OVERVIEW AND HIGHLIGHTS
Starting with the Haddon Matrix-the "Map" of Traffic Safety, this course takes students through the many aspects of traffic safety, including issues specific to California. Topics include where to find traffic safety data and how to use it; the various components of data (numbers, exposure, risk); aspects of traffic safety analysis (human factors, naturalistic driving studies, vehicle factors, occupant protection and risk compensation).
There will also be five sessions on issues related to global road safety, including the dimensions of the problem, the conflicts inherent in multi-modal transportation systems in rapidly motorizing societies, the risks posed to vulnerable road users, and international comparisons and programs.
Other topics include the Highway Safety Manual, screening methods for identifying high collection concentrations and proactive improvements to traffic safety.
3 UNITS TU-TH 3:30-5 PM, 212 O'BRIEN
Injuries from traffic crashes are a major cause of death and disability in the United States and around the world. In the United States, for people aged 1-34, injuries from traffic crashes are the LEADING cause of death and disability.
The course will examine principles of engineering and behavioral science relevant to preventing traffic collisions and subsequent injury. Human behavior, vehicle design, and roadway design will be considered as interacting approaches to preventing traffic crashes and injuries. Safety of vulnerable road users (primarily pedestrians and bicyclists) will be covered extensively.
Specific skill sets developed in the class are:
- Analysis of traffic collision and injury data;
- Analysis of collision risk in a road network (network screening);
- Identifying crash causal factors;
- Identifying and evaluating countermeasures;
- Principles of Road Safety Management.
Class grade will be based on homework assignments (40%), class participation (20%) and a research paper (40%), which will be the subject of a class powerpoint presentation.
This course is open to students of all academic backgrounds. Undergraduates welcome; please contact instructor for permission.
Instructors:
David Ragland, PhD, MPH, Director, SafeTREC
davidr@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)
Offer Grembek, PhD (UC Berkeley), Associate Director for Research, SafeTREC
grembek@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)
Guest Instructor:
Koohong Chung, PhD (UC Berkeley), PE California Department of Transportation, Highway Operations Special Studies