Up to 2008, the research relating to PTWs’ safety focussed mainly on sociological aspects, training, accidentology and primary safety systems design. Based on the fact that it is crucial to base countermeasures on scientific evidences relating on riders' behaviours and practices, the purpose of 2-BE-SAFE was to contribute to filling the knowledge gap on PTW riders' behaviour. The 2-BE-SAFE project, started on January, 1st 2009, is a focused 36 months research collaborative project, co-funded by the EC, Theme 7 — SST. It involved 27 partners from 11 countries, and was organised in 7 research work packages. The aim of Work Package 1 was to identify the factors that contribute to PTW crashes across Europe focussing on road infrastructure and weather conditions. 20 prevailing scenarios in 5 European countries that account for most fatal PTW accidents and the causal factors contributing to crashes have been identified. Innovative tools have been designed within Work Package 4 : 6 instrumented PTWs, an instrumented car, 2 riding simulators, a driving simulator, and a video-based tool for investigating motorcyclists’ risk awareness. A pilot naturalistic riding study was conducted within Work Package 2, using the instrumented motorcycles from partners. This naturalistic riding study was a première at pan-European level. The studies successfully tested the proposed naturalistic riding methodology, and developed new knowledge and recommendations for future larger studies. Different approaches to perform automatic event detection of safety critical events were developed, applied and evaluated. The study implemented in Work Package 3 was focused on PTW riders’ hazard perception and acceptance of risk, and how these characteristics influence their acceptance of new technologies designed to enhance their safety. Significant differences were observed between commuters and sport-riders: commuters tend for example to underestimate the criticality of riding situations. The result of the online survey revealed two groups based on overall acceptance of assistive systems. Levels of acceptance are much lower than for equivalent systems in passenger cars, the study suggests that riders will accept systems that they perceive to be useful, reliable and effective. Work Package 5 aimed at a better understanding of rider’s behaviours and of critical factors influencing PTW safety. Several experiments focussed on PTWs conspicuity. Results indicated, for instance, that varying riders’ clothing (bright clothes, reflective warning vests, and dark clothes) can enhance riders’ conspicuity in certain situations but the effects are strongly mediated by the background conditions (e.g. lighting conditions) and by the characteristics of the driving situation (e.g. urban vs. rural traffic environment). Variations of specific frontal light configurations were found as promising solutions to enhance PTWs conspicuity. It is proposed to provide a unique visual signature/signal pattern for PTW to other road users Results revealed advantages in terms of a better detection and faster identification for yellow coloured headlights, ABLS (‘Alternating Blinking Light System’) and additional lights on the fork and handlebars for motorcycles (T Light configuration). The feasibility of the use of riding simulators for the behavioural studies has been evaluated. As a result, one can consider that these tools can be reasonably used for studies in extra-urban situations, but is still problematic for the study in urban and complex situations. Last, in WP5, a Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) has been conducted, based on face to face interviews with riders. The knowledge derived from the riders interviewed was used to formulate some options for enhancing the safety of motorcycle and scooter riders. 2-BE-SAFE has applied a large variety of scientific research methodologies. Some of these methods have been applied for first time; some of them were not applied on the field of PTW safety before. Last, some methodologies also received significant improvement within the project. All the experience and knowledge acquired within the research activities conducted have been analysed and then summarized into a set of guidelines and policy recommendations (Work Package 6). Two main documents have been produced. The first document summarizes experiences and issues particularly relevant for the observation of driver behaviour of PTW riders with respect to PTW safety. Based on feedback on the various research studies conducted within the project, it proposes improvement in tools and methodologies. It also proposes new topics for PTW safety research. This guideline is intended to be used by researchers and research stakeholders for future research programs. The second document consist in a comprehensive list of PTW safety measures, with indication on their advantages, shortcomings, potential implementations barriers and key success factors. The measures are assessed, based on their expected impacts, costs and benefits, and transferability. The guidelines presents each of the identified PTW safety measure assessed and ranked. It is intended to be used by stakeholders and practitioners. Dissemination and exploitation plans of 2-BE-SAFE project results have been achieved within Work Package 7. One can find on the 2-BE-SAFE website (http://www.2besafe.eu) dissemination materials including, for instance, posters and leaflets distributed to interested parties, stakeholders, and related activities. One will also find the three newsletter issued and a list of the publication and communications. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting