Exploratory Analysis of Pedestrian Road Trauma in Finland

Abstract

In Finland, all fatal on-road and off-road motor vehicle crashes are subject to an in-depth investigation coordinated by the Finnish Crash Data Institute (OTI). This study presents an exploratory and two-step cluster analysis of fatal pedestrian crashes between 2010 and 2019 that were subject to in-depth investigations. In total, 281 investigations occurred across Finland between 2010 and 2019. The highest number of cases were recorded in the Uusimaa region, including Helsinki, representing 26.4% of cases. Females (48.0%) were involved in fewer cases than males; however, older females represented the most commonly injured demographic. A unique element to the patterns of injury in this study is the seasonal effects, with the highest proportion of crashes investigated in winter and autumn. Cluster analysis identified four unique clusters. Clusters were characterised by crashes involving older pedestrians crossing in low-speed environments, crashes in higher speed environments away from pedestrian crossings, crashes on private roads or in parking facilities, and crashes involving intoxicated pedestrians. The most common recommendations from the investigation teams to improve safety were signalisation and infrastructure upgrades of pedestrian crossings, improvements to street lighting, advanced driver assistance (ADAS) technologies, and increased emphasis on driver behaviour and training. The findings highlight road safety issues that need to be addressed to reduce pedestrian trauma in Finland, including provision of safer crossing facilities for elderly pedestrians, improvements to parking and shared facilities, and addressing issues of intoxicated pedestrians. Efforts to remedy these key issues will further Finland’s progression towards meeting Vision Zero targets while creating a safer and sustainable urban environment in line with the United Nations sustainable development goals.

Kaahaajat: Finnish Attitudes towards Speeding

“…There is also a need to further understand the context in which speeding occurs. The ESRA2 data collection was performed in winter, a time when fewer drivers are likely to speed due to the increased workload associated with driving in dark, snowy, and icy conditions which are typical of Finnish roads [32]. Research considering seasonal variation could provide the available insight into enforcement and public awareness campaigns.…”

Investigating the Impact of Automated Vehicles on the Safety and Operation of Low-Speed Urban Networks

“…Even when the mode share of the AVs is not high and distributed sparsely, there is still the beneft of "moving more efciently" for the entire network. While it is promising to see that increasing speed is coupled with reducing conficts, higher speeds of vehicles are associated with increased crash risk and severity, particularly for other modes of transportation, especially vulnerable road users [74][75][76]. In cases of more than moderate increase in average speed (for example, "moderate increase" can be some percentage over an average speed limit that is estimated from the MSD), warnings should be given to the driving assistant or control systems so that the systems can activate the emergency responses in various scenarios proactively.…”

Numerical and Economic Analysis of Hydronic-Heated Anti-Icing Solutions on Underground Park Driveways

“…Snow and ice formation on driveways in winter results in serious risky situations and safety concerns that also cause serious delays and cost drawbacks in daily life [1][2][3][4]. From past to present, many studies focused on economically viable snow and ice removal methods for densely populated areas (e.g., overpopulated living areas), public areas (e.g., hospitals, municipal buildings), and transport infrastructure (e.g., airports) as explained in detail by recent critical review studies [5][6][7][8][9]. In general, these methods can be divided into two types: passive and active.…”