Fall 2007: This Issue
Backgrounder on International Road Safety
By 2020, road traffic injuries are projected to be the third most important contributor to the global burden of disease, the World Health Organization reports. Only heart disease and major depression will take more lives.
Report on Safety Sessions from the 11th World Conference on Transport Research in Berkeley
Some 1,000 researchers from around the world came together for the triennial
event, held for the first time in North America, from June 23-28, 2007. The
Traffic Safety Center teamed with colleagues at Northwestern University and
the University of Pennsylvania to organize the safety track, which featured
nearly 40 speakers on subjects that included the topics listed below.
• methods for modeling driver behavior• automated speed enforcement• cost-benefit analysis of safety regulations• how to encourage seatbelt use• safety corridors• tunnel safety• road safety in urban settings• young drivers |
• child pedestrians• pedestrian signals• accident reconstruction• motorcycle safety• emergency medical care for accident victims• motorcycles and motor cars on urban transport networks• weather-related safety risks |
Read the report on selected WCTR Traffic Safety Tracks, complete with links to papers (when available).
New Research Snapshots from the Traffic Safety Center
All internally generated research reports can be found on the TSC's e-repository site of the University of California Digital Library. Visit the TSC Publications page to search the catalog. In addition, you may view one-page PDFs, called "Research Snapshots," starting with this issue of the TSC Newsletter. Here are the first "snapshots." Click on an image or a title to download a one-page PDF.
Estimating Pedestrian Accident Exposure: "Automated Pedestrian Counting Devices"
Estimating Pedestrian Accident Exposure: "Protocol Report"
Estimating Pedestrian Accident Exposure: "Approaches to a Statewide Pedestrian Exposure Database"
"Driver/Pedestrian Understanding and Behavior at Marked and Unmarked Crosswalks"
"High Collision Concentration Locations: Table C Evaluation and Recommendations"
Recently Added Links to Useful Outside Resources
Road Safety Audits (RSAs): Road safety audits can be used in any phase of project development from planning and preliminary engineering, design and construction. RSAs can also be used on any sized project from minor intersection and roadway retrofits to mega-projects. (FHWA).
Technologies for Improving Safety Data The objective of this synthesis was to summarize the current state-of-the-practice and state-of-the-art use of technologies
for efficient and effective collection and maintenance of data for highway safety analysis. (NATIONAL COOPERATIVE HIGHWAY RESEARCH PROGRAM).
Nutrition Environment Measures Survey: a training program on the nutrition environment measures for researchers and community advocates and leaders so they can use the tools for research and action in their own communities. Emory University School of Public Health.
Tire Safety in Hot Weather: NHTSA Urges Drivers To Check Their Tires During The Hot Weather A tire industry survey this year found 85 percent of drivers fail to properly check tire pressure. NHTSA estimates that crashes associated with tire problems take approximately 660 lives each year and injure 33,000 people.
California Traffic Deaths Trends: compiled by independent researcher Peter Roeper from California SWITRS data and data from the State of California Department of Finance, Demographic Research Unit. Has numerous links and analyses.
State Traffic Safety Information (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
