The effect of passengers on driver-injury severities in single-vehicle crashes: A random parameters heterogeneity-in-means approach. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Behnood, Ali; Mannering, Fred
• Is Part Of: Analytic methods in accident research. Volume 14(2017)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Random parameters logit model -- Heterogeneity in means -- Driver-injury severity -- Single-vehicle crashes -- Vehicle passenger -- Age -- Gender; Accidents -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 363.100721
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amar.2017.04.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-6657

Abstract

Highlights: Effects of the occupants (both driver and passengers) on driver-injury severities are studied. A random parameters logit model with heterogeneity in parameter means is used. The method accounts for possible heterogeneity in the means of the random parameters. Statistically significant differences exist among sub-populations in the presence/absence of passenger(s). Abstract: This paper seeks to investigate the effects of passengers on driver-injury severities. Using single-vehicle crashes, a random parameters logit model with heterogeneity in parameter means is estimated to explore the differences in driver-injury severities in three distinct subgroups; vehicles with one occupant (driver-only), vehicles with two occupants (driver and a passenger), and vehicles with three occupants (driver and two passengers). In addition to considering age, gender and the presence of the passenger(s), a wide range of variables that potentially affect driver-injury severity were considered, including weather conditions, roadway characteristics, vehicle characteristics and driver attributes. Estimation results show that both the age and the gender of the passenger(s) significantly affected driver-injury severities. The findings of this research point toward the need to further study the potentially complex interactions between drivers and passengers.