Traffic Safety And The Driver

Examines deaths, injuries, and property damage from traffic crashes. Evans (research scientist, General Motors Research Labs, Warren, Michigan) applies the methods of science to illuminate the characteristics of these problems--their origin and nature as well as their severity. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Describes the basic research procedures used in the area of driving behavior and highway safety.

This comprehensive 2nd edition covers the key issues that relate human behavior to traffic safety. In particular it covers the increasing roles that pedestrians and cyclists have in the traffic system; the role of infotainment in driver distraction; and the increasing role of driver assistance systems in changing the driver-vehicle interaction.

Traffic Safety applies the methods of science to better understand one of the world's major problems -- harm in road traffic.

This comprehensive 2nd edition covers the key issues that relate human behavior to traffic safety. In particular it covers the increasing roles that pedestrians and cyclists have in the traffic system; the role of infotainment in driver distraction; and the increasing role of driver assistance systems in changing the driver-vehicle interaction.

Peter Rothe's absorbing volume ex-amines one of the most important areas of modern life, the culture of the automobile. Rothe takes a problem central to everyday life--auto safety-- and reconstructs it into a means of revealing the human condition. His goal is to motivate the reader to think differently about traffic safety, and to suspend all inherited epidemiological, engineering, and psychological beliefs. Because traffic arises from the interac-tion between people, he argues that traffic safety is a social process, one that is created, formed, and changed by human interaction. Beyond Traffic Safety presents con-troversial critiques and provocative positions. It stimulates insight into the question of why traffic safety issues have become so important today. Rothe explores new social boundaries and crosses old ones. He demonstrates that interlinking social factors in a motorist's behavior reveal traffic safety as a significant facet of social behavior worthy of in-depth exploration. This may well be the first work of fundamen-tal theory in an area thus far dominated by crude empiricism. Beyond Traffic Safety describes responsibilities of drivers and ex-amines how basic trust in traffic routines sustains an orderly traffic flow. It shows how physical risks are negotiated to accommodate social ex-pectations. Part of the text is devoted to the role played by the driver's license as a form of social control, emphasiz-ing the way in which various images of licensing convey different ideas about traffic safety. Rothe focuses on the development of traffic laws and how laws affect driver behavior. He also traces the roles that discretion and tolerance play in police work. In par-ticular, the dominant traffic violation, speeding, is analyzed. Rothe looks at traffic safety in a new way by presenting it as part of a social scientific framework. He provides a basis for future exploration of this kind. Beyond Traffic Safety is an im-portant and insightful analysis for road users, traffic safety educators, policymakers, psychologists, and sociologists.

This is the classic 1991 text 'Traffic Safety and the Driver', a book that has been described as the bible of traffic safety research. The principles and concepts described in it are as valid as when written. The author's later book 'Traffic Safety' (2004) http: //www.scienceservingsociety.com/traffic-safety.htm revisits many of the same themes, and adds much content not covered here. On the other hand there is much in this book not covered in the later one, such as the celebrated comment on p. 378: "In the era before the birth of experimental science, Greek philosophers thought that nature could be understood by pure thought alone, without the need for data. Nowadays there seem to be people who think that it can be understood with data alone, without the need for thought." Quotes from some of the 28 reviews: It is an easy book to read, the terminology is clear and concise, it is well thought out and written, and in parts comes into the "difficult to put down" category. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL It is an important text for professionals and individuals interested in the problem of injury resulting from vehicular crashes. JAMA (JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION) It is a rare pleasure for a reviewer to be able to recommend a book wholeheartedly and unequivocally -- a book that is a delight to read. The joys of the book are both scientific and literary. This is a book for everyone interested in making roads safer. JOURNAL OF TRAFFIC MEDICINE It is rare for a book to land on the Care on the Road desk for review and stay there as an invaluable part of the information library. CARE ON THE ROAD (ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS, UK) It should be compulsory reading for all concerned with the evaluation of traffic safety measures. ERGONOMICS (UK) One of the more refreshing aspects of the book is Evans' willingness to make inferences from the complexities of the research with which he is obviously thoroughly familiar. DRIVER/EDUCATION (CANADA) Risk assessors and managers interested in the contributors to the risks of "everyday living" will find this book especially interesting. RISK ANALYSIS "The problem of traffic crashes," Evans points out, "is much more one of drivers doing things that they know they ought not to do, than of drivers not knowing what to do." THE WILSON QUARTERLY Is an essential reference for the 90's and will prove invaluable to all who work in the field. ISRAEL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES Evans places the raw data in striking contexts. LAW AND SOCIETY REVIEW This book is essential for anyone doing research in traffic safety . . . It is so clearly written that it would be highly appropriate for the general public and for public libraries. ACCIDENT ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION Evans has written a cogent survey of social contributors to car crashes and fatalities. CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY The author has the right credentials for a book such as this. The book presents an impressive array of statistics concerning traffic safety. Many of these statistics will surprise and occasionally amuse. JOURNAL OF THE OPERATIONAL RESEARCH SOCIETY (UK) .. is comprehensive, clearly organized, well documented and easy to read. The book is a valuable reference for those working in the field of traffic safety and transportation planning. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION Its comprehensiveness and readability, coupled with its extensive references to the primary literature, make this an excellent starting place for anyone interested in traffic safety research. Chapter 12, entitled "How You Can Reduce Your Risk," is likely to be of wide interest. RISK - ISSUES IN HEALTH & SAFETY Leonard Evans, author of 'Traffic Safety and the Driver', a book that has been referred to as the bible of traffic safety research. DRIVER/EDUCATION NEWSLETTER.

Contains summaries of the knowledge regarding the effects of 128 road safety measures. This title covers various areas of road safety including: traffic control; vehicle inspection; driver training; publicity campaigns; police enforcement; and, general policy instruments. It also covers topics such as post-accident care, and speed cameras.