Speeding behavior and associated factors in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: Excessive speed is a major risk factor for serious injuries and death. However, speeding remains a pervasive problem around the world. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with speeding behavior in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. METHODS: A sample of vehicles (n = 34,967) from ten locations in the city was observed in two waves during 2021. Measurements were made at different times and days of the week. Observation sites were free of intersections, traffic lights, speed bumps and cameras, allowing drivers to speed freely. Data on speed, drivers and vehicle types were collected. Factors associated with speeding were identified through logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: 15.3% of vehicles were observed to be speeding. Roads with posted speed limits of 40 km/h showed higher speeding compared to 60 km/h roads. 77% of vehicles traveled above 30 km/h on local roads, and 30% above 50 km/h on avenues. Motorcycles, both commercial and private, showed a higher percentage of speeding compared to all other vehicles. Speeding was lower among women, among adults over 60 years of age, and among those using cell phones. CONCLUSION: It is crucial to strengthen strategies for increased compliance with speed limits. Actions targeting motorcyclists must be a priority.

Speeding in the city of Xalapa, Mexico: Prevalence and associated factors.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of speeding in the city of Xalapa, Veracruz, in Mexico and to identify factors potentially associated to this risk behavior. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on December 2019 in Xalapa, Veracruz. Speed measurement was conducted in a random sample of 10% of all the main roads in the urban area (n = 12). Observations were conducted over the course of one week at different times spending no more than 1.5 h in each site at a time. All vehicles circulating in each observation site during the data collection were included in the sample. Characteristics of drivers, vehicles and the environment were also collected and analyzed, using logistic regression analysis and a multiple ordinal regression model to identify factors associated to speeding and more serious violations of speed limits. RESULTS: Average speed of the 3,390 vehicles observed was 50.97 km/h. Prevalence of speeding was 65.66% (95%-CI: 64.04-67.26%); 26.96% (95%-CI: 25.47-28.49) exceeded the speed limit by 50%. Speeding and more serious violations of speed limits were more frequent in light vehicles, residential zones and during weekends. More serious violations of speed limits were also more frequent on smaller roads, where speed limit were lower and during morning hours. CONCLUSIONS: The great majority of vehicles transgress speed limits in Xalapa, Veracruz. Our results support the urgent need to implement speed control measures in the city. Changes in road infrastructure design, as well as promoting a comprehensive speeding legislation (with adequate speed limits and correctly enforced) aimed at reducing exposure to this key risk factor are recommended. As evaluation of road safety interventions is key, our data could be used as a baseline to evaluate the effects and impact of future interventions implemented in this Mexican city.

Prevalence of speeding and associated factors in four Mexican cities.

BACKGROUND: Speeding is responsible for countless traffic collisions and road traffic injuries (RTIs) around the world. It threatens the lives of passengers in motor vehicles as well as the safety of other individuals sharing the public roads. Little evidence has been provided by low- and middle-income countries on speed transgression patterns. OBJECTIVE: To document the prevalence of speeding in motor vehicles with four or more wheels and to analyse the associated factors in four Mexican cities. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in the cities of Guadalajara-Zapopan, León, Cuernavaca and Villahermosa. Data on speed, drivers, vehicles, road infrastructure and the environment were collected from a randomly selected sample of urban road segments. We identified the factors associated with speeding through a logistic multiple regression model. RESULTS: With an overall prevalence of 47% (95% CI 45.83 to 48.18), speeding occurred most frequently in Villahermosa (61.07%, 95% CI 59.10 to 63.01) as compared to León (51%, 95% CI 48.07 to 53.92), Cuernavaca (47.6%, 95% CI 45.35 to 49.85) and Guadalajara-Zapopan (20.76%, 95% CI 18.75 to 22.88). Speeding increased in the afternoons, on roads with numerous lanes, on Thursdays and Sundays and in foggy weather, but decreased in cities with speed control strategies and on roads with low visibility. No differences were observed between sexes or among age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from our study highlights the urgent need to implement speed control measures such as changes in road infrastructure and design, and to promote comprehensive speeding legislation aimed at reducing exposure to this important risk factor.

Physical characterization of soil and operational performance of agricultural machines in the deployment of forage sorghum / Caracterização física do solo e desempenho operacional de máquinas agrícolas na implantação da cultura do sorgo forrageiro

Forage sorghum can be grown in areas presenting dry and hot environmental situations where the yield of other grasses can often be uneconomical. The objective of this study was to analyze the operating performance of agricultural machines in the deployment of sorghum forage in four tillage systems, as follows: no-tillage system, disk harrow + seeding, disk harrow + two light disking + seeding, minimum tillage + seeding and four seeding different speeds, as follows: 3, 5, 6 and 9 km h-1. The study was performed under field conditions in FCA / UNESP, Botucatu County, SP, Brazil. The data were subjected to variance analysis in a simple factorial 4 x 4, and a random block design with split plots. Operational performance of the agricultural machinery, physical characteristics the soil, its water content and the yield of dry matter and green sorghum were determined. The operational performance of agricultural machines in the deployment of sorghum forage is influenced by the sowing speed and the soil tillage system used. Chisel plow was the equipment that required the highest mean traction force, mean traction and slip, as well as the lowest mean speed for the studied tillage system. Forage sorghum showed higher yields in no-tillage systems at a seeding speed of 5 km h-1.

O sorgo forrageiro pode ser cultivado em áreas e situações ambientais secas e quentes, onde a produtividade de outras forrageiras pode ser normalmente antieconômica. O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar o desempenho operacional de máquinas agrícolas na implantação da cultura do sorgo forrageiro em quatro sistemas de preparo do solo: semeadura direta; gradagem pesada + semeadura; gradagem pesada + duas gradagens leves + semeadura; cultivo reduzido + semeadura e quatro velocidades de semeadura: 3, 5, 6 e 9 km h-1. O experimento foi instalado em condições de campo, na FCA/UNESP, Campus de Botucatu - SP. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância em esquema fatorial simples, 4 x 4, sendo o delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas. Foram estudados o desempenho operacional das máquinas agrícolas, as características físicas do solo, o teor de água e a produtividade de massa seca e verde do sorgo. Concluiu-se que o desempenho operacional de máquinas agrícolas na implantação da cultura do sorgo forrageiro é influenciado pela velocidade de semeadura e pelo sistema de preparo do solo. O escarificador foi o equipamento que exigiu do trator a maior força média de tração, potência média de tração, patinagem e apresentou a menor velocidade média de trabalho para os sistemas de preparo estudados. O sorgo forrageiro apresentou maiores produtividades no

Physical characterization of soil and operational performance of agricultural machines in the deployment of forage sorghum / Caracterização física do solo e desempenho operacional de máquinas agrícolas na implantação da cultura do sorgo forrageiro

Forage sorghum can be grown in areas presenting dry and hot environmental situations where the yield of other grasses can often be uneconomical. The objective of this study was to analyze the operating performance of agricultural machines in the deployment of sorghum forage in four tillage systems, as follows: no-tillage system, disk harrow + seeding, disk harrow + two light disking + seeding, minimum tillage + seeding and four seeding different speeds, as follows: 3, 5, 6 and 9 km h-1. The study was performed under field conditions in FCA / UNESP, Botucatu County, SP, Brazil. The data were subjected to variance analysis in a simple factorial 4 x 4, and a random block design with split plots. Operational performance of the agricultural machinery, physical characteristics the soil, its water content and the yield of dry matter and green sorghum were determined. The operational performance of agricultural machines in the deployment of sorghum forage is influenced by the sowing speed and the soil tillage system used. Chisel plow was the equipment that required the highest mean traction force, mean traction and slip, as well as the lowest mean speed for the studied tillage system. Forage sorghum showed higher yields in no-tillage systems at a seeding speed of 5 km h-1.

O sorgo forrageiro pode ser cultivado em áreas e situações ambientais secas e quentes, onde a produtividade de outras forrageiras pode ser normalmente antieconômica. O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar o desempenho operacional de máquinas agrícolas na implantação da cultura do sorgo forrageiro em quatro sistemas de preparo do solo: semeadura direta; gradagem pesada + semeadura; gradagem pesada + duas gradagens leves + semeadura; cultivo reduzido + semeadura e quatro velocidades de semeadura: 3, 5, 6 e 9 km h-1. O experimento foi instalado em condições de campo, na FCA/UNESP, Campus de Botucatu - SP. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância em esquema fatorial simples, 4 x 4, sendo o delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas. Foram estudados o desempenho operacional das máquinas agrícolas, as características físicas do solo, o teor de água e a produtividade de massa seca e verde do sorgo. Concluiu-se que o desempenho operacional de máquinas agrícolas na implantação da cultura do sorgo forrageiro é influenciado pela velocidade de semeadura e pelo sistema de preparo do solo. O escarificador foi o equipamento que exigiu do trator a maior força média de tração, potência média de tração, patinagem e apresentou a menor velocidade média de trabalho para os sistemas de preparo estudados. O sorgo forrageiro apresentou maiores produtividades no