Vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists account for a significant percentage of traffic fatalities in Portugal. The study analyzed 166 traffic accidents in Aveiro municipality involving motor vehicles and vulnerable road users from 2012-2015. It found that the majority resulted in minor injuries, occurred during the day with good weather and visibility, and involved male drivers over 35 years old in passenger vehicles traveling over the speed limit. The study also surveyed commuters and found that cyclists face challenges such as driver awareness, lack of dedicated bike lanes, and weather, but are motivated by low costs and exercise. It recommends improving infrastructure for active modes and raising road safety awareness.

1. VULNERABLE ROAD USERS AND MOTOR
VEHICLES INVOLVED IN CRASHES
APPLICATION TO PORTUGUESE ROAD SAFETY DATA
MarianaVilaça, Margarida C. Coelho
University of Aveiro, Dept. Mechanical Engineering /
Centre for MechanicalTechnology and Automation

2. STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION
I. Introduction
II. Research Objectives
III.Methodology
IV.Results
V. Concluding Remarks
VI.Acknowledgements
2

3. I. INTRODUCTION
• 27% of fatalities involve
vulnerable road users
• 16 fatalities of pedestrians per
million inhabitants per year
• 3.4 fatalities of cyclists per
million inhabitants per year
• Aveiro is the Portuguese region
with higher use of bicycles (8  >
National average - 3.9% vs. 0.5
% (INE , 2011)) Source: Adminate et al.,2015
3

4. II. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
 To analyse road accidents data involving motor
vehicles and cyclists in Aveiro municipality
 To develop a survey in the community of the
University of Aveiro, to realize the main travel habits
and the main challenges faced during their daily
commuting trips (using active modes)
4

5. III. METHODOLOGY
ROAD ACCIDENT DATA ANALYSIS - AVEIRO
 Analysis period: January 2012 - February 2015
 166 accidents’ registrations involving vulnerable road users
(pedestrians or cyclists) and motor vehicles
Total Area
(Km2)
Population
Density
(Pop.)
Aradas 8,93 9157
Esgueira 17,76 13431
Glória +
Vera Cruz
45,32 18756
Santa
Joana
5,83 8094
São
Bernardo
3,90 4960
5

6. III. METHODOLOGY
ROAD ACCIDENT DATA ANALYSIS - AVEIRO
Occurrence involving
pedestrians
A motor vehicle and 1
pedestrian
A motor vehicle and
more than 1 pedestrian
Accident in which the
motor vehicle escaped
after the running over
Occurence involving
cyclists
A motor vehicle and a
cyclist
Bicycle escape with
collision off-road
Collision between
cyclists
• Data analysis:
• Year participation
• Number and severity of
injuries
• Speed limit and number of
lanes
• Weather and illumination
conditions
• Alcohol in the blood
• Place identification
(wherever possible)
• Vulnerable user profile: age
and gender
• Driver and vehicle involved
profile: year of vehicle; type
of vehicle; age and gender of
6

7. III. METHODOLOGY
SURVEY: “ACTIVE MODES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO”
• Presential Interview
• 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
• Total 101 surveys: 78 pedestrians
e 23 cyclists
• Surveys focused on 3 main
criteria:
A. General Information
B. Mobility Habits
C. Active modes use travelling
to U.A. 7
1
2
3

8. III. METHODOLOGY
SURVEY : “ACTIVE MODES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO”
8

9. IV. RESULTS
ROAD ACCIDENT DATA ANALYSIS - AVEIRO
166
accidents
178
victims
93%
minor
injuries
6%
serious
injuries
1%
fatalities
37%
cyclists
63%
pedestrians
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10. IV. RESULTS
ROAD ACCIDENT DATA ANALYSIS - AVEIRO
Months with more accidents involving vulnerable roads users
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11. IV. RESULTS
ROAD ACCIDENT DATA ANALYSIS - AVEIRO
 Case study: about 3 injuries/1000
inhabitants
Zones Number of injured/ 1000
inhabitants (study
period ≈ 3 years)
Aradas 3,17
Esgueira 3,50
Glória + Vera Cruz 4,11
Santa Joana 1,73
São Bernardo 2,22
11
79%
21%
Good Bad
77%
22%
Day Night

12. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF ACCIDENTS
(CYCLISTS ONLY)
12

13. IV. RESULTS
ROAD ACCIDENT DATA ANALYSIS - AVEIRO
Cyclists
13
+ 50% of accidents involving pedestrians
occur at the crosswalk
Pedestrians
73%
27%
Female Male
32%
68%
Female Male

14. IV. RESULTS
ROAD ACCIDENT DATA ANALYSIS - AVEIRO
Vehicle profile
Light
passenger
vehicles
Age > 5
years
+80%
... - 2010
Driver profile
Male
Age 35-
54
+60%
14

15. IV. RESULTS
SURVEY : “ACTIVE MODES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO”
Cyclists’ results
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Problems:
 Lack of awareness of drivers
 Lack of priority routes (Ex: dedicated
bike paths)
 Weather conditions
 Lack of sidewalks conditions
Motivations:
 Reduced cost or no cost
 Easiness of use
 It is a leisure activity
Possible measures to be taken:
• To structure priority routes for
pedestrians / cyclists in the main
areas of the cities
• To implement reduced speed zones
in the centre of the city and in places
where there are more occurrences of
accidents
• To promote dissemination on road
safety and active modes to increase
awareness of drivers
• To reinforce Police action in
accidents’ hotspots

16. V. CONCLUDING REMARKS
 Increasing trend in the number of accidents
 93% of the acidentes occurred in urban roads (speed limit
= 50km/h)
 Motor vehicles’ high speed is the key factor
 Accidents occur with good weather and good
illumination conditions
 Elderly cyclists are considered more vulnerable
 More male cyclists involved in accidents (due to higher
number of men cycling?)
 More male drivers (motor vehicles) involved in accidents
16

17. VI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
 PSP Aveiro (Comissário Luís Silva)
 This work was partially funded by FEDER Funds through
the Operational Program “Factores de Competitividade –
COMPETE” and by National Funds through FCT –
Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation within
the project PTDC/EMS-TRA/0383/2014 and by the
Strategic Project UID-EMS-00481-2013.
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18. CONTACTS
University of Aveiro
Dept. Mechanical Engineering
Campus Universitário de Santiago
3810-193 Aveiro
E-mail: margarida.coelho@ua.pt
http://transportes-tema.web.ua.pt