Electric scooters (or e-scooters) are among the most popular micromobility options that have experienced an enormous expansion in urban transportation systems across the world in recent years. Along with the increased usage of e-scooters, the increasing number of e-scooter-related injuries has also become an emerging global public health concern. However, little is known regarding the risk factors for e-scooter-related crashes and injury crashes. This study consisted of a two-phase survey questionnaire administered to a cohort of e-scooter riders (n = 210), which obtained exposure information on riders’ demographics, riding behaviors (including infrastructure selection), helmet use, and other crash-related factors. The risk ratios of riders’ self-reported involvement in an e-scooter-related crash (i.e., any crash versus no crash) and injury crash (i.e., injury crash versus non-injury crash) were estimated across exposure subcategories using the Negative Binomial regression approach. Males and frequent users of e-scooters were associated with an increased risk of e-scooter-related crashes of any type. For the e-scooter-related injury crashes, more frequently riding on bike lanes (i.e., greater than 25% of the time), either protected or unprotected, was identified as a protective factor. E-scooter-related injury crashes were more likely to occur among females, who reported riding on sidewalks and non-paved surfaces more frequently. The study may help inform public policy regarding e-scooter legislation and prioritize efforts to establish suitable road infrastructure for improved e-scooter riding safety.

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Older drivers are most at risk of serious and fatal injury in crashes per vehicle mile driven compared with other age groups owing to a combination of cognitive decline and increased fragility. A smartphone coaching application targeting risky driving behaviors (e.g., speeding, hard braking), was iteratively designed to ensure older driver acceptance and usability. A 12-week field operational test examined driving performance of 28 drivers aged 65 to 78 from Kansas and Minnesota using the RoadCoach app and an ABA reversal design. Participants’ baseline driving behaviors were recorded for 3 weeks, followed by a 6-week experimental phase of real-time app coaching, and concluded with a 3-week baseline phase with no feedback provided. Compared with the pretreatment phase, there was a significant reduction in the rates of hard braking and stop sign violations associated with system use. A protection effect was observed through the posttreatment phase. Excessive speeding violations were not significantly different across the phases; however, there were modest declines in the proportion of miles traveled 15 mph above the speed limit in the posttreatment phase compared with the prior two phases. No significant effect was found for excessive acceleration and aggressive turning measures posttreatment, despite an observed increase in both rates during the treatment phase compared with pretreatment. Overall, the results indicate that the RoachCoach app may be an effective intervention to reduce several risky driving behaviors while in use and may result in prolonged behavior changes (i.e., reduced hard braking and stop sign violations) after treatment cessation.

ObjectiveIntersection conflict warning systems (ICWSs) have been implemented at high-risk two-way stop-controlled intersections to prevent right-angle crashes and associated injuries. This study involved investigation of the impacts of ICWSs on crash reductions.MethodsThe study used a quasi-experimental design to analyse the potential causal relations between Minnesota’s ICWSs and various crash rate outcomes (including total, injury, non-injury, targeted right-angle and non-right-angle crashes) in pre-post analyses. A restricted randomisation method enabled identification of three controls to each ICWS treatment intersection, and included as many comparable intersection characteristics as possible. Annual crash rates (per year per intersection) were analysed over the same periods before and after system activation for treatment and control intersections in each matched group. Pre-crash data for 3 years and post-crash data for up to 5 years were included, ranging from 2010 to 2018. Negative binomial regression models with generalised estimating equations were applied to estimate the average, immediate and continuing treatment effects of ICWSs, through the difference-in-differences and difference-in-difference-in-difference approaches, respectively.ResultsThe ICWS treatment was significantly associated with a decreasing trend for targeted right-angle crash rates posttreatment. Although not statistically significant, most crash rate outcomes appeared to be elevated immediately after treatment (statistically significant for sideswipe crashes only). Pre–post differences in average crash rates (over entire periods), except for incapacitating injury-related crashes, were not statistically significant between treatment and control intersections.ConclusionsThe study provided important insight into potential causal associations between intersection safety countermeasures and crashes at high-risk rural two-way stop-controlled intersections.