As we near the end of decade of safety action 2011–2020 declared by WHO, new targets have been announced by the UN as part of sustainable development goals (SDGs) – halving road traffic deaths by 2030. A number of countries have shown reduction in road traffic deaths in the last few years; however, a large number of countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America continue to experience increase in road traffic deaths. These countries continue to have high use of motorcycles, informal public transport and presence of pedestrians along highways and cities. Meeting SDG target for reducing traffic fatalities poses a real challenge to the world community because we do not have enough scientific understanding which can significantly reduce risk faced by motorcycle users. Motorcycles are comparatively low cost machines, with fuel efficiency and manoeuvrability; these advantages come at the very high cost of increased risk of traffic crashes. In the present issue we have included four studies from countries as far apart as Laos and Columbia that deal with safety issues related to motorcyclists.
Gisel V. Osorio Cuellar et al. from Colombia have studied the first exclusive lane for motorcycles from the view point of those who use it. After the lane dividers were put it was found that a large majority of motorcyclists and cyclists reported that manoeuvring became easier and their travel time was significantly reduced. This was in contrast to the automobile drivers. Exclusive lanes for motorcycles are perceived by the users as safe and convenient .This may encourage high use of motorcycles which has much higher risk of getting involved in a traffic crash compared to other vehicles. At this stage it is not clear what may be the impact of such infrastructure in the long run. We need more research to understand the long-term impact of such measures.
From Vientiane in Laos we have a hospital-based injury surveillance study on child motorcycle drivers and passengers below 15 years of age by Tomoki Wada et al. The majority of patients below 15 years of age admitted to the hospitals were either motorcyclists or motorcycle passengers. Unlike the adult these youngsters were less likely to wear helmets. The study recommends stricter regulations and rule enforcement. Sysavanh Phommachanh et al. from Laos have studied the use of mobile phones by students driving motorcycles. It is based on a school students questionnaire survey. Some of the students reported that they not only talked on their phones while driving but also indulged in text messaging. Those on long drives tended to use the mobile phones more than those whose trips were of short duration. Further investigations are needed to regulate this emerging behaviour of distraction and its relationship to road crashes.
Motorcycles are used as taxis in many African countries. Adesola O. Olumide et al. from Nigeria have gone into the question of urban and rural disparity in compliance of traffic signages by young commercial motorcyclists. It was found that young rural motorcyclists were very negligent in reading and obeying traffic signs unlike their urban counterparts. It is argued that there is an urgent need to rectify the situation by interventions at all possible levels.
From Colombia, we have a study on traffic rule violations at injury crash sites by G.S. Gomez Salazar et al. Cyclists did not wear helmets and did not wear the designated vests which increased their conspicuity. Pedestrians crossed the street at prohibited places even when there was a foot over bridge. High rates of traffic rule violations were observed among vulnerable road users. Further studies would have to be undertaken to better understand the occurrence of such behaviour on the part of the road users.
Using clustering analysis, pedestrians involved crashes over a four-year period in Iran were grouped into homogeneous groups by AliTavakoli Kashani et al. This process yielded six pedestrian crash groups. The study indicated that it would be beneficial if heavy vehicle drivers were subjected to pedestrian safety training sessions; limitations should be placed on aging heavy vehicle drivers while reinforcing penalties on drivers and motorcyclists under the age of 19. These steps could be a successful prelude to prioritizing future pedestrian safety research.
Chunjiao Dong et al. have examined the factors affecting intersection crash frequencies using random parameter multivariate zero inflated models. It was found that RMZIP models have the potential to provide a fuller understanding of how the factors affect crash frequencies on specific roadway crossings. Different kinds of variables were found to significantly influence the crash frequencies by varying magnitudes. These variables result in random parameters and thereby their effects on crash frequencies are found to vary significantly across the sampled intersections.
Though the non-seatbelt use by drivers is widely studied, the same is not true about the non-seatbelt use by passengers. This interesting area of neglect has been studied by Guang-Ming Han from Nebraska, USA. There were clear indicators that the driver's attitude had a significant bearing on the passengers use or non-use of the seat belt. A state-wide injury surveillance system was used to study the phenomenon. This study can contribute to further public health practices by increasing seatbelt use by reminders and educational interventions.
Railway crashes are much less studied as compared to road traffic crashes. This issue carries two studies involving railways. Mathieu Strale et al. from Belgium have examined the geographic distribution of suicide and railway suicides in Belgium between 2008 and 2013. Using principal component analysis they identified three groups of correlations among population variables and socio-economic indicators like population density, unemployment and age group distribution. This study has particular importance in that it can prevent suicides in high-risk areas on the Belgium railway network.
Wei Hao et al. from New York, USA, have studied the differences between urban and rural driver injury severities at highway-rail grade crossings. Using an ordered probit modelling approach the study explores the determinants of driver injury severity at highway-rail grade crossings in both rural and urban settings. It was found that the injury levels were far higher in the rural contexts, particularly in those rural crossings where there were no pavements or lighting. For the future, the study recommends that the driver's biomechanics and behavioural forms should be studied alongside comprehensive geometry information regarding the crossing angle.
Arab countries have one of the highest road traffic fatality rates in the world. Sharaf A. Alkheder has presented a review of the traffic safety status in Abu Dhabi city in the UAE. The road networks of the Arab Gulf countries experienced a large number of traffic crashes. This study covering the period 2008–2013 covers the city of Abu Dhabi. The data-set was obtained from the police department records which included features like time of accident, location, type of accident, driver characteristics, road conditions and other such attributes. Further research is required to bring down the fatality rates in Arab country.
The efforts required by the research community to address the difficult issues like reducing risk to motorcycle users, pedestrians, and bicyclists seems to be the most important element required to meet the new targets set by the UN in the SDGs.