SAFETY ANALYSIS OF MICRO-MOBILITY: THE CASE OF NABLUS CITY
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Date
2024-02-28
Authors
Osaid Majed Hamdan Salman
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Abstract
Abstract
Background: With the increasing prevalence of micromobility vehicles recently, and the increase in the number of micromobility crashes, along with the absence of a suitable governance and regulatory framework for the use of this new mode of transportation in Palestine, it is crucial to study and analyze traffic safety for micromobility users.
Aims: The main objectives of the study include generating micromobility crash profile and understanding the patterns and causes behind the occurrences of such crashes. Moreover, the study seeks to investigate the micromobility users' behavior. Finally, the study aims to provide recommendations and proposed countermeasures that improve safety for micromobility users.
Methodology: Micromobility crashes data were collected from the Nablus Traffic Police Department for the study period of (2018 to 2022). Based on crash characteristics, analysis was conducted to understand the spatial and temporal aspects. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to a sample of micromobility users and then analyzed to understand the level of awareness concerning traffic safety among a segment of the users of this mode in Nablus City. The behavior of micromobility users was also observed using two cameras installed at a representative intersection. Moreover, analysis of variance using SPSS software was conducted to check if there were significant differences concerning specific characteristics of micromobility users' behavior. Finally, recommendations were provided, including proposing countermeasures to improve safety related to the use of this mode.
Main results: The study investigation of the 138 recorded micromobility crashes in Nablus City during the study period (2018 to 2022) showed that the most frequent crashes occurred in the summer season, in September, on Mondays, and during 17:30 to 18:30. The casualties resulting from micromobility crashes are the highest for the age group of 12 to 18 years. Driving in the opposite direction was the highest reason causing crashes and formed 20.3% of total. Three fatal crashes occurred in Nablus Governorate, but outside Nablus City. The behavior of micromobility users observed and analysis during the three-day period showed that the number of violators reached 392 with a percentage of 74.4%.
Conclusions of the study: A high rate of increase of micromobility crashes is observed, which has reached an average rate of 37% annually in Nablus City during the study period. The major causes of these crashes, as concluded from the traffic police records, are attributed to the wrong behavior of the uses of these vehicles. This was confirmed by the high percentage of micromobility users’ violators, as observed during a three-day period at a representative hazardous intersection. No implemented regulations that control the ownership or operation of micromobility vehicles are observed, nor proper enforcement that target the users of these vehicles who commit violations is noticed.
Keywords: Micromobility safety; crash profile; spatial analysis of crashes; micromobility users’ behavior; Nablus; Palestine.