Analysis of dynamic determinants of vehicles involved in crash affecting severity based on in-depth crash data

Abstract

Objective

The dynamic characteristics of vehicles involved in crashes may be an important factor affecting the crash severity. This study investigates the relationship between the dynamic characteristics of vehicles involved in crashes in the five seconds before the occurrence and the crash severity. The findings aim to offer insights for preventing severe crashes and advancing autonomous vehicle technology.

Methods

This study aims to investigate the impact of dynamic features, such as speed, acceleration, and relative distance of vehicles involved in the crash in the five seconds before the crash, on the crash severity. Five hundred ninety-six crash samples from the China In-depth Mobility Safety Study-Traffic Accident database were selected for crash reconstruction. A random parameters logit model was used to extract and analyze the effect of dynamic features of the vehicles involved in the crash on the crash severity.

Results

The random parameters logit model demonstrated a satisfactory fit. Analysis of the parameter estimation results of the model showed that the variables of speed, acceleration, and relative distance between vehicles involved in the crash at some time points during the five seconds before the crash significantly affected the crash severity. Notably, the coefficient of variation of relative distance over 5 s emerged as the most influential positive determinant of the crash severity.

Conclusions

Certain dynamic characteristics of vehicles involved in a crash in the five seconds before a crash significantly impact the crash severity. The study’s findings can serve as a reference for preventing severe crashes and advancing the development of autonomous vehicles.

Keywords:

• Crash severity
• vehicles involved in crash
• dynamic precursors
• factor analysis
• random parameters logit model

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.