The effect of periodic vehicle inspection on road traffic crash risk
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55329/lrva5301Keywords:
buses, cars, crash risk, lorries, periodic inspection, road traffic safety, vansAbstract
In the European Union (EU), periodic inspection of motor vehicles is mandatory. In Denmark, cars and vans are inspected for the first time four years after the first registration and subsequently every two years, while lorries and buses are inspected annually. Denmark follows the EU minimum requirements, but there have been considerations to increase the frequency of inspections. However, based on previous research, the positive effects on crash risk are questionable. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between time since the most recent inspection and crash risk using nationwide Danish registry data. The hypothesis is that crash risk increases proportional with time since latest inspection. Methodologically, we used a case-control design. In total, 72 089 cars, 11 289 vans, 3 101 lorries and 1 575 buses involved in crashes were included as cases. Five controls were randomly selected per case and matched by age, brand and total weight. The analyses were controlled for odometer reading and the number of brake defects at the latest inspection. The study found no association between periodic inspections and crash risk in separate analyses of each vehicle type. There were no specific effects of inspections of older vehicles aged 10 years or more. This study does not provide evidence for expanding the current Danish inspection programme with more frequent checks of vehicles. The study also indicates that vehicles that are subject to the inspection programme are in good condition such that defects have a small (not negligible) impact on crash risk.
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Author Biographies
Anne Vingaard Olesen, Aalborg University
Anne Vingaard Olesen has a PhD in epidemiology and biostatistics from Aarhus University. She has been employed at the Traffic Research Group at Aalborg University from 2012 to 2023, first as an assistant professor and then as an associate professor. Her research has focused on road safety—including the safety of vulnerable road users. Methodologically, her interest has been register research.
CRediT contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Visualization, Writing—original draft.
Harry Lahrmann, Aalborg University
Harry Lahrmann graduated from the Technical University of Denmark, but has been affiliated with Aalborg University since 1987, first as an assistant professor and then as an associate professor. He is also the founder of the Traffic Research Group. His research areas are transport planning and traffic engineering, with a focus on traffic safety and intelligent transport systems. Over the years, he has authored over 200 scientific conference papers, articles and books within these areas with his colleagues.
CRediT contribution: Conceptualization, Writing—review & editing.
Laura Vangsgaard Jensen, Aalborg University
Laura Vangsgaard Jensen is an educated geographer with an MSc in urban design and mobility and is affiliated with the Traffic Research Group at Aalborg University as a research assistant.
CRediT contribution: Writing—review & editing.
Rasmus Øhlenschlæger, Aalborg University, Denmark
Rasmus Øhlenschlæger holds an MSc in transport engineering and is affiliated with the Traffic Research Group at Aalborg University as a student lecturer. He specialises in conducting analyses with the aim of increasing road safety.
CRediT contribution: Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Writing—review & editing.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Anne Vingaard Olesen, Harry Lahrmann, Laura Vangsgaard Jensen, Rasmus Øhlenschlæger
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
