THE HUMAN FACTOR IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

FOLLOWING A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE GRAVE SITUATION CONCERNING STREET ACCIDENTS IN ITALY, THE PART THAT PSYCHOTECHNIQUE IS ABLE TO PLAY IN THE PREVENTION OF THESE ACCIDENTS IS DISCUSSED. THE REACTION TIME AND THE GENERAL INTELLIGENCE LEVEL ARE DISCUSSED. CERTAIN PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER TRAITS DISTINGUISH TO A GREATER EXTENT AND IN A BETTER WAY, THE DRIVERS WHO HAVE INCURRED ACCIDENTS FROM THOSE WHO HAVE NOT. WHILE OVERT MENTAL DISEASE IS ASCERTAINED ONLY INFREQUENTLY IN PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCIDENTS, IT IS OFTEN POSSIBLE TO DEMONSTRATE MINOR CONSTITUTIONAL PSYCHIC IMBALANCES WHICH, THOUGH NOT EXCEEDING THE LIMITS OF PATHOLOGY, PREDISPOSE TO CERTAIN DISTURBANCES OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR. A PARANOIC DISPOSITION PROVES PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS. AS TO PREDISPOSITION TO ACCIDENTS, 4 GROUPS OF FACTORS CAN BE OUTLINED WHICH DISTINGUISH THE ACCIDENT-PRONE FROM THE CONTROL GROUP: THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE OF STREET TRAFFIC, THE GENERAL BALANCE OF THE PERSONALITY, ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND VISUAL FUNCTION. SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOLLOW ON ALCOHOLISM IN DRIVERS AS A CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS AND ON THE EQUALLY DANGEROUS HABITUAL INTAKE OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS. EXCESSIVE FATIGUE IS ALSO A FREQUENT CAUSE OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS: A TIRED MOTORIST SPENDS 40% OF THE TIME AT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HIS EYES CLOSED; OUT OF 100 KM. THERE FORE HE DRIVES 40 'IN THE DARK'. THE ADAPTATION OF MAN TO THE MACHINE AND THE 'ANTI-DEATH' CAR ARE DISCUSSED. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS PAID TO THE SUPPLY OF FRESH AIR INSIDE THE CAR, LACK OF CONTROL OF CARBON MONOXIDE, AND THE ROLE OF EXCESSIVE NOISE AND VIBRATIONS. /SRIS/

• Corporate Authors:

  Abbaco Srl (Palermo)

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Migliorino, G
• Publication Date: 1966

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcoholism; Crash causes; Fatigue (Physiological condition); High risk drivers; Human factors; Noise; Personality; Prevention; Psychotropic agents; Reaction time; Safety; Traffic crashes; Vision
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00220827
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Nat Safety Council Safety Res Info Serv
• Report/Paper Numbers: 21 pp
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 23 1970 12:00AM