Journal article
Examining Road Traffic Mortality Status in China: A Simulation Study
PloS one, Vol.11(4), pp.e0153251-e0153251
04/12/2016
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153251
PMCID: PMC4829231
PMID: 27071008
Abstract
Data from the Chinese police service suggest substantial reductions in road traffic injuries since 2002, but critics have questioned the accuracy of those data, especially considering conflicting data reported by the health department.
To address the gap between police and health department data and to determine which may be more accurate, we conducted a simulation study based on the modified Smeed equation, which delineates a non-linear relation between road traffic mortality and the level of motorization in a country or region. Our goal was to simulate trends in road traffic mortality in China and compare performances in road traffic safety management between China and 13 other countries.
Chinese police data indicate a peak in road traffic mortalities in 2002 and a significant and a gradual decrease in population-based road traffic mortality since 2002. Health department data show the road traffic mortality peaked in 2012. In addition, police data suggest China's road traffic mortality peaked at a much lower motorization level (0.061 motor vehicles per person) in 2002, followed by a reduction in mortality to a level comparable to that of developed countries. Simulation results based on health department data suggest high road traffic mortality, with a mortality peak in 2012 at a moderate motorization level (0.174 motor vehicles per person). Comparisons to the other 13 countries suggest the health data from China may be more valid than the police data.
Our simulation data indicate China is still at a stage of high road traffic mortality, as suggested by health data, rather than a stage of low road traffic mortality, as suggested by police data. More efforts are needed to integrate safety into road design, improve road traffic management, improve data quality, and alter unsafe behaviors of pedestrians, drivers and passengers in China.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Examining Road Traffic Mortality Status in China: A Simulation Study
- Creators
- Helai Huang - Central South UniversityQingyi Yin - Central South UniversityDavid C Schwebel - University of Alabama at BirminghamLi Li - West Virginia UniversityGuoqing Hu - Central South University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.11(4), pp.e0153251-e0153251
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0153251
- PMID
- 27071008
- PMCID
- PMC4829231
- NLM abbreviation
- PLoS One
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- eISSN
- 1932-6203
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/12/2016
- Academic Unit
- Research Administration
- Record Identifier
- 9984949458302771
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