Travel barriers affecting subjective wellbeing in Tampere, Finland

Travel is an important activity enabling everyday life, as well as a recognized factor for the wellbeing of people. This study examined how experienced travel barriers and their effect on access to important destinations influenced subjective wellbeing (SWB). The study comprised a survey of 772 people living in two suburban areas of Tampere, Finland. The survey included questions about everyday travel, travel barriers, and their effect on access to destinations. SWB was measured using the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI). Responses were analysed by comparing PWI scores with travel barriers and access to destinations using one way ANOVA. Results indicate a significant connection between several experienced barriers and SWB. Some travel barriers were associated with a worrying decline to critically low level of SWB, which raised questions about transport equity and connections between travel and wellbeing in the context of Finnish transport system.Peer reviewe

Perceptions of Transport Automation amongst Small- and Medium-Sized Road Haulage Companies in Finland

Transport automation is increasingly being studied from different perspectives; however, the perceptions of road haulage companies have received less attention. This study explores the views of representatives of small- and medium-sized road haulage companies on transport automation in Finland. We conducted an online survey to gather perceptions of automation, which received 254 responses from representatives of a range of different transport industries. The respondents’ views towards automation were generally negative. The overall view was that automation may not be possible for heavy vehicles in Finland due to the adverse weather and driving conditions. The perception was that road haulage automation is unlikely to occur before 2050 in Finland. The results provide valuable insight for vehicle manufacturers, technology developers, policy makers, and haulage companies. As the road haulage industry is dominated by small- and medium-sized companies, hauliers should be supported in actively implementing new technologies.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Review on single-bicycle crashes in the recent scientific literature

Cycling delivers public health benefits and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions compared to motor vehicle travel. However, riding a bicycle has a higher injury rate per kilometres travelled. Therefore, the shift from cars to bicycles has the potential to cause undesired impacts in terms of road safety. Among cycling injuries, single-bicycle crashes (SBCs) constitute a significant number of all injuries, but the size of the problem is somewhat unknown. This study focuses on the data mainly from the 2010s based on the scientific publications, and explores the proportion and the characteristics of SBCs internationally. Altogether 22 relevant studies where found. In the different studies, the share of SBCs among injured cyclists varies considerably from 17% to 85%. When considering studies based on larger samples and more representative data, the share of SBCs varies between 52% and 85%. It is suggested that SBCs are underreported in certain datasets depending on the methodology chosen to analyse SBCs. The proportion of SBCs has not changed notably during the early twenty-first century. The main characteristics related to SBC events are loss of control or skidding in slippery conditions. The interplay between SBC-related factors such as the infrastructure, the cyclist and other road users, and the bicycle should be further investigated to better understand the causes of SBCs.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Perceptions of trip making and wellbeing

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Exploratory Analysis of Pedestrian Road Trauma in Finland

In Finland, all fatal on-road and off-road motor vehicle crashes are subject to an in-depth investigation coordinated by the Finnish Crash Data Institute (OTI). This study presents an exploratory and two-step cluster analysis of fatal pedestrian crashes between 2010 and 2019 that were subject to in-depth investigations. In total, 281 investigations occurred across Finland between 2010 and 2019. The highest number of cases were recorded in the Uusimaa region, including Helsinki, representing 26.4% of cases. Females (48.0%) were involved in fewer cases than males; however, older females represented the most commonly injured demographic. A unique element to the patterns of injury in this study is the seasonal effects, with the highest proportion of crashes investigated in winter and autumn. Cluster analysis identified four unique clusters. Clusters were characterised by crashes involving older pedestrians crossing in low-speed environments, crashes in higher speed environments away from pedestrian crossings, crashes on private roads or in parking facilities, and crashes involving intoxicated pedestrians. The most common recommendations from the investigation teams to improve safety were signalisation and infrastructure upgrades of pedestrian crossings, improvements to street lighting, advanced driver assistance (ADAS) technologies, and increased emphasis on driver behaviour and training. The findings highlight road safety issues that need to be addressed to reduce pedestrian trauma in Finland, including provision of safer crossing facilities for elderly pedestrians, improvements to parking and shared facilities, and addressing issues of intoxicated pedestrians. Efforts to remedy these key issues will further Finland’s progression towards meeting Vision Zero targets while creating a safer and sustainable urban environment in line with the United Nations sustainable development goals.publishedVersionPeer reviewe