scholarly journals Driver Attitudes and Choices: Speed Limits, Seat Belt Use, and Drinking-and-Driving

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Jun Kweon ◽  
Kara M. Kockelman
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Drinking And Driving ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Speed Limits ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Driving Speed ◽  
Single Dataset

A better understanding of attitudes and behavioral principles underlying driving behavior and traffic safety issues can contribute to design and policy solutions, such as speed limits and seat belt legislation. This work examines the Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Surveys (MVOSS) dataset to illuminate drivers' seatbelt use, driving speed choices, drinking-and-driving tendencies, along with their attitudes towards speed limits and seat belt laws. Ordered probit, negative binomial, and linear regression models were used for the data analysis, and several interesting results emerged. The number and variety of results feasible with this single dataset are instructive as well as intriguing.

Impact of traffic Enforcement on Traffic Safety

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mahdi Rezapour Mashhadi ◽  
Promothes Saha ◽  
Khaled Ksaibati
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Traffic Enforcement ◽  
Horizontal Curves ◽  
Binomial Modeling ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Number Of Citations ◽  
The Impact

Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) have a huge cost to society in terms of death, injury and property damage. The cost of fatal MVCs alone is estimated at US $44 billion per year. Among many confounding factors, traffic citations as an element that may reduce MVC frequency are not well understood, and most research carried out to date has evaluated the effects of the total number of citations on the number of MVCs. However, certain types of citations may be more likely to reduce the number of MVCs, whereas other types are not very effective. This research was set out to examine the impact of different types of traffic citations on MVCs on two hazardous main US highways in Wyoming US-30 and US-26. A negative binomial modeling technique was implemented by exploiting 4 years of crash and citations data to identify the causal impacts of traffic citations on crash frequency by incorporating traffic and geometric features. The modeling results showed that higher numbers of speeding and seat belt citations reduce the number of crashes significantly. These findings are the results of law enforcement efforts along the highways. Traffic count and the number of horizontal curves were found to significantly increase the number of MVCs.

Influence of Vehicle Restraint System Design on the Kinematics and Neck Forces of a Rear Seat Small Occupant

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald S. Burke ◽  
Martha W. Bidez ◽  
Kathryn M. Mergl
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rear Seat ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Highway Traffic ◽  
Motor Vehicle Collisions ◽  
National Highway Traffic Safety ◽  
Vehicle Collisions

In 2008, motor vehicle collisions resulted in 968 child occupant fatalities and 193,000 seriously injured children, ages 14 years old and younger, according to the most recent data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [1]. In fact, motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for all children ages 3 to 14 years old living in the United States [1]. As children grow older they require size-appropriate restraint types to fit their body at each developmental level. For older children, booster seats are not a total solution for child safety as they are often dependent on the design of the vehicle seat belt system (2). Additionally, there is no federal standard that requires vehicle manufacturers to dynamically test the performance of child seats of any type in their vehicles.

Equity Analysis of Proactively- vs. Reactively-Identified Traffic Safety Issues

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (7) ◽  
pp. 596-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas N. Ferenchak ◽  
Wesley E. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Transportation Safety ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Black Neighborhoods ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Choropleth Mapping ◽  
Negative Impacts

Traffic safety issues often impede bicyclist and pedestrian trips, preventing potential users from realizing the benefits of active transport. Traditional active transportation safety analyses, however, take a reactive approach to traffic safety, only accounting for people currently walking or bicycling by analyzing crashes, injuries, and fatalities. This begs the question: which populations are most affected by traffic safety issues neglected by traditional crash analyses? To answer this, we developed a tool to proactively measure perceived traffic safety issues. We focused on child pedestrian and bicycle trips to and from schools in Denver, Colorado by measuring the number of children that would encounter roads perceived as unsafe. We converted these perceptions into barriers in a geographic information system network analysis to estimate trip suppression and used that as a proactive indicator of traffic safety. We finally examined—reactively and proactively—the socio-demographics of those affected via linear regression models and bivariate choropleth mapping. Results of both analyses suggest that negative impacts are borne disproportionately by low-income, low-education, Hispanic, and black neighborhoods. Proactive analyses results identified perceived safety issues in north and northeast Denver neighborhoods neglected by reactive analyses results. Findings suggest the inequitable distribution of traffic safety issues identified in past crash-based literature is graver than conventional reactive analysis would lead one to believe. By incorporating the proactive tool into traditional traffic safety analyses, we hope to better define the places and people that could most benefit from traffic safety improvements, thereby more effectively facilitating the benefits of walking and biking.

Analysis of Rural Interstate Fatality Rates in Consideration of Recent Increases in Maximum Statutory Speed Limits

2019 ◽  
Vol 2673 (11) ◽  
pp. 48-58
Author(s):  
Jacob Warner ◽  
Hitesh Chawla ◽  
Chao Zhou ◽  
Peter T. Savolainen
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Unobserved Heterogeneity ◽  
State Level ◽  
Random Parameter ◽  
Maximum Speed ◽  
Speed Limit ◽  
Speed Limits ◽  
Fatal Crashes ◽  
Significant Research

The relationship between traffic safety and speed limits has been an area of significant research. Since the repeal of the National Maximum Speed Law in 1995, states have full autonomy in establishing maximum statutory speed limits. Since 2001, at least 25 states have increased their maximum limits to speeds as high as 85 mph. This study examines changes in rural interstate fatalities from 2001 to 2016 in consideration of such increases. Speed limit policy data include the maximum speed limit for each state–year combination, as well as the proportion of rural interstate mileage posted at each speed limit in each state. Random parameter negative binomial models are estimated to control for unobserved heterogeneity, as well as time-invariant effects unique to each state. The results show that increasing the mileage of rural interstates posted at 70, 75, or 80 mph by 1% is associated with fatality increases of 0.2%, 0.5%, and 0.6%, respectively. These increases are more pronounced than when considering only the maximum statutory limits in each state. The study also examines the influence between these higher limits and the frequency of fatal crashes involving speeding and driver distraction. At the highest limits of 75 and 80 mph, the increases among these subsets of crashes are greater than the increases in total fatalities. Ultimately, this study provides important empirical evidence in support of continuing speed limit policy discussions, in addition to identifying salient analytical concerns that should be considered as a part of longitudinal analyses of state-level fatality data.

Automobile Safety for Children, Seat Belt Division

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 956-956
Author(s):  
William F. Rowley ◽  
Eugene Lariviere ◽  
Charles W. Dietrich
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Vehicle Safety ◽  
Highway Traffic ◽  
Safety Standard ◽  
National Highway Traffic Safety ◽  
Automobile Safety ◽  
Motor Vehicle Safety ◽  
First Time

I would like to call your readers' attention to the effective date of the Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, Child Seating Systems, which is April 1, 1971.1 This ruling provides that child seating systems offered for sale have to meet specifications set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Now, for the first time, a physician, who can and should recommend that parents of young children purchase restraining devices, can be assured that these devices will provide effective restraint.

scholarly journals Influence of Multiple Freeway Design Features on Freight Traffic Safety

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juneyoung Park ◽  
Mohamed Abdel-Aty ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
Gunwoo Lee ◽  
Jungyeol Hong
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Highway Safety Manual ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Section Design ◽  
Adaptive Regression ◽  
Multiple Treatments

Since various freeway design features are simultaneously installed on roadways, it is important to assess their combined safety effects correctly. This study investigated associations between multiple roadway cross-section design features on freeways and traffic safety. In order to consider the interaction impact of multiple design features and nonlinearity of predictors concurrently, multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) models were developed for all types and freight vehicle crashes. In MARS models, a series of basis functions is applied to represent the space of predictors and the combined safety effectiveness of multiple design features can be interpreted by the interaction terms. The generalized linear regression models (GLMs) with negative binomial (NB) distribution were also evaluated for comparison purposes. The results determine that the MARS models show better model fitness than the NB models due to its strength to reflect the nonlinearity of crash predictors and interaction impacts among variables under different ranges. Various interaction impacts among parameters under different ranges based on knot values were found from the MARS models, whereas two interaction terms were found in the NB models. The results also showed that the combined safety effects of multiple treatments from the NB models over-estimated the real combined safety effects when using the simple multiplication approach suggested by the HSM (Highway Safety Manual). Therefore, it can be recommended that the MARS is applied to evaluate the safety impacts of multiple treatments to consider both the interaction impacts among treatments and nonlinearity issues simultaneously.

scholarly journals Would Stronger Seat Belt Laws Reduce Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths? A Semi-Bayesian Analysis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Harper
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Analysis ◽  
Policy Analysis ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Data Augmentation ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Seat Belt ◽  
Motor Vehicle Crash ◽  
Background Information ◽  
The Impact

Background: For policy questions where substantial empirical background information exists, conventional frequentist policy analysis is hard to justify. Bayesian analysis quantitatively incorporates prior knowledge, but is not often used in applied policy analysis. Methods: We combined 2000-2016 data from the Fatal Analysis Reporting System with priors based on past empirical studies and policy documents to study the impact of mandatory seat belt laws on traffic fatalities. We used a Bayesian data augmentation approach to combine information from prior studies with difference-in-differences analyses of recent law changes to provide updated evidence on the impact that upgrading to primary enforcement of seat belt laws has on fatalities. Results: After incorporating the evidence from past studies, we find limited evidence to support the hypothesis that recent policy upgrades affect fatality rates. We estimate that upgrading to primary enforcement reduced fatality rates by 0.37 deaths per billion vehicle miles traveled (95% posterior interval -0.90, 0.16), or a rate ratio of 0.96 (95% posterior interval 0.91, 1.02), and increased the proportion of decedents reported as wearing seat belts by 7 percentage points (95% posterior interval 5, 8), or a risk ratio of 1.18 (95% posterior interval 1.13, 1.24). Conclusion: Bayesian methods can provide credible estimates of future policy impacts, especially for policy questions that occur in dynamic environments, such as traffic safety.

Investigations of Road Wear Caused by Studded Tires

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-15
Author(s):  
Johannes Gültlinger ◽  
Frank Gauterin ◽  
Christian Brandau ◽  
Jan Schlittenhard ◽  
Burkhard Wies
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Test Bench ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Test Method ◽  
Analytical Models ◽  
The Road ◽  
Driving Speed ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Tire Friction ◽  
Variable Operating Conditions

ABSTRACT The use of studded tires has been a subject of controversy from the time they came into market. While studded tires contribute to traffic safety under severe winter conditions by increasing tire friction on icy roads, they also cause damage to the road surface when running on bare roads. Consequently, one of the main challenges in studded tire development is to reduce road wear while still ensuring a good grip on ice. Therefore, a research project was initiated to gain understanding about the mechanisms and influencing parameters involved in road wear by studded tires. A test method using the institute's internal drum test bench was developed. Furthermore, mechanisms causing road wear by studded tires were derived from basic analytical models. These mechanisms were used to identify the main parameters influencing road wear by studded tires. Using experimental results obtained with the test method developed, the expected influences were verified. Vehicle driving speed and stud mass were found to be major factors influencing road wear. This can be explained by the stud impact as a dominant mechanism. By means of the test method presented, quantified and comparable data for road wear caused by studded tires under controllable conditions can be obtained. The mechanisms allow predicting the influence of tire construction and variable operating conditions on road wear.

scholarly journals Exploratory Analysis of Pedestrian Road Trauma in Finland

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6715
Author(s):  
Steve O’Hern ◽  
Roni Utriainen ◽  
Hanne Tiikkaja ◽  
Markus Pöllänen ◽  
Niina Sihvola
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Unique Element ◽  
Driver Behaviour ◽  
Crash Data ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Pedestrian Crashes

In Finland, all fatal on-road and off-road motor vehicle crashes are subject to an in-depth investigation coordinated by the Finnish Crash Data Institute (OTI). This study presents an exploratory and two-step cluster analysis of fatal pedestrian crashes between 2010 and 2019 that were subject to in-depth investigations. In total, 281 investigations occurred across Finland between 2010 and 2019. The highest number of cases were recorded in the Uusimaa region, including Helsinki, representing 26.4% of cases. Females (48.0%) were involved in fewer cases than males; however, older females represented the most commonly injured demographic. A unique element to the patterns of injury in this study is the seasonal effects, with the highest proportion of crashes investigated in winter and autumn. Cluster analysis identified four unique clusters. Clusters were characterised by crashes involving older pedestrians crossing in low-speed environments, crashes in higher speed environments away from pedestrian crossings, crashes on private roads or in parking facilities, and crashes involving intoxicated pedestrians. The most common recommendations from the investigation teams to improve safety were signalisation and infrastructure upgrades of pedestrian crossings, improvements to street lighting, advanced driver assistance (ADAS) technologies, and increased emphasis on driver behaviour and training. The findings highlight road safety issues that need to be addressed to reduce pedestrian trauma in Finland, including provision of safer crossing facilities for elderly pedestrians, improvements to parking and shared facilities, and addressing issues of intoxicated pedestrians. Efforts to remedy these key issues will further Finland’s progression towards meeting Vision Zero targets while creating a safer and sustainable urban environment in line with the United Nations sustainable development goals.

scholarly journals COVID Lockdowns, Social Distancing, and Fatal Car Crashes: More Deaths on Hobbesian Highways?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 238-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marshall W. Meyer
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Traffic Volume ◽  
Similar Data ◽  
World War ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Usa

Abstract Research Question What happened to US traffic safety during the first US COVID-19 lockdown, and why was the pattern the opposite of that observed in previous sudden declines of traffic volume? Data National and local statistics on US traffic volume, traffic fatalities, injury accidents, speeding violations, running of stop signs, and other indicators of vehicular driving behavior, both in 2020 and in previous US economic recessions affecting the volume of road traffic. Methods Comparative analysis of the similarities and differences between the data for the COVID-19 lockdown in parts of the USA in March 2020 and similar data for the 2008–2009 global economic crisis, as well as other US cases of major reductions in traffic volume. Findings The volume of traffic contracted sharply once a COVID-19 national emergency was declared and most states issued stay-at-home orders, but motor vehicle fatality rates, injury accidents, and speeding violations went up, and remained elevated even as traffic began returning toward normal. This pattern does not fit post-World War II recessions where fatality rates declined with the volume of traffic nor does the 2020 pattern match the pattern during World War II when traffic dropped substantially with little change in motor vehicle fatality rates. Conclusions The findings are consistent with a theory of social distancing on highways undermining compliance with social norms, a social cost of COVID which, if not corrected, poses potential long-term increases in non-compliance and dangerous driving.

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