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Road Safety in Sustainable Urban Transport
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Road Safety in Sustainable Urban Transport

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Transportation and Future Mobility".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 3370

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Monica Meocci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Interests: road safety; road pavement management; new metothodology for road safety analysis (AI; big data; etc.)
Prof. Dr. Francesca La Torre

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Interests: road safety; road safety assessment; risk analysis
Dr. Alessandro Marradi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
Interests: sustainable road pavement; resilient pavements; pevement evaluation; pavement management systems
Dr. Francesco Pinna

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture DICAAR, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
Interests: urban road safety; inclusive design; accessibility and mobility; new standards for urban public spaces; traffic calming
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The urban context represents a complex area characterized by a high level of interaction between the different road users such as vulnerable road users (VRUs) and vehicles. Due to the space complexity and frequent interaction between different road users, urban roads represent the location of more than 50% of the total amount of crashes.

According to the Agenda 2030, one of the 17 goals is “SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. This target can be reached if a great effort is made in terms of (1) the ergonomic design of the urban space, (2) improving road safety according to the “vision zero” strategy, (3) improving the public transportation system according to the “people needs and desiderata”, (4) exploiting the new technology to improve the quality of the life, and (5) reducing the consequence of road crashes.

Currently, scientists’ efforts in road safety improvement are not enough to consistently decrease the number of crashes that occur in roads, especially in urban areas. Therefore, the topic has gained considerable attention in research, and various methodologies are used to design and assess road and urban areas in terms of road safety. Recent approaches to evaluating road safety, especially when the interactions between road users are consistent, also include the evaluation of human behaviors in different “road scenarios” to understand the main factors that increase the risk of an accident.

In this context, both road engineers and road authorities play a relevant role in the process, from the design to the management of the urban area, to offer safe and sustainable spaces.

This Special Issue will address the main topic concerning the achievement of safer and more sustainable urban areas, highlighting the main challenges to overcome. It welcomes high-quality original research and review articles that cover all topics related to road safety in/and sustainable urban transport. Research papers (case studies, reviews, and policy-related work) from different parts of the world are invited. A list of possible macro-topics includes the subjects listed below without excluding topics connected to the listed topic which could significantly affect, or be relevant to, the area of interest of the proposed Special Issue:

  • Accident analysis in urban areas.
  • New procedures for urban road assessment.
  • Sustainable and safe transportation.
  • Resilient, sustainable, and safe urban infrastructures.
  • Use of new methodologies for road safety assessment in urban areas.
  • Change in road safety using automated vehicles in urban areas.
  • Road design standards and guidelines.
  • Improvements in the safety of vulnerable road users.
  • Traffic calming intervention.
  • Virtual reality for road safety assessment.
  • Road pavements for sustainable roads.
  • Roadside element integrated design.
  • Evaluation of existing conditions and sustainable maintenance.

Dr. Monica Meocci
Prof. Dr. Francesca La Torre
Dr. Alessandro Marradi
Dr. Francesco Pinna
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • vulnerable road users
  • traffic calming
  • urban roads
  • accident prediction model
  • urban road design
  • automated vehicles in urban roads
  • inclusive and sustainable urban design

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 13014 KiB  
Article
Unveiling Driving Risks and Geometric Parameter Relationships in Urban Underground Road Curves: A Real Vehicle Experiment
by Zhanji Zheng, Yuxuan Xu, Zhenke Wang, Jiaqiang Rao, Heshan Zhang and Jin Xu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3646; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073646 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 168
Abstract
To clarify the operational characteristics and driving risks of urban underground road curves, a real vehicle driving experiment involving 20 subjects was conducted at the Jiefangbei Underground Ring Road in Chongqing. High-precision instruments were utilized to collect driving data, including vehicle speed, lateral [...] Read more.
To clarify the operational characteristics and driving risks of urban underground road curves, a real vehicle driving experiment involving 20 subjects was conducted at the Jiefangbei Underground Ring Road in Chongqing. High-precision instruments were utilized to collect driving data, including vehicle speed, lateral acceleration, and longitudinal acceleration. Significance tests were performed on lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, entering curve deceleration, and exiting curve acceleration. The driver behavior risk at curves was evaluated using G-G diagrams, and the distribution characteristics of curve danger points were determined. Subsequently, models were established for the relationships between lateral acceleration, entering curve deceleration, exiting curve acceleration, and curve geometric parameters. The results show that: (1) significant differences exist in lateral and longitudinal acceleration under different radius ranges; (2) the sections with the highest curve danger levels in urban underground road curves primarily concentrate within the circular curve sections of curves; (3) the number of driving risk points per unit length (m) is not correlated with curve type, but significantly related to curve radius range; (4) the relationship models between entering curve deceleration, exiting curve acceleration, and curve parameters are upward-opening quadratic functions, whereas the relationship model between lateral acceleration and curve parameters comprises two quadratic functions with different orientations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road Safety in Sustainable Urban Transport)
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21 pages, 1860 KiB  
Article
Nonparametric Comparative Analysis of Driver Behaviors in Signalized and Non-Signalized Roundabouts: A Study on Road Safety in Qatar
by Mohammed Abul Fahed, Pilsung Choe and Al-Harith Umlai
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 2856; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052856 - 6 Mar 2025
Viewed by 531
Abstract
This study investigated and compared driver behaviors at signalized and non-signalized roundabouts in Qatar, focusing on turn signal usage, lane change behavior, and correct lane usage. The primary objectives were to determine the frequency of turn signal usage, assess correct lane usage, analyze [...] Read more.
This study investigated and compared driver behaviors at signalized and non-signalized roundabouts in Qatar, focusing on turn signal usage, lane change behavior, and correct lane usage. The primary objectives were to determine the frequency of turn signal usage, assess correct lane usage, analyze lane change behavior, and compare these behaviors between the two types of roundabouts. Data were collected through a field study at selected roundabouts, where driver behaviors were observed and analyzed. The results revealed significant differences between signalized and non-signalized roundabouts. Turn signal compliance was higher in signalized roundabouts (up to 45%) compared to non-signalized roundabouts (20%). The rate of lane change in signalized roundabouts was observed to be 31%, whereas it was 14% in non-signalized roundabouts, and correct lane usage compliance was higher in signalized roundabouts (60%) compared to non-signalized roundabouts (35%). These findings suggest that traffic signals contribute to safer and more predictable driver behavior, although congestion and long waiting times in signalized roundabouts present challenges. The study recommends improving signage visibility, optimizing signal timings, enhancing road markings, and enforcing traffic regulations to address these issues. The findings can inform traffic engineers and policymakers in enhancing the safety and efficiency of roundabouts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road Safety in Sustainable Urban Transport)
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27 pages, 7766 KiB  
Article
A Novel Methodology for Planning Urban Road Safety Interventions
by Emanuele Toraldo, Nicolò Novati, Damiano Rossi and Misagh Ketabdari
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 1993; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15041993 - 14 Feb 2025
Viewed by 602
Abstract
Improving road safety is a major challenge for urban administrations due to the high frequency of accidents and their associated social costs. This study presents a methodology that combines historical accident data analysis with a proactive risk assessment approach to enhance decision-making in [...] Read more.
Improving road safety is a major challenge for urban administrations due to the high frequency of accidents and their associated social costs. This study presents a methodology that combines historical accident data analysis with a proactive risk assessment approach to enhance decision-making in road safety planning. Using the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the proposed framework identifies high-risk locations and estimates the benefits of planned safety interventions. A key innovation of this methodology is the integration of cost–benefit analysis to prioritize interventions, ensuring optimal resource allocation. The approach was tested in a medium-sized Italian city where it helped identify critical areas and assess the potential impact of various safety measures, such as intersection redesign and traffic-calming strategies. The results demonstrated a significant potential to reduce accidents and associated social costs, offering a scalable model for urban road safety planning. By integrating data-driven insights with proactive evaluation, this methodology supports urban administrations in implementing effective, targeted interventions that contribute to Vision Zero goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road Safety in Sustainable Urban Transport)
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27 pages, 10127 KiB  
Article
Simplified Machine Learning Model as an Intelligent Support for Safe Urban Cycling
by Alejandro Hernández-Herrera, Elsa Rubio-Espino, Rogelio Álvarez-Vargas and Victor H. Ponce-Ponce
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1395; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031395 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 668
Abstract
Urban cycling is a sustainable mode of transportation in large cities, and it offers many advantages. It is an eco-friendly means of transport that is accessible to the population and easy to use. Additionally, it is more economical than other means of transportation. [...] Read more.
Urban cycling is a sustainable mode of transportation in large cities, and it offers many advantages. It is an eco-friendly means of transport that is accessible to the population and easy to use. Additionally, it is more economical than other means of transportation. Urban cycling is beneficial for physical health and mental well-being. Achieving sustainable mobility and the evolution towards smart cities demands a comprehensive analysis of all the essential aspects that enable their inclusion. Road safety is particularly important, which must be prioritized to ensure safe transportation and reduce the incidence of road accidents. In order to help reduce the number of accidents that urban cyclists are involved in, this work proposes an alternative solution in the form of an intelligent computational assistant that utilizes simplified machine learning (SML) to detect potential risks of unexpected collisions. This technological approach serves as a helpful alternative to the current problem. Through our methodology, we were able to identify the problem involved in the research, design, and development of the solution proposal; collect and analyze data; and obtain preliminary results. These results experimentally demonstrate how the proposed model outperforms most state-of-the-art models that use a metric learning layer for small image sets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road Safety in Sustainable Urban Transport)
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17 pages, 4655 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Driving Behavior of Micromobility Vehicle Users at Mini-Roundabouts
by Natalia Distefano, Salvatore Leonardi and Alessandro Litrico
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11944; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411944 - 20 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 853
Abstract
The rapid spread of micromobility vehicles such as bicycles and electric scooters poses new challenges to urban transportation systems, particularly in terms of road safety and infrastructure integration. This study investigates the driving behavior of micromobility users at a mini-roundabout, focusing on their [...] Read more.
The rapid spread of micromobility vehicles such as bicycles and electric scooters poses new challenges to urban transportation systems, particularly in terms of road safety and infrastructure integration. This study investigates the driving behavior of micromobility users at a mini-roundabout, focusing on their speed profiles and their position within the lane during the entry, circulation, and exit phases. A structured recruitment process was used to select 20 participants with previous micromobility experience. Participants performed crossing maneuvers at a mini-roundabout in Gravina di Catania, Italy, which were monitored using drone footage and analyzed with tracking software to extract trajectories and speed data. The results show significant differences between e-scooter and bicycle users, with bicycles showing less speed variability, especially during the crossing and exit phases, while e-scooters showed greater variability, especially during the entry and exit phases. The results highlight the influence of vehicle stability and user posture on riding behavior and emphasize the need for infrastructure adaptations to increase safety. Mini-roundabouts designed for moderate speed are identified as a promising solution to improve the coexistence of micromobility and motor vehicles. This research identifies key differences in speed profiles and behavioral patterns between e-scooter and bicycle users, offering actionable insights and recommendations for safer and more efficient urban infrastructure. These contributions provide valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers in promoting safer and more sustainable urban mobility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Road Safety in Sustainable Urban Transport)
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