As cycling gains traction as a sustainable transport mode, enhancing cyclists' safety has become a key priority within European policy. Among the various developments introduced, Advanced Cyclist Assistance Systems (ACAS) stand out as a promising technological innovation. However, research on their perceived value and adoption remains limited, particularly regarding user preferences and demographic differences. Aim: This study aimed to examine European cyclists' evaluation of five ACAS types and their core functional features, as well as to explore demographic differences, particularly in relation to cyclists' gender and age. Method: This study used the data provided by 6167 cyclists (47.4% females; 51.5% males; 1.1% others) from 19 European countries. Participants provided self-reported evaluations of five ACAS types (environmental monitoring, rider visibility enhancement, real-time information, crash prevention-assistance, and post-crash appliances) along with key features (safety contribution, reliability, ease of use, novelty, and everyday need). Results: Among ACAS types, visibility-enhancing systems (designed to increase cyclists' conspicuity) and environmental monitoring technologies received the highest valuations, while real-time information systems were rated the lowest. Safety contribution was the most highly valued attribute across all ACAS features. Additionally, gender differences were observed, with female cyclists prioritizing visibility and safety-related aspects. In contrast, male cyclists –while also favoring visibility-improving ACAS– placed greater emphasis on ease of use as a core feature. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of user-centered ACAS design and suggest that broader adoption may depend on improving system reliability, regulatory frameworks, and alignment with cyclists' needs and attitudinal factors. Future research should explore real-world ACAS implementation and long-term adoption trends to support safer and more technologically integrated cycling environments. ... Read more

Road traffic mortalities (RTMs) and injuries are among the leading causes of human fatalities worldwide, particularly in low-and middle-income countries like Iran. Using an interrupted time series analysis, we investigated three interventional points (two government-mandated fuel price increases and increased traffic ticket fines) for their potential relation to RTMs. Our findings showed that while the overall trend of RTMs was decreasing during the study period, multiple individual provinces showed smaller reductions in RTMs. We also found that both waves of government-mandated fuel price increases coincided with decreases in RTMs. However, the second wave coincided with RTM decreases in a smaller number of provinces than the first wave suggesting that the same type of intervention may not be as effective when repeated. Also, increased traffic ticket fines were only effective in a small number of provinces. Potential reasons and solutions for the findings are discussed in light of Iran’s Road Safety Strategic Plan. ... Read more