Abstract

Two smartphone applications were developed with the aim of harvesting insights of vulnerable road user accidents. The apps require a backend database with software tools for generating and managing questionnaires, etc. Such a system was developed using a MySQL database where a user-friendly platform has been developed in CakePHP. The backend system has been successfully developed and been used to handle more than 11,000 participants. The original idea was to monitor VRU via apps to detect when they may have been involved in an accident as pedestrian or cyclist based on the motion patterns from the smartphone’s motion sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope) and collect as much information as possible regarding the accident automatically (e.g. time and location of the accident). If an accident was detected, the road user should receive a questionnaire to provide detailed information of the accident (e.g. road surface conditions, lighting conditions, other road users involved). This app was used by more than 400 participants resulting in a large amount of data.

Abstract

most half of all traffic fatalities worldwide are non-motorised road users (NMRUs). In Denmark, the number has increased with about 30%. NMRUs consist of about 63% of the injured in the Danish traffic. Much has been done to reduce the number of injured NMRUs with counterparts, while little effort is put into the reduction of the vast majority of the accidents, NMRU single accidents, which are about 90% of all injured NMRUs. There are no efficient tools available to reduce this number. A significantly better designed, maintained, and illuminated road network would most likely help. However, that is expensive and not possible for most road authorities. Despite this, the challenges with NMRUs in single accidents need more attention, if road safety is to be improved. The situation in Denmark is more than likely the case in many other countries as well; although the documentation is scarce. Almost half of all traffic fatalities worldwide are non-motorised road users (NMRUs). In Denmark, the number has increased with about 30%. NMRUs consist of about 63% of the injured in the Danish traffic. Much has been done to reduce the number of injured NMRUs with counterparts, while little effort is put into the reduction of the vast majority of the accidents, NMRU single accidents, which are about 90% of all injured NMRUs. There are no efficient tools available to reduce this number. A significantly better designed, maintained, and illuminated road network would most likely help. However, that is expensive and not possible for most road authorities. Despite this, the challenges with NMRUs in single accidents need more attention, if road safety is to be improved. The situation in Denmark is more than likely the case in many other countries as well; although the documentation is scarce.