• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.195-201
• /
• 2022

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the volume of trauma patients, the number of orthopedic trauma operations, and the severity of injuries. We also investigated the correlations between social distancing and these variables. Methods: This was a retrospective review of trauma patient cases at a single focused training center for trauma in Korea from January 2017 to April 2021. The COVID-19 group included patients treated from January 1 to April 30 in 2020 and 2021, and the control group included patients treated during the same months from 2017 to 2019. The volume of trauma patients according to the level of social distancing was evaluated among patients treated from August 2, 2020 to November 23, 2020. Results: The study included 3,032 patients who presented to the emergency department with traumatic injuries from January to April 2017 to 2021. The average number of patients was 646.7 and 546.0 in the control and COVID-19 groups, respectively. The percentage of patients injured in traffic accidents (TAs) decreased from 25.0% to 18.2% (P<0.0001). The proportions of in-car TAs and pedestrian TAs also decreased from 6.7% and 10.8% to 3.5% and 6.0%, respectively (P=0.0002 and P<0.0001). The percentage of bicycle TAs increased from 2.4% to 4.0% (P=0.0128). The proportion of patients with an Injury Severity Score above 15 and the mortality rate did not change significantly. As the level of social distancing increased, the number of trauma patients and the number of trauma injuries from TAs decreased. The number of orthopedic trauma operations also depended on the social distancing level. Conclusions: The number of trauma patients presenting to the emergency department decreased during the COVID-19 period. The volume of trauma patients and orthopedic trauma operations decreased as the social distance level increased.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.107-115
• /
• 2011

Since 2009 The Korean National Police Agency has been pushed "permissive left-turn" forward in order to making progress in Korean traffic operations system. Preceding researches manuals and guidelines present 6 standards(# of accidents # of lanes, pedestrian volume sight # of permissive left-turn lanes vehicle volume) as installation permissive left-turn. But in practical affairs it is most important that secure enough Gap-time between permissive left-turn vehicle and opposite through lane vehicle to make permissive left-turn vehicle move safer and more efficiently. This study suggests applying gap acceptance theory in microscopic model to permissive left-turn installation standards. Analysis methods of this study are field data survey statistical analysis and microscopic simulation analysis. This study collected field data by using AVI recording and measured permissive left-turn vehicle intersection passing time(T1) and against the opposite through lane vehicle Gap-time(T2). And statistical analysis performed about two values that measured before to predict the functionality between T1 and T2. These studies to overcome the limit of sample size carried out a microscopic simulation(VISSIM) plan and collect more samples to input statistical analysis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.218-226
• /
• 2014

This study examines a way to install a crosswalk that can improve pedestrians' convenience and safety and that goes beyond the crosswalk design standard of existing roundabouts. When a scrambled crosswalk, one of the crosswalk installation methods, is introduced to the roundabout system, it shortens the cross-walking distance of pedestrians and thus enhances convenience. Although the installation of a scrambled crosswalk may enhance pedestrians' convenience, it may obstruct vehicular traffic. Thus, this study presents standards for reasonable diagonal crosswalk installation based on the investigation on its effects on a vehicle's delay time. This study includes an analysis of the various geometric structures of roundabouts. The study results show that as v/c and the number of pedestrians increased, the delay time after the installation of a scrambled crosswalk increased although the extent was different. In general, the effect of the installation of a scrambled crosswalk was insignificant regardless of the number of pedestrians when v/c was under 0.6. When the number of pedestrians was 300/hour or lower, the difference in the delay time was quite insignificant regardless of v/c. In addition, as the inscribed circle of the roundabout was larger, the difference in the delay time decreased depending on v/c and the number of pedestrians.