Search result67 results
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Traffic safety improvement method for highway tunnel entrances based on linear guiding − An engineering practice from China
Yongzheng Yang, Zhigang Du, Francisco Alonso, Mireia Faus, Hongliang Wan
(2025). ArticleTunnelling and Underground Space Technology. No.156:106267
To improve traffic safety at the entrance of highway tunnels, a comparative analysis of the traffic environment inside and outside the tunnel was conducted, and an improvement scheme based on “linear visual guiding” was developed by considering the human factors. Before and after the improvement of nine experimental tunnels, two batches of vehicle experiments were conducted to analyze the improvement effect of linear guiding scheme on traffic safety. The results show that the linear guiding scheme warns drivers and enables them to make preparations to enter the tunnel earlier. After improvement, the starting position for deceleration (SPD) was 61%earlier and the length of the deceleration...
To improve traffic safety at the entrance of highway tunnels, a comparative analysis of the traffic environment inside and outside the tunnel was conducted, and an improvement scheme based on “linear visual guiding” was developed by considering the human factors. Before and after the improvement of nine experimental tunnels, two batches of vehicle experiments were conducted to analyze the improvement effect of linear guiding scheme on traffic safety. The results show that the linear guiding scheme warns drivers and enables them to make preparations to enter the tunnel earlier. After improvement, the starting position for deceleration (SPD) was 61%earlier and the length of the deceleration section (LDS) has increased by 42%; the starting position for trajectory change (SPTC) was 153% earlier and the length of the trajectory change section (LTCS) has increased by 44%.The improved deceleration and trajectory change are earlier and smoother, and the dramatic changes in speed and trajectory in the tunnel entrance are resolved. When entering the tunnel, drivers sequentially complete deceleration, vehicle trajectory adjustment, and visual adaptation to black-hole effect, disperses driving tasks, reducing the coupling of driving risks. And use linear guiding facilities to enhance the local brightness of the tunnel, enhancing the driver’s visual perception ability in the black-hole effect area. Linear guiding scheme has good results during day, night, and fog, and is able to improve traffic safety at tunnel entrances in all-weather and multiple time periods
Read more Hide DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2024.106267ISSN: 1878-4364 -
Evaluating Public Policies for SustainableMobility: A Review Through SomeInterdisciplinary Methodologiesand Procedures
Francisco Alonso, Mireia Faus, Sergio Useche, José L. Velarte, Mónica Alonso
(2024). LlibreStrengthening European Mobility Policy. No.p.13-26
We recommend acknowledging the importance of evaluation as an undisputable need in developing sustainable mobility policies. To achieve this policy recommendation, we propose to take into account the following: (1) Evaluations must be comprehensive, multidisciplinary, continuous, summative, rigorous, and economically feasible, led by those responsible for its design and implementation; (2) The incorporation of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) as a structured tool to evaluate the success of policies is recommended; (3) Continuous innovations hould be encouraged in policy development and evaluation processes, taking advantage of potential new technological advances to ensure that...
We recommend acknowledging the importance of evaluation as an undisputable need in developing sustainable mobility policies. To achieve this policy recommendation, we propose to take into account the following: (1) Evaluations must be comprehensive, multidisciplinary, continuous, summative, rigorous, and economically feasible, led by those responsible for its design and implementation; (2) The incorporation of Key Performance Indicators (KPI) as a structured tool to evaluate the success of policies is recommended; (3) Continuous innovations hould be encouraged in policy development and evaluation processes, taking advantage of potential new technological advances to ensure that policies are current, relevant, and effective over time; (4) Emphasize the relevance of involving all stakeholders and incorporating social and community perceptions through different tools and feedback mechanisms; and (5) Conducting a cost–benefit analysis is essential to maximize the effectiveness of budgets that are limited by definition and in reality.
Read more Hide ISBN: 978-3-031-67935-3 -
Estrategias de comunicación en salud pública: estudio de su efectividad
Mireia Faus, Francisco Alonso, Cesáreo Fernández
(2024). ArticleInfonomy. No.2(5):e24054
Hablar de salud pública conlleva necesariamente, aparte de otras consideraciones, hablar de comunicación. Sin una comunicación efectiva orientada a la población, la salud pública tendrá importantes impedimentos para su correcto desarrollo e implementación, más allá de otros aspectos de índole económicos, sociales, de planificación, políticos, etc. El presente artículo se centra en discernir, desde las evidencias y el análisis científicos, sobre las mejores prácticas y estrategias de comunicación relativas a la salud pública, a la vez que identificar carencias y posibles errores al respecto, para tratar de proporcionar recomendaciones o guías que mejoren su efectividad.
DOI: 10.3145/infonomy.24.054ISSN: 2990-2290 -
Exploring the causes of frequent accidents at highway tunnel exits: Coupling analysis of the slack effect and white hole effect in extra-long tunnels
Yongzheng Yang, Zhigang Du, Francisco Alonso, Mireia Faus, Jialin Mei
(2024). ArticleTransportation Research Part F: Psychology and Behaviour. No.106:288-305
In this paper, the causes of frequent traffic accidents at the exits of highway tunnels are inves-tigated. This study recruited 34 subjects to conduct vehicle experiments using an illuminationmeter, eye tracker, Smarter Eye and OBD to measure the illumination, eye movement charac-teristics, driving trajectory, and speed while driving in a tunnel exit. A questionnaire was used toinvestigate drivers’ subjective feelings while driving. The change trend of each indicator in thearea near the tunnel exit was analyzed, and the relationships among the light environment, driverphysiology, driving behavior, and driver psychology were explored. The psychological andphysiological inconsistency...
In this paper, the causes of frequent traffic accidents at the exits of highway tunnels are inves-tigated. This study recruited 34 subjects to conduct vehicle experiments using an illuminationmeter, eye tracker, Smarter Eye and OBD to measure the illumination, eye movement charac-teristics, driving trajectory, and speed while driving in a tunnel exit. A questionnaire was used toinvestigate drivers’ subjective feelings while driving. The change trend of each indicator in thearea near the tunnel exit was analyzed, and the relationships among the light environment, driverphysiology, driving behavior, and driver psychology were explored. The psychological andphysiological inconsistency phenomenon and abnormal acceleration behavior were observed atthe tunnel exit, and the slack effect was verified. As the tunnel exit area is driven through, withthe rapid increase in illumination, the rate of change of the driver’s pupil area increases, and thedistance between the vehicle and the tunnel sidewall increases. It is unreasonable that in a tunnelexit with a poor traffic environment, some drivers experience psychological slack and tend toincrease their speed and accelerate out of the tunnel. The slack effect is observed in most drivers,approximately 79.4% of the total. The white hole effect interferes with drivers’ vision and reducestheir ability to obtain traffic information. The slack effect reduces drivers’ attention and increasesvehicle speed. A coupling effect exists between the white hole and slack effects, which togetherthreaten traffic safety at the tunnel exit
Read more Hide DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2024.08.018ISSN: 1369-8478 -
La empresa frente a la accidentalidad laboral de tráfico: Fundamentación de planes de movilidad y Seguridad Vial como estrategia clave de prevención
Cosme Fernández Beneitez
(2024). ThesisDirectors: Francisco Alonso and Francisco Tortosa.
Qualification: Distinction "cum laude"
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Aggressiveness in Driving: A View From the Spanish Driver’s Perception
Francisco Alonso, Cristina Esteban, Andrea Serge, Mireia Faus
(2024). ArticleViolence and Victims. No.39(3)
Aggressiveness is a concerning issue due to its contribution to road crashes. This study aims to provide an overview on how Spanish drivers perceive aggressive driving, analyzing how this perception is linked to sociodemographic features. Thus, a cross-sectional study was designed, where 1,079 Spanish drivers took part in a telephone survey on aggressiveness’ importance, influence on traffic accidents, and frequency of performance. For data processing, Exploratory Data Analysis and Unifactorial Variance Analysis were conducted. The results showed that the perception of aggressive driving has a high valuation and a high-perceived risk, with differences for sex, age, and driving experience....
Aggressiveness is a concerning issue due to its contribution to road crashes. This study aims to provide an overview on how Spanish drivers perceive aggressive driving, analyzing how this perception is linked to sociodemographic features. Thus, a cross-sectional study was designed, where 1,079 Spanish drivers took part in a telephone survey on aggressiveness’ importance, influence on traffic accidents, and frequency of performance. For data processing, Exploratory Data Analysis and Unifactorial Variance Analysis were conducted. The results showed that the perception of aggressive driving has a high valuation and a high-perceived risk, with differences for sex, age, and driving experience. The findings suggest that some groups perceive more aggressiveness than others, meaning it is necessary to develop measures to reduce biases through a gender perspective.
Read more Hide DOI: 10.1891/VV-2021-0038ISSN: 1945-7073 -
Why frequent traffic accidents at highway tunnel exit? – An experimental analysis of the slack effect
Yongzheng Yang, Zhigang Du, Francisco Alonso, Mireia Faus, Shiming He
(2024). ArticleTunnelling and Underground Space Technology. No.152:105927
This study analyzes the causes of frequent traffic accidents at the exit areas of highway tunnels. Vehicle experiments were conducted to collect data on the light environment, vehicle speed, and driver eye movement. The distribution patterns of the illumination, vehicle speed, and gaze location occupancy were analyzed, and highway tunnels of different lengths were compared. The tunnel exit area is divided into the transition, exit, and departure zones. It was observed that there was an obvious white-hole effect at the exit zone, with drastic changes in the light environment. The presence of abnormal acceleration behavior in the transition zone and decreased attention in the departure zone...
This study analyzes the causes of frequent traffic accidents at the exit areas of highway tunnels. Vehicle experiments were conducted to collect data on the light environment, vehicle speed, and driver eye movement. The distribution patterns of the illumination, vehicle speed, and gaze location occupancy were analyzed, and highway tunnels of different lengths were compared. The tunnel exit area is divided into the transition, exit, and departure zones. It was observed that there was an obvious white-hole effect at the exit zone, with drastic changes in the light environment. The presence of abnormal acceleration behavior in the transition zone and decreased attention in the departure zone demonstrate the existence of psychological and physiological slack in drivers. Additionally, the tunnel length positively correlates to the slack effect, which is stronger in extra-long tunnels than in the short and medium tunnels. Multiple control scenarios were established and driving simulation experiments were conducted to further analyze the impact of the slack effect on the traffic safety. The experimental results demonstrated that the slack effect of the extra-long tunnels exhibited an evident lag which was still present after leaving the tunnel exit. The average vehicle speed and trajectory offset were larger and more discrete in the post-tunnel zone than on an ordinary open road. The speed of the curve in the post-tunnel zone is 5.1 % higher than that of the curve in the ordinary road, and the maximum trajectory offset is 54.3 % higher. Thus, this study reveals the slack effect at tunnel exits and explains the abnormal phenomenon of relatively good traffic environments but high traffic accident rates in the transition and departure zones of tunnel exits. These results present considerable practical significance for the safe operation of highway tunnels, particularly extra-long tunnels.
Read more Hide DOI: 10.1016/j.tust.2024.105927ISSN: 1878-4364 -
Analysis of Commuting Habits and Perceived Risks: An Empirical Case Study in a Large Spanish Company
Cosme Fernández, Francisco Alonso, Francisco Tortosa, Mireia Faus
(2024). ArticleSustainability. No.16(12):5245
Commuting road accidents have a direct impact on workers as well as companies. Therefore, analyzing the characteristics of commuting to and from work and workers’ perceptions of their potential risk is necessary. This study analyzes these factors in a sample of employees in a large Spanish company. A questionnaire was distributed to a total of 665 workers, assessing variables such as means of transport used and preferred in this type of commuting, perceived risks, assessment of preventive measures, involvement in a road accident during commuting, and road safety training received by the company, among others. There is a difference between preferred and used modes of transport, with factors...
Commuting road accidents have a direct impact on workers as well as companies. Therefore, analyzing the characteristics of commuting to and from work and workers’ perceptions of their potential risk is necessary. This study analyzes these factors in a sample of employees in a large Spanish company. A questionnaire was distributed to a total of 665 workers, assessing variables such as means of transport used and preferred in this type of commuting, perceived risks, assessment of preventive measures, involvement in a road accident during commuting, and road safety training received by the company, among others. There is a difference between preferred and used modes of transport, with factors limiting the use of soft modes. People who have experienced an accident on the way to work have a higher risk perception of this type of journey. The time and distance of the journey also have a significant influence on the perceived risk. The most highly rated preventive actions are mainly related to the accessibility and comfort of the workers’ daily commute, which helps minimize the time spent on journeys. This analysis provides relevant information on the social acceptability of different measures for the development and implementation of future actions of the prevention services that contribute to reducing this type of accident and designing strategies to promote more sustainable commuting mobility.
Read more Hide DOI: 10.3390/su16125245ISSN: 2071-1050 -
Public Transportation Means as seen by Citizens: approaching the case of the Dominican Republic
Francisco Alonso, Cristina Esteban, Mireia Faus, Sergio Useche
(2024). ArticleHeliyon. No.10:e32363
Especially in low and middle-income countries, key constraints such as dense traffic flows, jams, and pollution constitute frequent issues that potentially explain many negative consequences in terms of (e.g.) efficiency, sustainability, and mobility safety. In this regard, recent evidence supports the idea that fostering public transportation is crucial to offering solutions for this difficult panorama. However, transport mode-related choices and shifts have been proven to depend highly on key perceptions and needs of potential users. The aim of this study was to analyze a set of key users’ perceptions, usage, and perceived quality of public transportation in the Dominican Republic, as...
Especially in low and middle-income countries, key constraints such as dense traffic flows, jams, and pollution constitute frequent issues that potentially explain many negative consequences in terms of (e.g.) efficiency, sustainability, and mobility safety. In this regard, recent evidence supports the idea that fostering public transportation is crucial to offering solutions for this difficult panorama. However, transport mode-related choices and shifts have been proven to depend highly on key perceptions and needs of potential users. The aim of this study was to analyze a set of key users’ perceptions, usage, and perceived quality of public transportation in the Dominican Republic, as well as to explore the most relevant features for Dominicans from the “desired quality” paradigm. For this research at a national level, data retrieved from a nationwide sample of 1254 inhabitants of the Dominican Republic was used, proportional to the ONE census in terms of sex, age, habitat, and region. Overall, the results show that the general quality of transportation is 6.70 points out of 10. The use of public transportation in the Dominican Republic has a medium-low rating and is very focused on urban buses (41 %) and public cars (27.1 %). Nonetheless, the metro remains the most highly rated means of transport (M = 8.75). Concerning the quality variables analyzed, the highest scores are for accessibility (M = 7.08) and frequency of service (M = 6.99). Further, Dominicans focus on improving comfort, vehicle conditions, and safety. This study constitutes a first approximation to the desired quality of public transportation for Dominican Citizens, which may help policymakers scope user-based needs in public transportation systems and encourage a more frequent (and friendlier) public transport use in the country.
Read more Hide DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32363ISSN: 2405-8440 -
How to resolve the contradiction between driving safety and lighting energy conservation in a highway tunnel? − An experiment on linear guiding system
Yongzheng Yang, Francisco Alonso, Zhigang Du, Sergio Useche
(2024). ArticleTransportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. No.103:319-339
High rates of traffic accidents and lighting energy consumption are significant problems in highway tunnels. To address these problems, this study proposes a linear guiding system that uses line-shaped visual guiding facilities to improve the local luminance and contrast, and outlines the tunnel contour and road alignment. In addition, the principle, function, setting method, and composition of the linear guiding system are discussed. Using the existing highway tunnels as prototypes, we built simulation scenarios with different luminance and conducted driving simulation experiments and questionnaire surveys. We analysed the human factor demands of tunnel driving, studied the change rule of...
High rates of traffic accidents and lighting energy consumption are significant problems in highway tunnels. To address these problems, this study proposes a linear guiding system that uses line-shaped visual guiding facilities to improve the local luminance and contrast, and outlines the tunnel contour and road alignment. In addition, the principle, function, setting method, and composition of the linear guiding system are discussed. Using the existing highway tunnels as prototypes, we built simulation scenarios with different luminance and conducted driving simulation experiments and questionnaire surveys. We analysed the human factor demands of tunnel driving, studied the change rule of various human factor indicators under different luminance levels, and comprehensively evaluated the impact of linear guiding system on driving safety from multiple perspectives of the driver’s vision, psychology, and behaviour. We introduce the concept of equivalent luminance, quantify the impact of linear guiding system on the driver, and explore the role of linear guiding system in energy conservation. The results showed that the linear guiding system has a positive effect on driver vision, psychology, and behaviour, particularly in low-luminance environments. A linear guiding system can optimise a driver’s visual reference frame, enhance driver visual perception in a tunnel environment, and alleviate driver tension. It helps drivers to accurately perceive their own spatial position and speed, providing a good sense of position, speed, and comfort. A 2.3 cd/m2 luminance highway tunnel with a linear guiding system is equivalent to a 4 cd/m2 luminance traditional tunnel. For highway tunnels with luminance values of 4, 5, 6, and 7 cd/m2, the equivalent luminance values of the linear guiding system are 1.7, 1.8, 1.8, and 2.1 cd/m2 respectively, which can reduce the energy consumption by 30–42 %
Read more Hide DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2024.04.018ISSN: 1369-8478
