ScienceDaily: Transportation Issues News

Change in cycle track policy needed to boost ridership, public health

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:16:16 EDT

Bicycle engineering guidelines often used by state regulators to design bicycle facilities need to be overhauled to reflect current cyclists' preferences and safety data, according to a new study. They say that US guidelines should be expanded to offer cyclists more riding options and call for endorsing cycle tracks -- physically separated, bicycle-exclusive paths adjacent to sidewalks -- to encourage more people of all ages to ride bicycles.

Benefit of cycle helmet laws to reduce head injuries still uncertain

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:31:31 EDT

The benefit of helmet legislation to reduce admissions to hospital for head injuries is "substantially uncertain," concludes a new study.

Passenger car drivers are more likely to die in crashes with SUVs, regardless of crash ratings

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:54:54 EDT

Most consumers who are shopping for a new car depend on good crash safety ratings as an indicator of how well the car will perform in a crash. But a new study of crashes involving cars and sport utility vehicles has found those crash ratings are a lot less relevant than vehicle type.

Kestrels, other urban birds are stressed by human activity

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:20:20 EDT

American kestrels, small colorful falcons often seen perched along roadways, are abundant in urban and agricultural areas. Shorter grass makes insects, snakes, mice and other prey more visible, and signposts, fences and telephone poles provide excellent perches. However a new study shows that even species considered “tolerant” of human activity may be adversely impacted by human disturbance; Kestrels nesting in close proximity to roads and developed areas had elevated stress hormones and high rates of nest abandonment. The apparently favorable location, then, becomes an ecological trap.

Research supports laws that require bicyclists to wear helmets

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Bicycle helmets save lives and their use should be required by law. That's the conclusion of a new study.

Seat belt research aims to increase child safety on the road

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:03:03 EDT

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury among children. Researchers have found the most effective strategy to prevent injury and death among children is to use age- and size-appropriate seat belt restraints.

Driving with the dog not a good idea for seniors

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:45:45 EDT

Senior drivers who always take a pet in the car are at increased risk for being involved in a motor vehicle collision, said researchers. The research team said both overall and at-fault crash rates for drivers 70 years of age or older were higher for those whose pet habitually rode with them.

Rear seat design: A priority for children's safety in cars

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:46:46 EDT

New report recommends technology, policy changes to better protect older children and adolescents in crashes.

Drivers education for older drivers remains for 2 years, researcher finds

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:56:56 EDT

In seeming contrast to the notion that the elderly often have memory problems, a new study finds driver retraining to be an effective strategy for improving the safe-driving habits of older drivers over the long term. Participants who received simulator training and video critiques of their driving performance two years prior increased their likelihood of scanning while negotiating an intersection by 100 percent.

Strong urban cores promote socializing in the city

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:44:44 EDT

Opportunities for social interaction -- which are important for individual, economic and social well-being -- are hampered in decentralized cities, even more than by fragmented urban layouts and long commute times, say researchers.

Sleep apnea patients more likely to report nodding at the wheel and fail driving simulator tests

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:48:48 EDT

People with sleep apnea are more likely to fail a driving simulator test and report nodding whilst driving, according to new research.

Distracted driving: Habits of San Diego drivers revealed

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:46:46 EDT

There were approximately 3,300 deaths and 400,000 injuries nationwide in the US in 2011 due to collisions involving distracted driving. With April being national distracted driving awareness month, a team of researchers released survey results that reveal the habits of San Diego County drivers who use their cell phone while behind the wheel.

National teen driving report in U.S. finds safety gains for teen passengers

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:21:21 EDT

A new report measured a 47 percent decline in teen driver-related fatalities since 2008. Still, as recent high-profile crashes illustrate, crashes remains the leading cause of death for US teens. Risky behaviors- like smartphone use while driving, driving after drinking, and low seat belt use- remain serious problems, and experts see specific opportunities to "apply the gas" to these common factors in crashes involving teen drivers.

Pedestrians at serious risk when drivers are 'permitted' to turn left

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:26:26 EDT

A study to examine driver behavior in permitted left turns has identified what researchers call an "alarming" level of risk to pedestrians crossing the street -- about 4-9 percent of the time, drivers don't even bother to look and see if there are people in the way. The danger to pedestrians, who have a false sense of security, is far higher than had been realized.

Auto mishaps often occur on low-speed roads, but a high-speed trip will prompt reluctant bucklers

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:10:10 EDT

Since most driving is done locally, it is not surprising that most auto accidents occur during routine errands. Yet, occasional seatbelt users are more likely to buckle up for trips on high-speed roads and less likely to use the belts for local driving, according to an analysis of data from 100 instrumented vehicles.

Properly planned roads could help rather than harm the environment, say experts

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:27:27 EDT

Two leading ecologists say a rapid proliferation of roads across the planet is causing irreparable damage to nature, but properly planned roads could actually help the environment.

Symbols, such as traffic lights, on menus effective in educating diners

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:09:09 EDT

The combination of a symbol and a numeric calorie count on a menu is the most effective way to influence patrons to select lower-calorie items.

Sometimes, the rubber meets the road when you don't want it to: Arresting a fleeing vehicle with the push of a button

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:12:12 EST

Back in 2010, the ideas behind a squid's sticky tendrils and Spiderman's super-strong webbing were combined to create a prototype for the first remote device able to stop vehicles in their tracks. It worked, but that technology just got better.

British Columbia traffic deaths could be cut in half, study suggests

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:58:58 EST

A new study shows British Columbia has much higher traffic death rates than most northern European countries. Comparisons to the safest country, the Netherlands, suggest B.C. could reduce the number of traffic deaths by more than 200 per year. It also found that fatality and injury risks varied by travel mode.

Hello car, what is the password?

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 09:35:35 EST

As cars get clever -- bristling with computer chips and networking capabilities -- an EU-funded project makes sure that your car's data stays safe and the networks are secure from hackers and tampering.

Saving money by using electric vehicles

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:30:30 EST

High battery costs still prevent many people from buying an electric vehicle. Is it possible to save money by using an electric vehicle instead of a conventional reference car? This question is studied by the companies of Michelin and Siemens in cooperation with research partners at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI.

Separated bike lanes, slower vehicle speeds greatly reduce bicycle injuries

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:17:17 EST

Using your bicycle to commute to work has numerous health and environmental benefits. Yet, the largest Canadian study on cycling injuries suggests cyclists are at risk of injury due to the lack of cycling infrastructure in large urban centers.

It's off to work we go

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:15:15 EST

Researchers have discovered that decisions about where to live and how to get from home to work happen simultaneously. What's more, your commuting choices depend not only on cost and travel time, but also on who you are and where you live.

Crew rotation and passenger connections spread flight delays, study finds

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:19:19 EST

Researchers say that crew rotation and passengers connections systematically spread flight delays due to a domino effect. The work, that proposes a new methodology to assess the degree of air traffic congestion.

Researchers identify links between visibility and safety from roadway lighting

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 09:45:45 EST

Newspapers are filled with stories describing reductions and removal of street lighting in order to reduce municipal costs. Tackling the tricky questions of when and where to install roadway illumination is a challenge for transportation agencies. Researchers recently described a unique parallel approach to lighting safety analysis. The team used lighting and crash data for state highway intersections in Minnesota to develop quantitative models relating nighttime driving safety to the presence of lighting at these intersections. Importantly, these models also included the effects of features like signals, medians and other intersection design and operational features in order to segregate the effects of lighting from these other aspects.

Possible link between electronic billboards and highway crashes

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 07:56:56 EST

Drivers take more and longer glances at electronic billboards than regular signs, indicating a possible link between these digital signs and highway crashes.

Attitudes to speed among learner drivers predict unsafe driving once qualified

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:53:53 EST

Attitudes to speed and risk-taking on the road develop at the learner driver stage and predict those who will go on to be potentially dangerous drivers once fully licensed, indicates new research.

Lower drinking ages can have an impact on later drinking patterns

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:22:22 EST

Lower minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws have been associated with short-term effects such as more traffic fatalities and teen suicides. A new study has investigated the long-term and persistent effects of permissive MLDA laws. Findings support an association with problematic drinking behaviors that persist into later adulthood, such as more frequent binge episodes.

U. S. Federal Safe Routes to School program reduces child injuries by more than 40 percent in New York City

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:27:27 EST

The national Safe Routes to School program was funded by Congress in 2005 to create safe environments for American children to walk or bike to school. A new study evaluated the program in New York City and found that the annual rate of injury to school-age pedestrians ages 5-19 fell 44 percent during the peak times for walking to school, in neighborhoods where the program was implemented.

Cutting in and weaving irritate drivers the most, new study on road rage shows

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:17:17 EST

Cutting in and weaving, speeding, and hostile displays are among the top online complaints posted by drivers, according to a new study.

Traffic congestion can be alleviated throughout a metropolitan area by altering trips in specific neighborhoods, model shows

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:37:37 EST

A new study shows that traffic congestion can be alleviated throughout a metropolitan area by altering the trips of drivers in specific neighborhoods.

The life-saving real world results of intelligent vehicle systems

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 08:40:40 EST

Smart automotive technologies that help drivers avoid collisions, navigate and improve fuel efficiency should make roads safer, ease congestion and reduce pollution. But just how beneficial are they? Potentially very, according to vehicle manufacturers, researchers and automotive suppliers.

Resident fatigue, stress trigger motor vehicle incidents

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:25:25 EST

It appears that long, arduous hours in the hospital are causing more than stress and fatigue among doctors-in-training -- they’re crashing, or nearly crashing, their cars after work, according to new research. Nearly half of the roughly 300 Mayo Clinic residents polled during the course of their residencies reported nearly getting into a motor vehicle crash during their training, and about 11 percent were actually involved in a traffic accident.

Improved techniques may help recovery and prevent incidents of missing drivers with dementia

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:30:30 EST

A new study focusing on characteristics of people with dementia who become lost while driving, and the role of public notification systems like Silver Alert in these discoveries, makes recommendations that may help recover drivers with dementia and prevent potentially harmful incidents.

Variable congestion charges may yield more stable air quality and improved health

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:10:10 EST

Higher congestion charges in the morning and in the spring would even out the negative health effects caused by air pollution from cars in large cities.

Almost one in three pedestrians 'distracted' by mobile devices while crossing street; Texting most dangerous distraction

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:57:57 EST

Almost one in three pedestrians is distracted by mobile devices while crossing busy road junctions, an observational study finds.

Standardized road test results differ from older adults' natural driving

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:35:35 EST

If you're thinking that little old lady driving 35 miles per hour in the passing lane shouldn't be behind the wheel, you may be right. Studies have shown that our driving abilities decline with age, and for those with cognitive issues such as dementia, it can be even worse. However, researchers also found differences between the results of standardized road tests and older adults' natural driving abilities.

Less than 25 percent of Americans walk for more than ten minutes continuously in a typical week

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:11:11 EST

Many people in the U.S. do not walk, bike or engage in other forms of active transportation, missing an important opportunity to improve their cardiovascular health, concludes a new study.

Human disturbances keep elk on high alert

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:30:30 EST

Researchers have discovered that elk are more frequently and more easily disturbed by human behavior such as ATV drivers than by their natural predators like bears and wolves.

Innovative sobriety project reduces DUI and domestic violence arrests, study finds

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:20:20 EST

An innovative alcohol monitoring program that requires daily testing of alcohol-involved offenders helps reduce both repeat DUI arrests and domestic violence arrests, according to a new study.

Cellphone bans associated with fewer urban accidents

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:16:16 EST

Cellphones and driving go together like knives and juggling. But when cellphone use is banned, are drivers any safer? It depends on where you're driving, a new study says. The study found that, long-term, enacting a cellphone ban was associated with a relative decrease in the accident rate in urban areas. However, in very rural areas, cellphone bans were associated with higher accident rates than would otherwise be expected.

Are high capacity vehicles the future?

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:15:15 EST

Research by a transport and logistics expert has shown that there would be economic and environmental benefits to individual companies and the country if the UK changed the rules to allow high capacity vehicles on to its roads.

Vehicles, roadways 'talk' in efforts to improve traffic safety

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 09:26:26 EST

One day, your auto and the roadway will be in constant communication and able to suggest route changes to avoid accidents, construction, and congestion; coordinate your vehicle with signal lights, other vehicles, and lane markers; and let you know where you can park. Right now, a fleet of instrumented vehicles are testing these systems on two instrumented test beds -- one in Northern Virginia and one in Southwestern Virginia.

High capacity vehicles 'would benefit UK'

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 07:30:30 EDT

Streetcar tracks blamed in one-third of Toronto bike accidents

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:50:50 EDT

Researchers have confirmed what many cyclists in Toronto have long believed – that streetcar tracks are involved in nearly one-third of bicycle accidents.

Majority of roadkill amongst vertebrates in Catalonia, Spain, are in protected areas

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 09:30:30 EDT

Amphibians are the vertebrate group that is more likely to become roadkill in Catalonia, even more so than reptiles, mammals and birds. This is the case according to an international team of scientists who have concluded that highly protected areas are home to more cases of animal death on the roads.

New Jersey's decal for young drivers reduced crashes, study suggests

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:10:10 EDT

A new study shows that NJ's law requiring novice drivers to display a red decal on their license plates has prevented more than 1,600 crashes and helped police officers enforce regulations unique to new drivers. Nearly every state has a GDL law on the books, but "Kyleigh's Law," named for a teen driver killed in a 2006 NJ crash, is the first to require drivers under age 21 to display their probationary status.

Injuries, manufacturer warnings do not deter ATV use by children under age 16

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:06:06 EDT

All-terrain vehicle (ATV) manufacturer warning labels aimed at children under age 16 are largely ineffective, and formal dealer-sponsored training is infrequently offered and deemed unnecessary by most young ATV users, according to new research.

Recession drives down U.S. national park visitation

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:06:06 EDT

A national recession doesn't just affect Americans' wallets. It also impacts their travel to national parks, a new study has found. Recent visitation statistics released by the US Department of Interior already noted the significant decrease in national park visitation -- dropping nearly 10 million since 1998 to 278 million visitors -- but this is the first study to link the drop to a bad economy.

Bicycle infrastructure can reduce risk of cycling injuries by half, Canadian study finds

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:22:22 EDT

Certain types of routes carry much lower risk of injury for cyclists, according to a new study. The study analyzed the cause of 690 cycling injuries in Vancouver and Toronto from 2008 to 2009 and various route types and infrastructure.

'Physical Internet': Shared transportation system would increase profits, reduce carbon emissions

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 09:21:21 EDT

The Physical Internet – a concept in which goods are handled, stored and transported in a shared network of manufacturers, retailers and the transportation industry – would benefit the U.S. economy and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new study.

Bicycle helmets prevent fatal head injuries, study finds

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:21:21 EDT

Cyclists who died of a head injury were three times as likely to not be wearing a helmet compared with those who died of other injuries, according to a new study.

What do cyclists need to see to avoid single-bicycle crashes?

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 07:46:46 EDT

Crashes are an unfortunate fact of life for many traveling on roads and bicycle paths, but how and why they happen is not always well understood. New research shows that in crashes where a single cyclist collided with a bollard, narrowed road or other obstacle, or rode off the road altogether, poor visibility and especially poor visual contrast played a significant part.

A system to automate traffic fines

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:21:21 EDT

Researchers in Spain have designed a system that automates the administrative sanctioning process by applying communication and information technologies to traffic flow and using sensors built into vehicles.

How will smart cars affect the future of driving?

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:38:38 EDT

California, Nevada, and Florida have already made driverless cars street-legal, and continuing advances in the technology have led many to predict that the commercialization of automated vehicles is a real possibility in the not-so-distant future. As driverless vehicles become more commonplace, it is important to understand how humans interact with this new technology.

State-mandated planning, higher resident wealth linked to more sustainable city transportation

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:42:42 EDT

Transportation practices tend to be more environmentally friendly in wealthier metropolitan areas located within states that mandate comprehensive planning, new research suggests.

Warning, automatic braking systems on autos will help save lives, researchers predict

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 14:32:32 EDT

Researchers extracted 1,396 incidents of rear-end collisions from a national U.S. database and looked at them on a case-by-case basis to determine whether the intelligent vehicle systems being studied would have been called into play and, if so, how they would have helped. The research showed that 7.7 percent of crashes would be prevented by use of all three systems -- warning, assisted braking, and autonomous braking.

Pedestrian accidents are more severe for seniors and more preventable for young people

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 18:22:22 EDT

New research identifies preventable reasons why young pedestrians are struck by motor vehicles and injury severity differences among children, seniors

'Carmaheaven': Closure of 405 in 2011 improved Los Angeles area air quality up to 83 percent

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:37:37 EDT

Take the time to enjoy a deep breath next weekend when the 405 freeway in the Los Angeles, California area closes for Carmageddon II. If it's anything like last year, the air quality is about to get amazing. Researchers report that they measured air pollutants during last year's Carmageddon (July 15) and found that when 10 miles of the 405 closed, air quality near the shuttered portion improved within minutes, reaching levels 83 percent better than on comparable weekends.

Helicopter heroes save lives of severely injured patients

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:53:53 EDT

The benefits and cost effectiveness of helicopter transport for severely injured patients is of continued debate. New research shows that for severe blunt trauma, patients transported by helicopter had a lower risk of death, compared to those transported by road.