Some decisions will last forever. An evaluation of a Swedish bicycle helmet wearing campaign

VTI
Reseach area: Traffic safety, Society and transport
2009

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The aim of this study was evaluate the effect of a Swedish educational programme encouraging the use of bicycle helmets. Another to important aim was to use a theoretical model to explain which factors contribute to the prediction of cyclists’ intention to use a helmet. A non-representative sample consisting of employees working for the same insurance company located at three different locations in Sweden was selected. Two served as an experiment group and the third as a control or comparison group. Measurements were taken before and after the campaign.

The educational campaign was held by the Swedish Falck Ambulans. The session lasted for one hour. The emphasis of the campaign was to focus on accidents and injuries to the brain when not wearing a helmet. The participants were also given an opportunity to sign a bicycle helmet contract on receipt of which they received a helmet free of charge.

Data were collected using a web-based self-report survey. The results revealed that the proportion of people who used a helmet when biking to work had increased substantially amongst those having taken part in the session. It also showed that after the campaign the intention to use the helmet was greater amongst the experiment group than amongst the control group. The results showed that the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was effective in the predicting of the intention to wear a helmet. The strongest predictor was perceived behavioural control followed by subjective norm. The weakest TPB predictor was the attitude. The prediction of helmet wearing intention was significantly improved when anticipated regret and past behaviour were added to the model. The results from the Transtheoretical model showed that participants in the experimental group had on average moved one step closer to a change. In sum, it could be concluded that an educational campaign, which also includes elements of endorsement (i.e. to be given a bicycle helmet when signing a contract to use the same), significantly increases the likelihood of using a bicycle helmet.

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Representation of the Swedish transport and logistics system

VTI
September 2009

The aggregate-disaggregate-aggregate freight models that have been developed in Norway and Sweden take into account the logistic decisions at firm level. The Swedish model is documented in i.e. the Swedish Base Matrices Report (Edwards, Bates, Swahn, 2008) and the Method Report Logistics model (de Jong, Ben-Akiva, Baak, 2008). This report gives an overview about how the Swedish transport and logistics system is represented in the Logistics Model Version 2, which is a deterministic cost minimization model. Further validation and development is necessary in several aspects. The report describes the setup data (version 2009-01-19) that is needed to run the Version 2 model. In order not to overload the report all input, output, control files, validation material etc. is included on a separate CD.

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Night-time traffic in urban areas: A literature review on road user aspects

VTI - Sweden
June 2009

The aim of this literature study is to review recent research on night-time traffic from a road user perspective. The report discusses road users’ behaviour, needs and problems in relation to other road users as well as to traffic environment. The study includes 128 references from 1998–2008 and it mainly concerns urban areas.

The report begins with a chapter about accident statistics, followed by a theoretical background that includes lighting terminology, Swedish regulations on road equipment, and the human eye and night vision. The main part of the report has its focus on five road user groups - drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, older people and visually impaired people - and their needs, difficulties, performances and behaviour in night-time traffic.

The literature gives relatively much information about drivers'situation in night-time traffic, but there is a lack of knowledge in some areas such as drivers' interaction with parts of the driving environment. Also, there is partly a lack of knowledge on pedestrians and older road users. Regarding bicyclists and visually impaired people, there is only very few limited literature available.

Several areas that are interesting for further research are identified in the report

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ITS Strategy 2006-2009

Swedish Road Administration
October 2005

ITS is how IT is used in traffic
ITS stands for ”intelligent transport systems and services”. Road transport informatics and transport telematics are other common names for ITS. ITS concerns how IT (Information Technology) is used in traffic to help make the transport system more efficient. The aim is to increase accessibility, improve road safety and reduce
environmental impact.

The Swedish Road Administration (SRA) has drawn up a national ITS strategy for the period 2006–2009. This strategy has adopted a holistic approach and is based on the SRA’s well-balanced customeroriented programme, its strategic plans as well as on national and international findings concerning the successful implementation and application of ITS. Over fifty specific milestones have been set for this period to help ensure that concrete results are obtained. This pamphlet gives a summary of what is contained in the ITS strategy.

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