Accident; analysis and prevention
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The association between teenage passengers and crash risks among young drivers may be due to risky driving behavior. We investigated the effect on two measures of risky driving in the presence of young male and female passengers. Vehicles exiting from parking lots at 10 high schools were observed and the occupants were identified by gender and age (teen or adult). ⋯ Both male and female teenage drivers allowed shorter headways (relative to no passenger or a female passenger) in the presence of a male teenage passenger, while the presence of a female teenage passenger resulted in longer headways for male teenage drivers. Overall, the observed rate of high risk driving (defined as speed > or =15 mph or more above the posted speed limit and/or headway of < or =1.0 s) for the teen male driver/male passenger condition was about double that of general traffic. In conclusion, the presence of male teenage passengers was associated with risky driving behavior among teenage drivers.
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This study re-evaluated the effectiveness of the anti-drink driving and anti-speeding enforcement and publicity campaigns implemented in the Australian State of Victoria which have thus far yielded mixed results in several evaluations. As opposed to previous evaluations, this study focused on the effects of these campaigns on young male drivers who formed the primary target and examined the combined effects of the campaigns on the total number of serious crashes. Our results showed that the anti-drink driving enforcement and publicity campaigns had a significant independent effect in reducing crashes but their interactive effect was anti-complementary. Conversely, the anti-speeding enforcement and publicity campaigns had no independent effect but their interactive effect was significant in reducing serious crashes involving young male drivers.
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This study analyzes vehicle-pedestrian crashes at intersections in Florida over 4 years, 1999-2002. The study identifies the group of drivers and pedestrians, and traffic and environmental characteristics that are correlated with high pedestrian crashes using log-linear models. The study also estimates the likelihood of pedestrian injury severity when pedestrians are involved in crashes using an ordered probit model. ⋯ As a result of the analysis, it was found that pedestrian and driver demographic factors, and road geometric, traffic and environment conditions are closely related to the frequency and injury severity of pedestrian crashes. Higher average traffic volume at intersections increases the number of pedestrian crashes; however, the rate of increase is steeper at lower values of average traffic volume. Based on the findings in the analysis, some countermeasures are recommended to improve pedestrian safety.
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Previous studies have suggested that motor vehicle occupants seated on the near-side of a lateral impact have a higher proportion of thoracoabdominal injuries. However, due to limitations in previous studies, the true association between seat position, side of lateral impact, and thoracoabdominal injury is unclear. ⋯ There is a strong, synergistic relationship between seat position and side of lateral MVC in assessing risk of serious thoracic and abdominal injury among adult occupants. The probability of serious thoracoabdominal injury increases with increasing proximity of seat position to side of the crash and the risk of thoracic injury is higher than abdominal injury for all seat positions.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association recommend storing firearms unloaded and locked up to minimize the chance of injury. Although these recommendations appeal to common sense, no study has yet addressed whether firearm storage practices influence the risk of unintentional firearm injury. ⋯ Our findings provide empirical support for recommendations issued by the AMA and the AAP that firearms should be stored unloaded and locked, and suggest that promoting safer storage practices could save many lives.