Factors Associated With the Severity of Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Electric Motorcycles and Electric Bicycles: A Random Parameters Logit Approach With Heterogeneity in Means

Abstract

Exploring the heterogeneity of factors influencing the severity of electric bicycle crashes and electric motorcycle crashes can help target accident prevention policies to improve traffic safety. Therefore, this paper establishes a mean heterogeneity random parameter logit model using crash data from 2016 to 2020 in Guangxi to explore the different factors influencing the severity of crashes involving electric motorcycles and electric bicycles. The results show that the key influences on crash severity differ in electric motorcycle crashes and electric bicycle crashes. At the same time, some common factors affect the two types of crashes to different degrees. In addition, the complex interaction effects of unobserved heterogeneity were considered to explore the random parameters of the two types of crashes. The effect of unobserved heterogeneity on the distribution characteristics of the random parameters was then determined. For example, in electric motorcycle crashes, street lighting at night has a random parameter characteristic. The likelihood of serious crashes decreased when both street lighting at night and vehicle left turn were involved, and decreased when both street lighting at night and no signal control were involved. In electric bicycle crashes, large trucks have a random parameter characteristic. The likelihood of serious crashes increased when both large trucks and motor vehicle lights not turned on were involved, and increased when both large trucks and visibility less than or equal to 200 meters were involved. The results provide a basis for improving the road safety of electric motorcycles and electric bicycles.