Jean-Yves Fournier

Powered two-wheeler drivers' risk of hitting a pedestrian in towns

INTRODUCTION The risk of collision between pedestrians and powered two-wheelers is poorly understood today. The objective of this research is to determine the risk for powered two-wheeler drivers of hitting and injuring a pedestrian per kilometer driven in towns and to compare this risk with that run by four-wheeled vehicle drivers. METHOD Using the bodily injury accidents recorded by the police on nine roads in the city of Marseille in 2011 and a campaign of observations of powered two-wheeler traffic, we estimated the risk per kilometer driven by powered two-wheeler drivers of hitting a pedestrian and compared it with the risk run by four-wheeled vehicle drivers. RESULTS The results show that the risk for powered two-wheeler drivers of hitting and injuring a pedestrian is significantly higher than the risk run by four-wheeled vehicle drivers. On the nine roads studied, it is on average 3.33 times higher (95% CI: 1.63; 6.78). Taking four more years into account made it possible to consolidate these results and to tighten the confidence interval. CONCLUSION There does indeed seem to be problems in the interactions between pedestrians and powered two-wheeler users in urban traffic. These interaction problems lead to a higher risk of hitting and injuring a pedestrian for powered two-wheeler drivers than for four-wheeled vehicle drivers. The analysis of the police reports suggests that part of this increased risk comes from filtering maneuvers by powered two-wheelers. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Possible countermeasures deal with the urban street layout. Measures consisting in reducing the width and the number of traffic lanes to a strict minimum and installing medians or pedestrian islands could be an effective way for the prevention of urban accidents between pedestrians and powered two-wheelers.

Powered two-wheeler drivers' crash risk associated with the use of bus lanes

CONTEXT Authorizing powered two-wheeler drivers to drive in lanes reserved to buses is a measure that is sometimes mentioned to improve mobility conditions for these users. But what effect would this measure have on the safety of these users and on the safety of the other users with whom they share the traffic space? OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to contribute elements to help answer this question. More precisely, the objective is to estimate the risk of having an accident per kilometer driven by powered two-wheeler drivers who drive in bus lanes and to compare this risk with that of powered two-wheeler drivers who drive in general traffic lanes. METHOD Using the bodily injury accidents recorded by the police over two years on 13 roads in the city of Marseille and a campaign of periodical observations of powered two-wheeler traffic, we estimated the risk per kilometer driven by powered two-wheeler drivers who drive in bus lanes and compared it with that of drivers who do not drive in them. RESULTS The results show that the risk for powered two-wheeler drivers who drive in bus lanes of being involved in a bodily injury accident is significantly higher than the risk run by drivers who drive in general traffic lanes. For the 13 roads studied, it is on average 3.25 times higher (95% CI: 2.03; 5.21). CONCLUSION In the current situation, powered two-wheeler drivers who drive in bus lanes are less safe than those who drive in general traffic lanes. The analysis of police reports suggests that part of this increased risk comes from collisions between automobile drivers turning right and powered two-wheelers driving in the bus lane who continue straight ahead.

Influence of Cannabis on Fatal Traffic Crashes

The influence of cannabis on traffic crashes is a growing concern. Experimental studies provide ample evidence of cannabis influence on psychomotor and cognitive performances. Epidemiological works describe the excess crash risk that this substance causes. Yet this psychotropic drugs influence in causing crashes is still at the center of many discussions. The present analysis exploits crash data in detail to obtain a more precise understanding of the failures that drivers are subject to when they have consumed cannabis, depending on the level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) measured in blood samples. Two groups representative of fatal crashes in France were studied: a cannabis group (n = 174) and a control group (n = 174) involving use of neither cannabis nor alcohol. Results of this analysis notably showed that cannabis consumption significantly increased the rate of generalized failures by the driver, reflecting an alteration of all sensorial, motor, and cognitive functions, specifically for high blood levels of THC (>5 ng/mL). At lower levels of intoxication, cannabis leads to a poor diagnosis of driving difficulties.

Collisions Between Pedestrians and Reversing Vehicles in Public Settings in France

Received: September 8, 2017 Revised: November 24, 2017 Accepted: January 10, 2018 Abstract: Background: Collisions between pedestrians and reversing vehicles in public settings have received little attention in France. Yet, according to the national statistics on traffic accidents, reversing vehicles are involved in 6.5% of the 11,700 pedestrian accidents recorded each year (over the 2008-2015 period). Moreover, this proportion is probably underestimated in these statistics.

Powered two-wheeler riders' risk of crashes associated with filtering on urban roads.

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate the crash risk per kilometer traveled by powered two-wheeler (PTW) riders filtering through traffic on urban roads. Methods: Using the traffic injury crashes recorded by the police over a period of 3 years on 14 sections of urban roads in the city of Marseille, France, and a campaign of observations of PTWs, the crash risk per kilometer traveled by PTWs filtering was estimated and compared to the risk of PTWs that did not filter. Results: The results show that the risk of PTW riders being involved in injury crashes while filtering is significantly higher than the risk for riders who do not filter. For the 14 sections studied, it is 3.94 times greater (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.63, 5.89). This excess risk occurred for all PTW categories. Furthermore, no space appears to be safer than the others for filtering. Riders filtering forward along the axis of the carriageway, along bus lanes, or between traffic lanes (lane-splitting) all have a crash risk greater than the risk of those who do not filter. Conclusions: All measures limiting the practice of filtering by PTWs on urban roads would probably contribute to improving the safety of their users.

FAILURES OF INTERACTION BETWEEN POWERED TWO-WHEELER RIDERS AND CAR DRIVERS IN URBAN ACCIDENTS

The users of powered two-wheeler (PTW) are facing, everywhere in the world, a road risk significantly higher than car users, especially in town. This is particularly the case in France, where the risk of death per kilometer traveled for two-wheelers is over 20 times that of motorists. This risk is linked to the intrinsic vulnerability of these road users due to a lack of protection by a coachwork, but it also highlights some accidents configurations that deserve to be analyzed in depth to understand the mechanisms and factors, and to set countermeasures. The present paper is based on the results of a comparative analysis of accidents involving PTWS occurred in urban areas and extra-urban (n =) to understand in more detail the specific problems generated by urban traffic situations. More specifically, it aims to deepen the question of the interactions that take place between the driving failures of the protagonists (PTW riders and other road users) involved in these accidents. The analysis shows that these interaction problems emerge more strongly in urban-type accidents. They typically show a failure to anticipate by the PTW driver (41% of cases) and a perception failure on the part of the other road user (65.2% of cases). These two types of driving failures are most often related in the sense that car drivers are surprised by the presence and sometimes unexpected behavior of PTW drivers; and in return the maneuver undertaken by motorists misleads the expectations of PTW drivers who were sure to have been seen. Solutions to this critical malfunction scenario are thought to be found in training and communication of different road users, and in an urban road network that offers greater visibility and predictability of behavior.

Acquisition and analysis of road incidents based on vehicle dynamics

Because motor vehicle crashes have decreased during the last decade in many countries in the world and are more diffuse, local authorities have difficulties to define road safety policies. An experiment with 51 cars of public fleets equipped with a specific Event Data Recorder was carried out in France during one year. The purposes of this research were to evaluate if incident data (critical driving situations) help to understand crashes, and to explore a new way for road infrastructure safety diagnosis. The analysis of 339 genuine incidents and 1237 simple events recorded illustrates the potentiality of such an experiment and provides: some insights about conditions in which incidents occur, a general overview of their distribution according to different road layouts, as well as information on the different levels of accelerations reached. It can be noticed that there is an overrepresentation of incidents in right curves compared to left curves. The simple events involving mostly the infrastructure could be used to detect road defects. Genuine incidents where the vehicle is subjected to important dynamic demands, related to potentially unsafe driving situations, can be used to improve knowledge of the motor vehicle crashes thanks to incident mechanisms analysis.

Powered two-wheelers in urban environment: A detailed accident analysis

The powered two-wheelers (PTWs; moped, motorcycles and scooters) have long been considered as a marginal population, but they developed significantly these last decades in most parts of the world, necessitating a new view concerning them. This is particularly the case in urban areas where their use has increased, notably linked to the possibility they offer to escape the problems of traffic congestion, which attracts an increasingly vast and varied population. In addition, PTWs can also be a good compromise to face in inner-city parking problems. As such, the motorized two wheelers are considered by certain authors as an essential contribution to the urban traffic of tomorrow. However, this view is currently contradicted by the poor level of safety linked to the integration of such vehicles within traffic. As a matter of fact, most epidemiological studies show the overall excess risk to which PTWs are confronted in the traffic system, this risk coming notably from the extreme vulnerability of PTW riders in case of a crash, and relying on some specific accident patterns. This negative effect must be neutralized for PTW to become a true urban mobility tool. The purpose of the present paper is to identify the causes and mechanisms of PTW traffic crashes occurred in town, notably comparing them with those produced in countryside areas. The data rely on a detailed analysis of a sample of 1308 accident police records. The results put emphasis on the difficulties met by PTW users on the road or in the street, and also the difficulties met by car drivers confronted to them. A better knowledge of the specificities and the mechanisms of PTW involvement in injury accidents is viewed as offering a potential improvement of their safety through an adapted urban infrastructure development.

The safety problems met by powered two-wheelers in urban traffic

An important growth in motorcycle traffic has occurred during the last decades in most parts of the world, the result of which being that powered two-wheelers (PTWs) have gradually become a true mobility tool that attract an increasingly vast and varied population. But a side effect of such an evolution refers to road safety. As a matter of fact, most epidemiological studies show the overall excess risk facing PTW in the traffic system, this risk coming notably from the extreme vulnerability of PTW riders in case of a crash and relying on some specific accident patterns. Faced with this negative aspect of riding a motorcycle or a scooter, it is essential to thoroughly understand the risks that riders meet when moving in traffic and more specifically in the urban environment where they particularly develop. The present paper has the purpose of identifying the production processes that characterise PTW traffic crashes occurring in town in comparison with those produced in the countryside. The data relies on a detailed analysis of a sample of 1000 accident police records. The results put emphasis on the difficulties confronting PTW users when on the road or in the street and to analyse the repercussions of these difficulties in terms of critical situations that are met by riders. A better knowledge of the specificities and the mechanisms of PTW involvement in injury traffic accidents is viewed as offering a potential improvement in their safety through adapted urban road development.