Characteristics of media-reported road traffic crashes related to new energy vehicles in China

Introduction: New energy vehicles (NEVs) refer to vehicles entirely or primarily powered by energy sources outside of conventional fuels. As the number of NEVs increases, road traffic crashes related to NEVs have emerged as a new challenge for road traffic injury prevention. However, basic epidemiological data are scarce concerning NEV-related crashes. Methods: Using media-reported crash data from the Automated Road Traffic Crash Data Platform (ARTCDP), a data platform developed and validated by our research group to gather eligible reports automatically and systematically from online Chinese media concerning road traffic crashes, we examined the characteristics of new energy vehicles between 2015 and 2022 in China. Results: The ARTCDP captured 2,927 crashes related to NEVs from 2015 to 2022, accounting for 1.1% of total number of motor vehicle-related crashes indexed by the ARTCDP during the same time period. Of them, 2,262 (77.3%) crashes occurred in east and central China. NEV-related traffic crashes occurred most often on urban roads (68.8%), well-lit roads (72.2%), roads without adequate safety infrastructure facilities (63.2%), and at intersections (78.7%). 1,864 media reports described the reason for the crash, with 44.1% listing two or more factors to explain the NEV-related crashes. Brake system failure and dangerous or improper driving operations were more frequently reported in NEV-related crashes than in other motorvehicle crashes (55.6% vs. 18.3% and 37.5% vs. 20.8%, P < 0.01). NEV-related crashes occurred more often on rainy days and on foggy or smoggy days than other motor-vehicle crashes (83.6% vs. 72.2% and 4.1% vs. 0.7%, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Media-reported news elucidate distinct characteristics of road traffic crashes involving NEVs versus other motor vehicles in China. Practical applications: NEV-related crashes represent an emerging road traffic safety challenge in China and worldwide. Characteristics revealed by media-reported NEV-related crashes merit the attention of policymakers, automobile industry, researchers, and law enforcement.