ROAD ACCIDENTS -- HUMAN CAUSES AND GENERAL REMEDIES
REACTIONS TO ROAD SAFETY PUBLICITY DIFFER WIDELY, A FACTOR WHICH MAKES THE ACCIDENT PROBLEM A MOST DIFFICULT ONE. HOWEVER GOOD THE DESIGN OF ROADS MAY BE, THE PROBLEM IS HOW TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO USE THEM IN A SAFE AND SENSIBLE MANNER AT ALL TIMES. FROM THE HUMAN STANDPOINT, ONE OR MORE OF FOUR FACTORS CONTRIBUTES TO AN ACCIDENT: PHYSICAL (LACK OF SKILL, FATIGUE, ALCOHOL, EYESIGHT, HEALTH AND AGE), MENTAL (STRESSES AND STRAINS OF DAILY LIFE, AND ADOLESCENCE), TEMPERAMENTAL (SELFISHNESS AND LACK OF THOUGHT OR CARE). THE REMEDIES APPLIED TO THE ROAD ACCIDENT SITUATION ARE AKIN TO THOSE USED BY A TEACHER IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH A CHILD WHO IS MISBEHAVING VIZ: (1) ISOLATE HIM OR CHANGE HIS ENVIRONMENT, (2) PUNISH HIM, (3) PERSUADE HIM TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME, (4) INSTRUCT HIM ON WHAT HE SHOULD DO. INTERPRETED IN TERMS OF ROAD SAFETY THEY BECOME: ENGINEERING MEASURES WHICH SEPARATE VARIOUS CLASSES OF ROAD USER FROM EACH OTHER, THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ROADS AND THE PRODUCTION OF SAFER VEHICLES; ENFORCEMENT MEASURES, ROAD SAFETY PUBLICITY, AND CONSTRUCTIVE TRAINING SCHEMES. ONLY BY A MORE SCIENTIFIC AND PLANNED ATTACK, USING THESE FOUR FACTORS IN COMBINATION, WILL AN IMPACT BE MADE ON THE ACCIDENT PROBLEM. /AUTHOR/
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 14, No 8, PP 19-22
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Authors:
- Darlington, J G
- Publication Date: 1967-8
Media Info
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Serial:
- Institution of Highway Engineers, Journal of
- Publisher: Industrial Newspaper Limited
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Crash causes; Driver training; Drivers; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Highway delineators; Highway design; Highway safety; Highways; Improvements; Physical condition; Publicity; Reaction time; Traffic crashes; Vehicles
- Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction; Enforcement
- Old TRIS Terms: Highway delineation; Remedies
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00219931
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Oct 4 1994 12:00AM