PURPOSES : This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the severity of traffic crashes caused by personal mobility (PM) devices compared with those involving victims. METHODS : Traffic crashes involving PM devices were used to build a non-parametric statistical model using a classification tree. Based on the results, the factors influencing both at-fault and victim-related crashes caused by PM devices were analyzed. The factors affecting accident severity were also compared. RESULTS : Common factors affecting the severity of traffic crashes involving both perpetrators and victims using PM devices include occurrences at intersections, crosswalks at intersections, single roads, and inside tunnels. Traffic law violations by PM device users (perpetrators) influence the severity of crashes. Meanwhile, factors such as the behavior of perpetrators using other modes of transportation, rear-end collisions, road geometry, and weather conditions affect the severity of crashes where PM device users are the victims. CONCLUSIONS : To reduce the severity of traffic crashes involving PM devices, it is essential to extend the length of physically separated shared paths for cyclists and pedestrians, actively enforce laws to prevent violations by PM device users, and provide systematic and regular educational programs to ensure safe driving practices among PM device users.

PURPOSES : This study aims to identify the thresholds at which various factors affecting traffic crashes lead to actual traffic crashes METHODS : To verify the thresholds, we created scenarios and ran simulations with a combination of factors that affect traffic crashes. Lateral offset and minimum TTC were used to evaluate whether an incident occurred. RESULTS : In the first scenario, the most significant factor affecting traffic crashes is curvature, and it was found that the smaller the curvature(200 meters or less), the greater the deviation from the lane. And in the second scenario, especially the passenger car scenario, no accidents occurred when the curvature was greater than 90 meters and the speed was 40 km/h or less. The smaller the curvature and the higher the speed, the more accidents occurred. Similarly, in the bus scenario, no accidents occurred when the curvature was 120 meters or more and the speed was 30 km/h or less. Also, accidents tended to occur when the curvature was smaller and the speed was higher. CONCLUSIONS : Through this study, we derived the thresholds of factors that influence traffic crashes. The results are expected to help design and operate roads in the future and contribute to reducing traffic crashes.

PURPOSES : This study aimed to analyze the impact the operation of pre-signals at 4-leg signalized intersections and present primary environmental factors of roads that need to be considered in the installation of pre-signals. METHODS : Shift of proportions safety effectiveness evaluation method which assesses shifts in proportions of target collision types to determine safety effectiveness was applied to analyze traffic crash by types. Also, Empirical Bayes before/after safety effectiveness evaluation method was adapted to analyze the impact pre-signal installation. Negative binomial regression was conducted to determine SPF(safety performance function). RESULTS : Pre-signals are effective in reducing the number of head on, right angle and sideswipe collisions and both the total number of personal injury crashes and severe crashes. Also, it is deemed that each factor used as an independent variable for the SPF model has strong correlation with the total number of personal injury crashes and severe crashes, and impacts general traffic crashes as a whole. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the following should be considered in pre-signal installation on intersections. 1) U-turns allowed in the front and rear 2) A high number of roads that connect to the intersection 3) Many right-turn traffic flows 4) Crosswalks installed in the front and rear 5) Insufficient left-turn lanes compared to left-turn traffic flows or no left-turn-only lane.