http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/13914 http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/retrieve/94910 http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/13914 Search the Channel search http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/60556 Title: Traffic safety in the U.S.: re-examining major opportunities. <br/> <br/>Authors: Sivak, M. <br/> <br/>Abstract: This report examines five major road-safety risk factors: exceeding posted speed limits, not using safety belts, driving while intoxicated, nighttime driving, and young drivers. The importance of each of these factors is documented, known effective countermeasures (both policy and technology based) are discussed, and impediments to the implementation of these countermeasures in the U.S. are examined. Based on current understanding of the five major risk factors, and of the available countermeasures, there appear to be a variety of opportunities to make substantial gains in road safety using existing knowledge. The limited implementation of a variety of known countermeasures therefore appears to be inconsistent with high-level, strategic goals to improve road safety. Consequently, a recommendation is made to comprehensively re-examine the balance between the countermeasures discussed in this report and economic, mobility, and privacy concerns. Such a re-examination is likely to result in broad support for these countermeasures, with a consequent major improvement in road safety. <br/> <br/>Description: Includes bibliographical references (p. 38-53) http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/60555 Title: Characteristics and availability of fatal road-crash databases worldwide. <br/> <br/>Authors: Luoma, J. <br/> <br/>Abstract: This study examined the characteristics and availability of fatal road-crash databases worldwide. The study involved two parts. In the first part, the major international road databases were briefly reviewed. These databases included IRTAD, IRF, UNECE, WHO, and CARE. In the second part, the national databases in 20 selected countries were examined. The countries included the 14 European countries in CARE, plus Germany, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and the U.S. The main results were as follows: (1) The available international databases of fatal road crashes typically include aggregated data. (2) There is a national database of fatal road crashes in each country examined. (3) All countries provide aggregated crash data, but there are substantial restrictions on the availability of disaggregated data. (4) Overall, the crash data at the accident level are relatively similar, but there are substantial differences in the information at the person level. The results of this study imply that international road safety research would greatly benefit from expanded availability of disaggregated fatal crash data worldwide. http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/60424 Title: Is the U.S. on the path to the lowest motor vehicle fatalities in decades? <br/> <br/>Authors: Sivak, M. <br/> <br/>Abstract: Trends in U.S. motor vehicle fatalities, gasoline sales, and distance driven were examined for 12 months from May 2007 through April 2008. The results show substantial year-to-year reductions in motor vehicle fatalities during this time period that cannot be fully explained by the reductions in gasoline sales and distance driven. This is especially the case for the latest two months examined (March and April 2008). Here, the reductions in motor vehicle fatalities averaged 20%, while the reductions in gasoline sales and distance driven were in low single-digits. Consequently, it appears that a major shift in driver behavior might be occurring. This shift may involve disproportionate reductions in distance driven for more risky driving conditions and for drivers with less income (who tend to have higher crash rates), as well as possible reductions in speeds as a means of increasing fuel economy. Should the March and April 2008 trends continue, the 2008 annual fatalities would drop to under 40,000 for the first time since 1961. http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/60410 Title: Evaluation of 2006 Maine crash data reported to MCMIS crash file <br/> <br/>Authors: Matteson, A. <br/> <br/>Abstract: This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The earlier studies showed that reporting to the MCMIS Crash File was incomplete. This report examines the factors that are associated with reporting rates for the state of Maine. MCMIS Crash File records were matched to the Maine Crash file to determine the nature and extent of underreporting. Overall, it appears that Maine is reporting 72.0 percent of crash involvements that should be reported to the MCMIS Crash file. However, since Maine does not capture whether injuries are transported for treatment or whether vehicles were towed due to damage, proxies for these criteria were developed and the true reporting rate may be somewhat higher or lower. The rate is unlikely to be higher than the rate for fatal involvements, 83.3 percent. Reporting rates were related to crash severity, vehicle type and size, and reporting agency. Tractor-semitrailers were more likely to be reported than smaller trucks, and only 12.9 percent of buses were reported. Missing data rates are low for almost all variables. The data reported to MCMIS was quite consistent with that in the Maine Crash file, although there were some discrepancies with respect to truck configuration, likely because the method of categorization differs between the two files. <br/> <br/>Description: Special report