International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Research

15 pages, 487 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk and Protective Factors for Injury in Adult Front- and Rear-Seated Motor Vehicle Occupants in New York State

by Laura Zhang, Emilia Pawlowski, Leah M. Hines, Michael J. Bauer and Joyce C. Pressley

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 663; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060663 - 22 May 2024

Viewed by 318

Although seatbelt use is known to reduce motor vehicle occupant crash injury and death, rear-seated adult occupants are less likely to use restraints. This study examines risk and protective factors associated with injury severity in front- and rear-seated adults involved in a motor [...] Read more.

Although seatbelt use is known to reduce motor vehicle occupant crash injury and death, rear-seated adult occupants are less likely to use restraints. This study examines risk and protective factors associated with injury severity in front- and rear-seated adults involved in a motor vehicle crash in New York State. The Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES) (2016–2017) was used to examine injury severity in front- and rear-seated occupants aged 18 years or older (N= 958,704) involved in a motor vehicle crash. CODES uses probabilistic linkage of New York State hospitalization, emergency department, and police and motorist crash reports. Multivariable logistic regression models with MI analyze employed SAS 9.4. Odds ratios are reported as OR with 95% CI. The mortality rate was approximately 1.5 times higher for rear-seated than front-seated occupants (136.60 vs. 92.45 per 100,000), with rear-seated occupants more frequently unrestrained than front-seated occupants (15.28% vs. 1.70%, p < 0.0001). In adjusted analyses that did not include restraint status, serious injury/death was higher in rear-seated compared to front-seated occupants (OR:1.272, 1.146–1.412), but lower once restraint use was added (OR: 0.851, 0.771–0.939). Unrestrained rear-seated occupants exhibited higher serious injury/death than restrained front-seated occupants. Unrestrained teens aged 18–19 years old exhibit mortality per 100,000 occupants that is more similar to that of the oldest two age groups than to other young and middle-aged adults. Speeding, a drinking driver, and older vehicles were among the independent predictors of serious injury/death. Unrestrained rear-seated adult occupants exhibit higher severe injury/death than restrained front-seated occupants. When restrained, rear-seated occupants are less likely to be seriously injured than restrained front-seated occupants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road Traffic Risk Assessment: Control and Prevention of Collisions)

12 pages, 338 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between Driving Ability and Physical Fitness Factors in Older Adults: A Multiple Linear Regression Analysis

by Akihiko Katayama, Takenori Abe, Ayako Hase and Nobuyuki Miyatake

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(6), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21060660 - 22 May 2024

Viewed by 321

Abstract

The number of older drivers is increasing with the aging population; this has led to concerns about traffic accidents involving older drivers. For older adults, the automobile is not just a means of transportation, but a life necessity that promotes social activities and [...] Read more.

The number of older drivers is increasing with the aging population; this has led to concerns about traffic accidents involving older drivers. For older adults, the automobile is not just a means of transportation, but a life necessity that promotes social activities and maintains and improves health-related quality of life. In this study, we aimed to clarify the relationship between driving ability and physical fitness factors among 70 older adult drivers using a single regression analysis and multiple regression models adjusted for age, sex, and other factors. Driving ability was evaluated by driving an actual car on an ordinary road without a simulator. The single regression analysis revealed no relationship between driving ability and any physical fitness factor. In the multiple regression model analysis, only grip strength was an important explanatory factor; however, the driving ability scores decreased as grip strength scores increased. By clarifying the physical fitness factors that influence the maintenance and improvement of driving ability, it is possible to propose more efficient intervention programs to maintain and improve driving ability. We could not identify the relevant physical fitness factors in this study; therefore, further research is required to improve safe driving among older adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road Traffic Risk Assessment: Control and Prevention of Collisions)

13 pages, 2894 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of a Road Safety Awareness Campaign Deployed along the Roadside in Saguenay (Québec, Canada)

by France Desjardins and Martin Lavallière

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(11), 6012; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20116012 - 31 May 2023

Viewed by 1519

Abstract

For the past few years, police officers from the City of Saguenay have been installing a billboard combined with a damaged car along roadsides to make drivers aware of the road risks related to dangerous behaviors at the wheel. To assess the short-term [...] Read more.

For the past few years, police officers from the City of Saguenay have been installing a billboard combined with a damaged car along roadsides to make drivers aware of the road risks related to dangerous behaviors at the wheel. To assess the short-term effect of this device, evaluative research with a quasi-experimental design with pre-exposure, during, and post-exposure. The results show a significant decrease (p < 0.001) of 0.637 km/h for the first site (a 70 km/h zone) and 0.269 km/h for the second site (a 50 km/h zone) when the device is exposed. At the time of this last evaluation, a reduction of 1.255 km/h remained even after the advertising panel was removed. Although minimal, this speed reduction where the billboards are placed shows the police that this awareness-raising approach works since it reduces the speed of motorists at very low cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road Traffic Risk Assessment: Control and Prevention of Collisions)

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