Journal article
Characteristics of media-reported road traffic crashes related to new energy vehicles in China
Journal of safety research, Vol.92, pp.48-54
02/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2024.11.012
PMID: 39986866
Abstract
•We examined the characteristics of media-reported new energy vehicle (NEV) crashes during 2015–2022 in China.•NEV-related traffic crashes occurred often on urban roads, well-lit roads and roads without adequate safety infrastructure facilities.•1,864 media reports described the reason for the crash, with 44.1% listing two or more factors.•Brake system failure and dangerous or improper driving operations were more frequently reported in NEV-related crashes than in other motor vehicle crashes.
Introduction: New energy vehicles (NEVs) refer to vehicles entirely or primarily powered by energy sources outside of conventional fuels. As the number of NEVs increases, road traffic crashes related to NEVs have emerged as a new challenge for road traffic injury prevention. However, basic epidemiological data are scarce concerning NEV-related crashes. Methods: Using media-reported crash data from the Automated Road Traffic Crash Data Platform (ARTCDP), a data platform developed and validated by our research group to gather eligible reports automatically and systematically from online Chinese media concerning road traffic crashes, we examined the characteristics of new energy vehicles between 2015 and 2022 in China. Results: The ARTCDP captured 2,927 crashes related to NEVs from 2015 to 2022, accounting for 1.1% of total number of motor vehicle-related crashes indexed by the ARTCDP during the same time period. Of them, 2,262 (77.3%) crashes occurred in east and central China. NEV-related traffic crashes occurred most often on urban roads (68.8%), well-lit roads (72.2%), roads without adequate safety infrastructure facilities (63.2%), and at intersections (78.7%). 1,864 media reports described the reason for the crash, with 44.1% listing two or more factors to explain the NEV-related crashes. Brake system failure and dangerous or improper driving operations were more frequently reported in NEV-related crashes than in other motorvehicle crashes (55.6% vs. 18.3% and 37.5% vs. 20.8%, P < 0.01). NEV-related crashes occurred more often on rainy days and on foggy or smoggy days than other motor-vehicle crashes (83.6% vs. 72.2% and 4.1% vs. 0.7%, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Media-reported news elucidate distinct characteristics of road traffic crashes involving NEVs versus other motor vehicles in China. Practical applications: NEV-related crashes represent an emerging road traffic safety challenge in China and worldwide. Characteristics revealed by media-reported NEV-related crashes merit the attention of policymakers, automobile industry, researchers, and law enforcement.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Characteristics of media-reported road traffic crashes related to new energy vehicles in China
- Creators
- Shuying Zhao - Central South UniversityPeixia Cheng - Capital Medical UniversityDavid C. Schwebel - University of Alabama at BirminghamMin Zhao - Central South UniversityLei Yang - Central South UniversityWangxin Xiao - Central South UniversityGuoqing Hu - Central South University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of safety research, Vol.92, pp.48-54
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jsr.2024.11.012
- PMID
- 39986866
- NLM abbreviation
- J Safety Res
- ISSN
- 0022-4375
- eISSN
- 1879-1247
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Number of pages
- 7
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2025
- Academic Unit
- Research Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984949188702771
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