of the path of the motor vehicle and the pedestrian travel before the accident are described, providing a deeper insight into the peculiarities of investigation of each particular pattern. The description is supported by the case study, illustrating the investigation of a specific traffic accident, involving actual hitting of a pedestrian. The methodology presented may be successfully used for investigating traffic accidents by experts.

Bicycles’ Role in Road Accidents a Review of Literature

Abstract Nearly 1.3 million people die in road crashes each year, on average 3,287 deaths a day. In 2013 in the European Union more than 6 % of all who died in road traffic crashes were cyclists. The number of cyclist killed on roads in the EU has decreased by only 9 %, compared to the total fatality decrease of 18 % from 2010 to 2013. The majority of cyclist fatalities are males (78 %). For the larger countries, Belgium and The Netherlands had the highest proportion of female cyclist fatalities (> 30 %). In general, 55 % of the bicycle fatalities in the EU countries were killed inside urban areas but there are large differences between the countries. In the last couple of years there has been an enormous effort on reduction in cycling fatality numbers across almost all ages in the EU. As a result of this effort, the number of accidents started to slightly decrease. This paper reviews the literature concerning cyclist-motor vehicle collision and road safety management according to the cyclist role in the accident rise. The paper examines pedestrians safety in order to determine what kind of factors of transport infrastructure, vehicle technical parameters, cyclist behavior and road or street category have the influence on cyclist and vehicle accidents and identify technical reasons of the accidents rise. A review is conducted of information in the literature on the injury outcome of a cyclist/vehicle collision for a given impact speed and the likely consequences of reducing the travelling speeds of vehicles in terms of the frequency and severity of cyclist injuries.

Betterment of ecological parameters of a diesel engine using Brown‘s gas

Abstract Hydrogen could become an important element, allowing us to accumulate and transfer energy in a clean way. Hydrogen can be used in cars as a fuel additive which increases the combustion efficiency of the fuel-air mixture. A small amount of hydrogen gas could also be produced in a car by decomposing water by means of electrolysis, using for this purpose the energy produced by the cars electric power generator. The hydrogen and oxygen (HHO) mixture obtained, which is also known as Browns gaseous mixture, is supplied to the engines intake manifold. Tests have been performed with 1.6 TD (SB) diesel engine. The automobile was tested on a chassis dynamometer running at a different speed. The engine was tested using fuel-air combustion mixture and fuel-air-HHO gas combustion mixture without additional adjustment of the fuel supply system. The test results have revealed that additional injection of HHO gas into combustion mixture resulted in up increase of fuel consumption, but the CO, the HC, the PM a...

Modelling of collisions of the automobiles

Abstract The graphic analytical modelling and the computer modelling of collisions of the automobiles are compared in this article. The examples of modelling of collisions of the automobiles are given. The computer modelling of collision of the automobiles with the help of the program PC CRASH is introduced. The possibilities and advantages of this computer program, the inserted parameters and their optimization are investigated. The possibilities of applying the computer modelling program in the experts’ examination of traffic accidents while modelling collisions of the automobiles, the items and requirements raised towards the experts, who work with such programs, on reliability of the obtained results are considered.

Application of modern warehouse technology in the Slovenian automotive industry

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the usefulness and reliability of modern warehouse technology for suppliers in the automotive industry and to identify the potential causes preventing it from being used more in practice. In recent years, we have seen great progress made in the development of modern warehouse solutions, as well as a dramatic rise in research on the issues related to the introduction of modern technology and interaction between operators and automation. However, a look at some of the existing studies on the usefulness of the use of modern technology reveals that their conclusions are often contradictory. The results of statistical analysis of Slovenian companies that operate as suppliers in the international automotive industry show that modern warehousing technology is reliable and safe to use, but more than 60% of companies fail to take advantage of its benefits. These companies are also using basic warehouse technology, despite the fact that such technology does not ensure a sense of safety in the warehouse. In the medium term, this could put them at a disadvantage against competitors in the demanding sector of the automotive industry. The results of the study provide additional starting points for understanding human use of modern warehouse technology, which can lead to improvements in how warehouse systems are designed, more effective employee training methods and a reasonable and balanced policy for the automation of the warehousing processes.