Compact accident research

Children often have accidents in road traffic when they cross a road on foot and do not pay attention to approaching vehicles. A study by the UDV has therefore investigated how children perceive speeds and how they behave when crossing the road.

Automated driving is expected to make traffic flow more efficiently and reduce the number of road accident victims as well as emissions and traffic jams. The German Insurers Accident Research has car¬ried out a comprehensive study on motorway accidents involving cars. The aim of the study was to determine the overall safety effect of automated driving function.

Almost one in five accidents in built-up areas involving pedestrians or cyclists and injury is thus connected to parking. The biggest problems were dooring accidents and accidents where parked vehicles obstructed the view. In a research project, recommendations were developed on how to avoid these accidents.

In a study on behalf of the German Insurers Accident Research (UDV), a feedback intervention for senior drivers was developed and scientifically evaluated. It consists of a single ride in real traffic accompanied by specialists and is followed by subsequent qualified feedback. It is based on the use of a standardized observation and assessment tool for senior drivers.

Motorcyclists still have a significantly higher risk than car occupants of being injured or even killed in an accident. The aim of this study is to analyse the accidents that occur in order to identify typical accident situations and impact scenarios.

In Germany, advisory cycle lanes or mandatory cycle lanes have been introduced increasingly for cycling traffic in recent years. In a research project commissioned by the German Insurance Accident Pesearch (UDV) conducted an in-depth study of these marked cycle lanes.

P.A.R.T.Y. stands for Prevent Alcohol and Risk Related Trauma in Youth (www.party-dgu.de). Accidents are among the most frequent causes of the deaths of young people [1]. The P.A.R.T.Y. accident prevention program is designed to make young people aged 15 to 18 aware of the consequences of high-risk behavior on the roads and thus prevents accidents.

Many people these days are highly dependent on cars to get them where they want to be when they want to be there, and it goes without saying that they also want to take their children with them. The safety features of vehicles are designed for adult occupants. Consequently, special safety equipment has to be used for children (child restraint systems – CRSs).

Automated driving is regarded as the future of mobility. It is expected to make traffic flow more efficiently and reduce the number of road accident victims as well as emissions and traffic jams. This will be more of a multidimensional, gradual transition than a rapid change.