Influence of Advanced Placement of the In-Street Sign Gateway on Distance of Yielding from the Crosswalk

Author(s):  
Jonathan Hochmuth ◽  
Ron Van Houten

A multiple-threat accident occurs when a pedestrian attempts to traverse a crosswalk on a multilane road, and the vehicle nearest to the pedestrian yields close to the crosswalk, obscuring the pedestrian’s view of the next lane, and the motorist’s view in the adjacent lane of the pedestrian. This set of circumstances may lead to pedestrians being struck at higher speeds by a vehicle in the adjacent oncoming lane, often resulting in serious injury or a fatality. The present study compared advanced placement of a gateway in-street sign configuration with a gateway deployed at the crosswalk, on two multilane roads. Data were collected using a reversal design, capturing alternating series of data points in each condition, and counterbalancing the order of those conditions. The advanced placement of the sign produced comparable levels of yielding to the crosswalk placement, but produced a large increase in the proportion of yielding 50 ft or further from the crosswalk. On multilane roads, increasing the distance at which vehicles yield from the crosswalk mitigates the sight distance issues that produce multiple-threat accidents, thereby reducing the likelihood of pedestrian fatalities or serious injuries. Advanced placement of the gateway configuration may also take the signs out of the turning radii of larger vehicles at a driveway or intersection, which may improve the longevity of the in-street signs.

Author(s):  
Moon-Sook Kim ◽  
Hyun-Myung Jung ◽  
Hyo-Yeon Lee ◽  
Jinhyun Kim

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors of serious fall-related injuries by analyzing the differences between two fall groups: one with serious fall-related injuries and one without such injuries. Applying a retrospective, descriptive investigation study design, we analyzed the degree of fall-related injury and the risk factors related to serious falls by conducting a complete survey of the medical records of fall patients reported throughout one full year, 2017, at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. Among the patients with reported falls, 188 sustained no injury (63.1%), 72 sustained minor injury (24.2%), and 38 patients sustained serious injury (12.8%). The serious fall-related injuries included eight lacerations requiring suture (2.7%), 23 fractures (7.7%), five brain injuries (1.7%), and two deaths (0.7%). Analysis results indicated that taking anticoagulants/antiplatelet drugs (p = 0.016) and having a fall history (p = 0.038) were statistically significant in the differences between the group with serious injury related to falls and the group without serious injury. Logistic regression revealed that taking anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs was the factor most significantly correlated with serious injuries related to falls (OR = 2.299, p = 0.022). Results show that it is necessary to develop a patient-tailored fall prevention activity program.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. e158-e164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Astrid Värnild ◽  
Per Tillgren ◽  
Peter Larm

Abstract Background The number of seriously injured unprotected road users has increased during implementation of a road safety policy Vision Zero. The aim of the study is to identify factors associated with the increase in serious injuries among cyclists and pedestrians (even single pedestrian accidents) that occurred in an urban road space in a Swedish region 2003–17. The urban road space includes roads, pavements and tracks for walking and cycling. Methods Data were retrieved from STRADA (Swedish Traffic Accident Data Acquisition) and NVDB (National Road Database). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression with odds ratios for sex, age and part of road space were assessed. Results The number of seriously injured cyclists and pedestrians more than doubled from 2003 to 2017, with the greatest increase for pedestrians. Older age increased the probability of serious injury since 2012 for the group ≥ 80 years and since 2015 for the group 65–79 years. No significant effect of sex. Most injuries occur in areas not transformed by Vision Zero. Conclusions An increasing number of elderly persons in the generation born in the 1940s and increased life expectancy are important factors. There is a need to increase road safety measures that also promote active mobility.


2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 188-190
Author(s):  
L A Regan ◽  
J G Cooper

In 2002 it was highlighted that sledging results in serious injuries in the paediatric population and safety recommendations were made. The aim of this study was to re-examine the number, severity and aetiology of sledging-related trauma. This was a retrospective study performed in the Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) of the Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital (RACH) during two periods totalling 12 days, when there was continuous snow ground cover. Records of all attendances were scrutinized to identify patients with sledging injuries. The nature, mechanism and severity of injury, and subsequent management were then analysed. Of 403 PED attendances, 45 (11%) were sledging related with 16 (36%) fractures and 13 (29%) head injuries. Eight patients (18%) were admitted to hospital and three (7%) required an operation. Collision with a stationary object was the most common reason for injury (51%), followed by the adoption of a dangerous sledging position or use of a stationary jump. No patients were wearing a helmet. In conclusion, there has been little change in the epidemiology and aetiology of paediatric sledging injuries since 2002. Work is needed to inform parents of the previously recommended safety measures that could reduce the morbidity of this activity without detracting from the enjoyment.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew E. Deren ◽  
Steve B. Behrens ◽  
Bryan G. Vopat ◽  
Theodore A. Blaine

Posterior sternoclavicular dislocations are rare but serious injuries. The proximity of the medial clavicle to the vital structures of the mediastinum warrants caution with management of the injury. Radiographs are the initial imaging test, though computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are essential for diagnosis and preoperative planning. This paper presents an efficient diagnostic approach and effective technique of closed reduction of posterior sternoclavicular dislocations with a brief review of open and closed reduction procedures.


Author(s):  
Loma Steynberg ◽  
Raheel Ahmed

The RAF Amendment Act 19 of 2005 came into effect on 1 August 2008 and sections 17(1) and 17(1A) introduced the concept of “serious injury”. This entails that a third-party claimant who wishes to claim compensation for non-patrimonial loss suffered after a motor-vehicle accident has to prove that his or her injury is “serious”. If the claimant’s injury is not considered “serious” no compensation will be awarded for the non-patrimonial loss suffered and, furthermore, the claimant will also not be entitled to claim any compensation from the wrongdoer in terms of common law (s 21 of the RAF Act). In a sequence of unreported cases the courts have provided guidelines on the procedure to be followed in serious-injury claims. Firstly, a claimant must submit himself or herself to an assessment by a medical practitioner registered under the Health Professions Act. Secondly, the medical practitioner must assess if the injuries sustained by the claimant fall within the list of “non-serious injuries”, and if so, compensation for non-patrimonial loss will not be awarded. If the injury is not on the list of non-serious injuries, the medical practitioner may assess the injuries and if they result in 30 per cent or more of whole-person impairment (“WPI”) compensation for non-patrimonial loss may be awarded. If the evaluation is that the 30 per cent of WPI cannot be reached, non-patrimonial loss may still be claimed if the injuries fall within the “narrative test”, namely (a) resulting in a serious long-term impairment or loss of a body function; (b) constituting permanent serious disfigurement; (c) resulting in severe long-term mental or severe long-term behavioural disturbance or disorder; or (d) resulting in the loss of a foetus. A plaintiff may use either of the two tests to establish serious injury and in such a manner qualify for compensation for non-patrimonial loss. A medical practitioner must complete and submit a serious-injury assessment report on the RAF 4. If the RAF is not satisfied that the injury has been correctly assessed they must (a) reject the serious-injury assessment report within 60 days and furnish reasons for the rejection; or (b) direct that the third party submit himself or herself, at the cost of the Fund, to a further assessment. Thereafter the RAF must either accept the further assessment or dispute the further assessment within 90 days. An Appeal Tribunal, consisting of three independent medical practitioners, has been created to hear these disputes.


1988 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 569-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
S A Vernon

A prospective study involving all casualty departments in Trent Region and 81% of the major eye units in UK was performed to determine ocular morbidity from the use of fireworks during 1986. A serious injury was defined as involving admission to hospital and/or intraocular damage. Of all the injuries from fireworks, 16.7% seen at major eye units were serious and were caused by rockets or exploding fireworks ( P< 0.001). Only 53% of all injuries and 12.5% of serious injuries involved children, and in contrast to the 1950s and early 1960s, young adults appear at greatest risk in the 1980s. Legislation to reduce ocular morbidity should concentrate on restricting the use of rockets and exploding fireworks and encouraging the use of suitable eye protection.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 397-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin McDonald ◽  
John Deitch ◽  
Chelsea Bush

Background: Sports specialization is becoming an increasingly common training strategy in young athletes. Very little research currently exists examining the occurrence of serious injury (>3 months off sport or loss of season) in elite-level wrestlers who specialize early (before age 12 years). Hypothesis: Wrestlers who specialize early will sustain more serious injuries than wrestlers who specialize at age 12 years or older. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiological study. Methods: We sent an anonymous online survey to a total of 312 elite-level wrestlers (National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletes and World/Olympic team members) containing questions documenting age of specialization and number of serious injuries sustained. The number of serious injuries both before and after starting college were compared between wrestlers specializing at <12 years old and ≥12 years old using an independent-samples t test. Respondents’ opinions on the necessity of early specialization and their primary source of encouragement to specialize were also reported. Results: A total of 143 wrestlers completed the survey, for a total response rate of 46%. Thirty-six (25%) wrestlers specialized at <12 years old. The early specialization group sustained significantly more serious injuries than the late specialization group (1.14 vs 0.60; P = 0.035). Sixty-two (43%) believed early specialization was necessary to achieve elite-level status. The decision to specialize was encouraged primarily by the athlete (78/143; 55%), parents (37/143; 26%), and coaches (22/143; 15%). Conclusion: Elite wrestlers who specialize prior to age 12 years sustain a greater number of serious injuries before starting college than those who specialize at or after the age of 12 years. Clinical Relevance: Athletes, coaches, and parents should consider the risk of injury before adopting a wrestling-specialized training strategy at a young age.


Author(s):  
Libby Thomas ◽  
Krista Nordback ◽  
Rebecca Sanders

This paper presents an overview of prevalent bicyclist crash types in the United States, providing insights for practitioners that may be useful in planning safer networks and taking other proactive and risk-based approaches to treatment. The study compares fatal bicyclist crash types from national data with serious injury and all-severity bicyclist collisions from the state of North Carolina (NC) and the city of Boulder, Colorado. Overall, bicyclist fatalities in the United States are more prevalent in urban areas (69%) than rural areas (29%). Though the majority of all-severity crashes are at intersections, most fatal and disabling injury bicyclist crashes occur at non-intersection locations, including nearly one-third of bicyclists who die from collisions involving overtaking motorists. Top intersection crash types across national fatal and all-severity crashes in NC and Boulder include bicyclists failing to yield and motorists turning across a bicyclist’s path. However, many of the top all-severity types in the two jurisdictions differ from the top fatal crash types nationwide. These comparisons provide a fresh look at bicyclist crash type trends and have potential importance with respect to planning safer networks for Vision Zero communities, since a key finding is that locations and crash types most prevalent among fatal and serious injuries may differ from the most prevalent types for all-severity crashes. The findings could be useful to agencies lacking their own resources for risk-based assessment, but also suggest it is important to analyze higher severity crash types and jurisdiction-specific data when possible.


Author(s):  
Kristofer D. Kusano ◽  
Hampton C. Gabler

Opposite-direction crashes can be extremely severe because opposing vehicles often have high relative speeds. The objective of this study was to characterize the overall frequency of opposite-direction crashes as well as the frequency of crashes involving fatalities and serious injuries. The results of the study will guide future research and investment in infrastructure-based countermeasures to opposite-direction crashes, such as centerline rumble strips. The study used data from the National Automotive Sampling System (NASS) General Estimates System for 2010, the NASS Crashworthiness Data System for 2006 to 2010, and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for 2010. The most common opposite-direction crash scenario was a driver departing the road driving over the centerline or the road edge to the left, which accounted for only 5% of nonjunction vehicle-to-vehicle crashes but 44% of serious injury and 49% of fatal crashes of the same type. Of the cross-over-to-left crashes, 72% of fatal crashes occurred on rural, undivided, two-lane roads and accounted for 1,659 fatal crashes in 2010. In cross-over-to-left crashes on rural two-lane roads, the driver was going straight or negotiating a curve in 88% to 94% of the crashes. The driver was overtaking another vehicle in only 2% of serious injury crashes and 6% of fatal crashes. Cross-over-to-left crashes on curves were to the outside of the curve more often than to the inside of the curve. This research suggests that countermeasures to opposite-direction crashes should focus on rural two-lane roads.


Author(s):  
Herbert Biggs

Australia's mineral, resource and infrastructure sectors continues to expand as operations in rural and remote locations increasingly rely on fly-in, fly-out or drive-in, drive-out workforces in order to become economically competitive. The issues associated with employing these workforces are becoming more apparent and include a range of physical, mental, psychosocial, safety, and community challenges. Research evaluating the impacts of fly-in, fly-out operations in Australia has been limited, and in February 2013 the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Australia made 21 recommendations aimed at improving these operations. To date, none of the recommendations have been implemented. The Construction and Mining sectors, in which most FIFO workers are employed, represent 12% of the total Australian workforce. Recent evidence from Safe Work Australia (2013) notes that serious injuries incident rates in both these sectors are well above the national injury rate. In addition the median payment and compensation cost for serious injury in these sectors are considerably higher than the Australian average due to higher employees salary, severity of incidents, lengths of absence from work, and medical expenses. These at risk remote site FIFO employees are further challenged post injury by lack of access to well-regarded disability management processes that have traditionally closely involved the workplace in the rehabilitation process. This paper examines the disparate challenges faced by both employers and employees in workplace wellbeing in remote sites, and raises questions as to how best disability management professionals can design, implement, and evaluate effective rehabilitation processes for injured FIFO workers who are a fast growing segment of the workforce but who work in conditions hitherto atypical of mainstream industry.


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