scholarly journals Role of Poverty in California Teenagers’ Fatal Traffic Crash Risk

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Males
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crash ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Fatal Crash ◽  
Adolescent Risk

Teenagers’ high rates of motor vehicle crashes, accounting for 40% of external deaths among 16-19 yearolds, have been ascribed largely to inherent “adolescent risk-taking” and developmental hazards. However, the fact that compared to adults 25 and older, teenagers are twice as likely to live in poverty and low-income areas, risk factors for many types of violent death, has not been assessed. This paper uses Fatality Analysis Reporting System data on 65,173 fatal motor vehicle crashes by drivers in California’s 35 most populous counties for 1994-2007 to analyze fatal crash involvements per 100 million miles driven by driver age, county, poverty status, and 15 other traffic safety-related variables. Fatal crash rates were substantially higher for every driver age group in poorer counties than in richer ones. Multivariate regression found socioeconomic factors, led by the low levels of licensing and high unemployment rates prevalent in low-income areas, were associated with nearly 60% of the variance in motor vehicle crash risks, compared to 3% associated with driver age. The strong association between fatal crash risk and poverty, especially for young drivers who are concentrated in high-poverty brackets and low-income areas, suggests that factors related to poorer environments constitute a major traffic safety risk requiring serious attention.

scholarly journals Approximation Framework of Embodied Energy of Safety: Insights and Analysis

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4230
Author(s):  
Zijia Zhong ◽  
Lei Zhu ◽  
Stanley Young
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crash ◽  
Embodied Energy ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
State And Local

Transportation safety, as a critical component of an efficient and reliable transportation system, has been extensively studied with respect to societal economic impacts by transportation agencies and policy officials. However, the embodied energy impact of safety, other than induced congestion, is lacking in studies. This research proposes an energy equivalence of safety (EES) framework to provide a holistic view of the long-term energy and fuel consequences of motor vehicle crashes, incorporating both induced congestion and impacts from lost human productivity resulting from injury and fatal accidents and the energy content resulting from all consequences and activities from a crash. The method utilizes a ratio of gross domestic product (GDP) to national energy consumed in a framework that bridges the gap between safety and energy, leveraging extensive studies of the economic impact of motor vehicle crashes. The energy costs per fatal, injury, and property-damage-only (PDO) crashes in gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) in 2017 were found to be 200,259, 4442, and 439, respectively, which are significantly greater than impacts from induced congestion alone. The results from the motor vehicle crash data show a decreasing trend of EES per crash type from 2010 and 2017, due primarily in part to a decreasing ratio of total energy consumed to GDP over those years. In addition to the temporal analysis, we conducted a spatial analysis addressing national-, state-, and local-level EES comparisons by using the proposed framework, illustrating its applicability.

scholarly journals Precipitation and Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes: Continental Analysis with High-Resolution Radar Data

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 (8) ◽  
pp. 1453-1461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott E. Stevens ◽  
Carl J. Schreck ◽  
Shubhayu Saha ◽  
Jesse E. Bell ◽  
Kenneth E. Kunkel
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Fatal Crash ◽  
Fatal Crashes ◽  
High Resolution Radar

AbstractMotor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of accidental death in the United States, and weather is frequently cited as a contributing factor in fatal crashes. Previous studies have investigated the link between these crashes and precipitation typically using station-based observations that, while providing a good estimate of the prevailing conditions on a given day or hour, often fail to capture the conditions present at the actual time and location of a crash. Using a multiyear, high-resolution radar reanalysis and information on 125,012 fatal crashes spanning the entire continental United States over a 6-yr period, we find that the overall risk of a fatal crash increases by approximately 34% during active precipitation. The risk is significant in all regions of the continental United States, and it is highest during the morning rush hour and during the winter months.

scholarly journals Cannabis-impaired driving and Canadian youth

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S21-S25
Author(s):  
Jeff R Brubacher ◽  
Herbert Chan ◽  
John A Staples
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crash ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Delayed Information ◽  
Canadian Youth ◽  
Vehicle Collision ◽  
Significant Impairment

Abstract Acute cannabis use results in inattention, delayed information processing, impaired coordination, and slowed reaction time. Driving simulator studies and epidemiologic analyses suggest that cannabis use increases motor vehicle crash risk. How much concern should we have regarding cannabis associated motor vehicle collision risks among younger drivers? This article summarizes why young, inexperienced drivers may be at a particularly high risk of crashing after using cannabis. We describe the epidemiology of cannabis use among younger drivers, why combining cannabis with alcohol causes significant impairment and why cannabis edibles may pose a heightened risk to traffic safety. We provide recommendations for clinicians counselling younger drivers about cannabis use and driving.

scholarly journals Novel Smartphone-Based Measures of Cell Phone Use While Driving in a Sample of Newly Licensed Adolescent Drivers

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine C. McDonald ◽  
Kristen Ward ◽  
Yanlan Huang ◽  
Douglas J. Wiebe ◽  
M. Kit Delgado
Keyword(s):  
Cell Phone ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crash ◽  
Female Adolescent ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Cell Phone Use ◽  
Adolescent Drivers

Background. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of adolescent death. Cell phone use while driving is a contributor to adolescent motor vehicle crash risk. Objective and directly observable measures of cell phone use while driving are needed to implement interventions aimed at reducing cell phone–related crash risk. Aims. To describe novel smartphone-based measures of cell phone use while driving in a sample of newly licensed male and female adolescent drivers. Methods. Newly licensed adolescents in Pennsylvania installed a windshield-mounted device that pairs with a smartphone application to collect data on cell phone use while driving over 2 weeks during June 2016–October 2016. Descriptive statistics, independent t tests, and Wilcoxin Mann-Whitney U test were used to characterize handheld cell phone use (“unlock”) and call time while accounting for driving exposure. Results. Data from 16 adolescents (50% male) resulted in 5,624 miles in 705 trips, 964 cell phone unlocks, and 146.22 minutes of call time. Participants had a mean of 23.96 unlocks/100 miles ( SD = 22.97), 1.23 unlocks/trip ( SD = 0.96), and 4.87 unlocks/hour driven ( SD = 3.93). Males had significantly more unlocks/100 miles, unlocks at speed >25 mph/100 miles, unlocks/hour driven, and unlocks at speed > 25 mph/hour driven ( p < .05). Conclusions. Smartphone-based applications are an innovative means by which to collect continuous data on cell phone use while driving that can be used to better understand and intervene on this frequent behavior in newly licensed adolescent drivers.

Emergency Response Times for Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes, 1975–2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (8) ◽  
pp. 504-510
Author(s):  
Maria C. Cruz ◽  
Nicholas N. Ferenchak
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Road Safety ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Response Times ◽  
The United States ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Vehicle Crashes ◽  
National Trend

Emergency response times are an important component of road safety outcomes. Research has shown that there are potential benefits from shortened response times in patient outcomes for motor vehicle crashes. While a safety analysis may identify a decrease in traffic fatalities, that decrease may be a result of improved road safety or it may simply reflect improved emergency response times. However, it is currently unclear how emergency response times have changed over the last few decades. With data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), we identify the national trend in emergency response times from 1975 through 2017. To control for changes in response time, we analyze crashes that resulted in an immediate death. Results suggest that emergency response times have improved by approximately 50% over this timeframe. Additionally, we analyze response time trends in three states (North Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana) that had consistent data and large sample sizes, finding patterns similar to the national trend. Outcomes suggest higher response times in rural areas. High standard deviations of average response times observed from 2003 to 2008 indicate a need for improvement in data collection. Future work could aim to better understand and reduce response times specific to certain regions and understand the effect of the popularization of cell phone usage. Our findings have important implications for fatality-based traffic safety analyses. Improving response time could help continue the trend of reduced mortality rates caused by motor vehicle crashes in the United States.

scholarly journals Precipitation Effects on Motor Vehicle Crashes Vary by Space, Time, and Environmental Conditions

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Tamerius ◽  
X. Zhou ◽  
R. Mantilla ◽  
T. Greenfield-Huitt
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Crash Risk ◽  
Accident Risk ◽  
Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Weather And Climate ◽  
Liquid Precipitation

Abstract Numerous studies have shown that precipitation has a significant impact on motor vehicle crashes. Hourly weather radar data with a 4-km resolution and over 600 000 crashes from 2002 to 2012 in Iowa are used to assess the effects of precipitation on motor vehicle crashes. Using a matched pairs analysis, this study finds that the relative accident risk (RAR) across the state during the study period was 1.69 [1.66, 1.71]. However, RAR increased to as high as 3.7 [3.6, 4.0] and as low as 1.1 [1.0, 1.2] for frozen and liquid precipitation types, respectively. RAR also varied significantly by hour of the day, with RAR near 2 in the late afternoon and 1.3 during the early morning hours, suggesting an interaction effect between precipitation and traffic volume and/or density on crash risk. The study also shows that interstates and major highways tend to have higher RAR than smaller roads, and it was able to identify locations that are particularly sensitive to precipitation with regard to crashes. This study can be used to inform future studies on the effects of weather and climate change on crashes.

Attribution of injury to alcohol involvement in young adults seriously injured in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes

2000 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
MS Sommers ◽  
JM Dyehouse ◽  
SR Howe ◽  
J Lemmink ◽  
K Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crash ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Blood Levels ◽  
Vehicle Crashes ◽  
Vehicle Crash ◽  
Alcohol Involvement ◽  
Serious Injury ◽  
Alcohol Dependent

BACKGROUND: Approximately 40% of all traffic fatalities are associated with the use of alcohol. Hospitalization for serious injury after a motor vehicle crash related to use of alcohol may be an opportunity to change drinking behaviors in non-alcohol-dependent drinkers, thereby reducing the risk for future disability and death. OBJECTIVES: To determine the degree to which non-alcohol-dependent adults aged 18 to 45 years with alcohol-related vehicular trauma attributed their injury to use of alcohol. METHODS: During hospitalization, 132 subjects involved in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes were interviewed. The interviews included the question, "To what extent do you believe your alcohol consumption was responsible for this injury?" Responses were measured on a 7-point scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 7 (totally). RESULTS: In response to the question about attribution of injury to alcohol, 37.8% of subjects responded "not at all," 24.3 responded "somewhat," and 37.9% responded "mostly" or "totally." Spearman rank correlation between attribution of injury to alcohol involvement and blood alcohol content at admission was r = 0.440 (P &lt; .001). CONCLUSIONS: More than 60% of patients injured in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes attributed their injury partly or totally to use of alcohol. When alcohol-free, hospitalized patients with higher blood levels of alcohol on admission were more likely than those with lower levels to attribute their injury to alcohol. Hospitalization for a motor vehicle crash related to use of alcohol provides an opportunity for interventions to decrease drinking.

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