PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF GENERAL SPEED LIMITS, REPORT 3: ANALYSIS OF ACCIDENTS; OPINIONS OF THE PRESS TOWARDS SAFETY BELTS --ATTITUDE AND USAGE

PSYCHALOGISCHE AUSWIERKUNGEN GENERELLER TEMPOLIMITS. 3. BERICHT. ANALYSE DER UNFALLENTWICKLUNG UND DER PRESSESTIMMEN, SICHERHEITSGRUTE: EINSTELLUNG UND ANLEGEVERHALTEN.

The development of accident statistics, and reports in the press in the years 1972-1974 were compared with the results of 100 in-depth interviews and 1,039 interviews of drivers. In addition, the results of the interviews were analysed regarding attitudes towards safety-belts. Results show that accidents decreased even before the actual introduction of general speed-limits at a time when there was an intense discussion of this measure in the press. On rural roads where speed-limits are more accepted and for which press-reports were more favorable the reduction of accidents was proven for the whole period of the investigation. The general speed-limits on highways which were disputed by the driving public as well as by the press only had an initial effect. The reduction of accidents was more pronounced outside built-up areas, it was more distinct for passenger-cars than for other traffic-participan and it was more significant for fatalities than for injuries. Referring to safety belts it could be shown that situational factors have a marked influence on the wearing of safety-belts and that the use of safety-belts does not coincide with traffic adjustment in all cases. The conclusions stressed the importance of driver attitudes, of press-reports, and of enforcement for the effectiveness of a legal measure. (A)

• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Traffic Psychology

  Vienna,   Austria 
• Authors:
  • Breinbauer, W
  • Hofner, K J
  • SCHMIDT, L
• Publication Date: 1975-7

Language

• German

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 121 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash investigation; Manual safety belts; Prevention; Psychological aspects; Public opinion; Safety; Speed limits
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00132180
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 23 1977 12:00AM