2011 October

A Brief Review of Automobile Safety Systems

October 20, 2011 By Dom

Auto Safety Dummies

Concerted efforts by the government, non-government advocacy groups and consumer groups, and the automobile industry have produced automobiles that put safety alongside performance as a top priority. Learn more about automobile safety systems and how these can prevent accidents and reduce casualties from road mishaps.

Every year in the United States, thousands of lives are lost and hundreds of thousands more are forever changed through injuries caused by road accidents. While the trend of fatalities was reduced compared to the average casualties in past decades, the number remains alarmingly high especially since traffic accidents can be prevented: nobody needs to lose their life or limbs to the road.

The automobile industry recognizes its role in minimizing risks and casualties resulting from road accidents, which led to the development of automobile safety as a field that focuses on vehicle design, construction, and te development of specific parts and equipment meant to minimize the occurrence and consequences of automobile accidents.

Automobile Safety Systems

There are two kinds of technology installed in all automobiles for safety. Active safety refers to the technology that reduces a vehicle’s chances of getting into an accident, while passive safety describes the vehicle components responsible in protecting occupants in the event of an accident.

These technologies form the different types of automobile safety systems.

Crash Avoidance System

Crash avoidance systems and devices help prevent accidents by increasing the vehicle’s visibility to other vehicles and pedestrians using headlamps, reflectors, and other vehicle lights and signals; increasing the driver’s field of vision through mirrors so the driver can gauge distance and road space; and increasing the driver’s control of the vehicle through brakes, steering, and suspension systems.

A subset of crash avoidance systems called Driver Assistance Systems, include advanced features found in modern automobiles. These include:

a. An automatic braking system that prevents or reduces damages caused by collisions, as well as other braking systems aimed for safety (anti-lock braking system, emergency brake assist system, cornering brake control system, and electronic brake force distribution system;

b. Systems for increased driving vision such as the infrared night vision system, adaptive headlamps, backup camera; and

c. Monitoring systems such as reverse backup sensors, lane departure warning system, traction control system, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitoring system, pre-crash system, and automated parking system.

Crashworthy System

Crashworthy systems are intended to save vehicle occupants from death and injury in the event of a car crash. Several of these devices include seatbelts, airbags, laminated windshields, crumple zones, safety cell passenger compartment, side impact protection beams, pedestrian protection systems, padded instrument panels, cargo barriers, and collapsible universally jointed steering columns. All of these have been tested and proven to increase a vehicle occupants’ chances of survival in traffic collisions. Tests were conducted using anthropomorphic crash test dummies, and their effectiveness is proven through continuous research and data collected from actual accidents where fatalities are greatly reduced and accident victims have higher survival rates.

Additional Safety for Drivers
The following are some of the additional features for automobile safety designed for specific groups of road-users:

1. Pregnant women can avail of seatbelt extensions from car manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers. Seatbelt extensions allow for a comfortable fit for pregnant drivers and passengers.

2. Most car models are fitted with child safety locks and driver-controlled power window lockout controls to prevent children from opening doors and windows from inside the vehicle.

3. Some areas have warning signs installed in vehicles driven by teenage and new drivers to alert other drivers to be more cautious and give more leeway to inexperienced drivers.

4. Graduated levels of driver’s licenses are now in place for drivers under the age of 18, and additional testing is required for drivers over age 65 in some states.

5. Some states now offer “senior shuttles” to provide safe public transportation for the older adults. Transit systems also offer discounted fares to senior citizens.

Source: the car accident attorneys at SOSPersonalInjury.org.

Filed Under: Business & Economy, Health & Fitness, History, Law & Legal, News & Media, Society & Culture, Travel Tagged With: Automobile Safety efforts, Automobile Safety facts, Automobile Safety history, Automobile Safety in USA, Automobile Safety strategies, Automobile Safety Systems, Automobile Safety trivia

What Really Causes Traffic Congestion?

October 20, 2011 By Dom

Traffic Jam Causes

When traffic slows due to increased usage by drivers, it is known as traffic congestion. This often occurs during what is known as “rush hour” traffic times; however, poor weather conditions, accidents, road construction and other issues such as evacuations can cause traffic congestion to occur. For drivers, the result is slower speeds and increased drive times. Traffic congestion can also frequently cause vehicles to come to a complete stop for a few seconds to hours, depending upon the area and the cause of the congestion.

Theories Used to Predict Traffic Congestion

Several mathematical theories have been used to predict traffic congestion. Many have compared traffic congestion to fluid dynamics, as spontaneous jams can occur due to a minor event in instances of traffic that is heavy, though free flowing. Unfortunately, traffic can be affected by many events, such as signals, entries from on ramps, departures onto exit ramps, accidents and road construction.

In addition, with so many goods being shipped throughout the U.S. via highways, packages commonly fall from trucks and also play a part in traffic congestion. Because there are so many factors, it is difficult to predict the true flow of traffic at any given time with the use of theoretical models. Yet, empirical models are beginning to shed some light on the issue.

Economics also plays a part in traffic congestion. In countries like India and China, economic growth has caused a massive increase in road usage, thus resulting in severe congestion of traffic. It is believed that highway privatization and possible toll roads may help to decrease traffic congestion; however, this proposed solution also has its downfalls.

Standard workdays are believed to be a main cause of traffic congestion – think rush hour traffic – that is inevitable unless businesses restructure their working hours. Public transportation, in combination with toll roads, may help to decrease the traffic congestion and the funds raised from toll-ways can be rolled into expanding public transportation.

Negative Impacts of Traffic Congestion

Obviously, traffic congestion is associated with many negative effects. It wastes the time of drivers and their passengers. Traffic congestion is often responsible for causing delays that result in lost work time, lost time for education, lost business and more; much of which has dire consequences such as personal loss or disciplinary action.

Traffic congestion also results in additional non-productive activity, thus reducing economic health. Drivers become frustrated or stressed, making congested highways unsafe for motorists due to the higher potential for road rage. Drivers traveling congested highways also have to deal with additional costs due to congestion because of the additional fuel burned sitting in traffic, along with the wear on their vehicles. Of course, the increased air pollution and emissions released is no friend to the environment, but an even more worrisome issue is that emergency vehicles may not be able to get to the scene of an accident or their passengers to a hospital when highways are congested.

Countermeasures Suggested

Countermeasures have been suggested to help alleviate the burden of traffic congestion; however, the costs associated with these measures often result in keeping things just the way they are. Some of the proposed changes have been road infrastructure improvements like grade separation, reduced or improved junctions, reversible lanes, limited access roadways, bus lanes, carpool lanes, improved grid plans, mixed-use development, car-free cities and transit-oriented developments.

Source: the car accident attorneys at SOSPersonalInjury.org.

Filed Under: News & Media, Society & Culture Tagged With: Traffic Congestion facts, Traffic Congestion reasons, Traffic Congestion trivia, Traffic facts, What Causes Traffic Congestion?

Boris Kerner’s Traffic Theory Unveiled

October 19, 2011 By Dom

Boris Kerner Traffic Flow

Boris Kerner developed a traffic flow theory, known as the three-phase traffic theory, over the course of six years. He finalized the theory in 2002. Unlike classical theories, which are comprised of two basic forms of traffic, congested and free flow; Kerner’s theory involves three distinct phases of traffic: synchronized, free flow and wide moving jam. The oddity in this theory is that Kerner uses “wide” to describe length instead of width.

Free Flow Traffic

Traffic that moves freely at or near the stated speed limit is considered free flow. Vehicles may pass other vehicles, exit the roadway or enter the roadway with little to no issues. In Kerner’s theory, free flow traffic correlates positively between the rate of flow and the number of vehicles on the roadway. He supports that free flow ends when the maximum flow corresponds to critical density.

Congested Traffic

Congested traffic occurs when the too many vehicles are using a particular roadway. Congested traffic can be stable and moving or unstable and still, the latter of which is known as a traffic jam. In Kerner’s theory, the speed of a vehicle in congested traffic is lower than the speed of the slowest moving vehicle in free flow traffic.

He supports that small issues may occur on the roadway and vehicles will remain congested, but moving; however, should a larger issue occur, already congested traffic will likely be halted altogether, causing a jam. However, Kerner breaks congested traffic into two forms; synchronized and wide moving jam.

Kerner’s Synchronized Flow

Kerner describes synchronized flow as the point at which vehicles are accelerating to meet free flow traffic. In his diagrams and charts, synchronized traffic is fixed in the form of a bottleneck, which is considered a downstream front.

Kerner’s Wide Moving Jam

When vehicles move up the highway through bottlenecks like that of Kerner’s synchronized flow and maintain mean velocity while achieving this, Kerner considers this a wide moving jam. As of this writing, it is not known why Kerner chose the term “wide” for this phase of his theory, as his theory actually refers to the length of the traffic congestion rather than the width of the transitional head or tail zones.

Kerner’s Fundamental Hypothesis

Kerner’s hypothesis for his three-phase traffic theory is based on homogeneous synchronized traffic flow. What this means is that he based the hypothesis on identical drivers, driving identical vehicles that are all evenly spaced and moving at identical speeds. His hypothesis states that this can potentially occur at any two-dimensional point on the flow-density plane. The states of free flow and synchronized flow on multi-lane roads are separated, both by a flow rate gap and a speed gap at particular densities. The free flow speed will always be higher than that of synchronized flow.

In addition, drivers are considered to make arbitrary choices that determine the space gap between their vehicle and the one before them. Therefore, the driver chooses different gaps in space at various times and will not continually use only one specific gap.

Source: the car accident attorneys at SOS Personal Injury.

Filed Under: Holidays, News & Media, Society & Culture Tagged With: Boris Kerner, Boris Kerner facts, Boris Kerner info, Boris Kerner news, Boris Kerner Traffic Flow, Boris Kerner trivia, traffic history, who is Boris Kerner

To Speed or not to Speed: A Brief Overview of the Speed Limit

October 19, 2011 By Dom

Speed Limit History

In the majority of countries around the world, a driver does not have to go too far before seeing a sign indicating the legal speed limit. These signs indicate the maximum speed at which the legislative bodies governing a certain area have determined that a vehicle can legally travel on a particular roadway. It is worth noting that in some instances, the speed limit may define the minimum speed at which a vehicle must travel.

The History of the Speed Limit

The very first legislative act to determine a speed limit occurred in 1865 in the UK with what was called the Locomotive Acts. This Act set the first speed limit, which at first was 10 mph, but later lowered to 4 mph for countryside traveling and 2 mph when traveling through towns. The first speeding ticket believed to be issued was in 1896 when Walter Arnold got caught doing 8 mph. Later that year, the speed limit was raised to 14 mph.

Regulations Governing Speed

In most countries, whether the roads are marked or unmarked, drivers are expected to travel at speeds that are safe for the road and weather conditions. This is often called the “basic rule” in the US, but in other countries it is known as the “reasonable man” requirement. This rule applies to the need to lower the speed of a vehicle to account for rain, snow, ice, fog, gravel and other potential issues that may make travel dangerous at the speed assigned to the roadway.

The US and the UK are the only countries that define speed in miles per hour. All other countries use kilometers per hour to define speed. Regardless, nearly all countries have assigned a legal speed limit maximum to any public roads. In many instances, the speed limit signs may show both the maximum and minimum speeds at which vehicles can travel legally. Some roads may indicate only the minimum speed limit, as these roads may pose a danger to motorists traveling at a slower pace.

Variable Speed Limits

The first variable speed limits began in 1965 in Germany on the A8. Video technology was used to monitor traffic and control the signs. As technology evolved, the methods used to monitor and control traffic did as well. Today, there are several variable speed limit highways, most of which utilize the variable speed limit to reduce the incidence of accidents on stretches of roadway that are commonly affected by adverse weather conditions.

No Speed Limit Roadways

Although roadways with no speed limit do exist, it is expected that motorists will always assume that the basic rule is in place. To reiterate, this rule deems that speed should not exceed that which may pose a danger to the driver, passengers, pedestrians, other motorists or property. In many states, a maximum speed exists to accompany the basic rule. Montana, for instance, deemed a 75 mph maximum on any unmarked rural freeways.

Speed Limit Enforcement

The enforcement of speed limits is handled by authorities around the world. Today, aside from law enforcement, we also have cameras that record the speed at which motorists are traveling. These cameras are able to send information on speeders directly to the authorities, who will issue tickets by mail.

Source: the car accident attorneys at SOS Personal Injury.

Filed Under: History, Law & Legal, News & Media, Society & Culture Tagged With: speed limit, speed limit factoids, speed limit facts, speed limit history, speed limit laws, speed limit trivia

What Are the Rules of the Road and How Do They Work?

October 19, 2011 By Dom

rules of the road definition

The rules of the road are often confused with traffic laws. However, these two governing entities are supremely different. Traffic laws regulate vehicles, but the rules of the road factor in not only vehicles of all types, but also streetcars, trains, pedestrians and animals (herded or ridden). In fact, some areas or jurisdictions may have informal rules that have been established as the area changed in order to facilitate growth and/or a timely and orderly traffic flow. Still, it is not necessarily wrong to assume that combinations of these rules are all encompassing, as all of these rules should be followed while on the road as a driver, cyclist, horseback rider or pedestrian.

Who the Rules of the Road Apply to

The rules of the road apply to anyone using the roads, although a great deal of focus is placed on motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The rules define what interactions should take place between pedestrians and vehicles, as well as other interactions. These rules are defined and outlined in the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, circa 1968, and authorized by the United Nations. It should be noted that there are countries around the world that do not uphold these rules and that even those that do, there are variations.

What Types of Rules Are Covered?

The rules of the road discuss your vehicle and license, which includes all requirements that should be met in order to legally drive. Of course, these rules also include accidents, penalties, and respect of other users of the road, an understanding of traffic signs and the rules for pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.

The rules of the road may serve as a way to help clarify and reiterate traffic laws, but not override them. These rules also help to remind motorists, young and old, of how to be respectful of others while using the roads, highways and superhighways of America and beyond. Having these rules in place to refer to give all individuals using the roadways an idea of what is expected of them.

Which Rules Do I Need to Abide by When Driving?

The rules of the road are not frequently used alone. In fact, they are most often used in conjunction with other traffic laws and any additional local rules, such as traffic signs and lights. The same is true for signs or rules in construction zones, in the event of an accident or in the event of some other type of road disturbance. However, drivers are always expected to do everything in their power to avoid collisions with pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles on the roadway, regardless of the rules of the road. Basically, the rules of the road should be easily distinguished from those which govern the operation of your vehicle.

The rules of the road also combine with rules like directionality, such as whether to use the right or left side of the road, as well as other traffic regulations that may be present in a specific state, territory or country.

Source: the car accident attorneys at SOS Personal Injury.

Filed Under: Careers & Work, Law & Legal, News & Media, Society & Culture Tagged With: Rules of the Road definition, Rules of the Road facts, Rules of the Road history, Rules of the Road politics, Rules of the Road trivia

What Is Organized Traffic and How Does It Work?

October 19, 2011 By Dom

Organized Traffic Regulations

When motorists and pedestrians abide by a set of respectful rules concerning right of way, meaning that one person will use the roadway while another waits his turn, this is evidence of organized traffic. In the majority of the world, organized traffic is a means of keeping the roadways and those individuals using those roadways safe. However, the use of this model also helps to decrease instances of traffic congestion and avert potential accidents.

What Are the Signs of Organized Traffic?

In most areas where organized traffic is in place, motorists and pedestrians alike will see road markings that clearly define the traffic lanes, crosswalks, signals and signs. Each of these measures plays an integral role in organizing the flow of traffic.

Clearly marked lanes, for instance, keep drivers from using more of the road than necessary, thus freeing up additional lanes for traffic to flow more smoothly. Signs help to route motorists and pedestrians to their intended destinations and traffic signals at intersections ensure that vehicles at any point of the intersection will be able to safely cross it.

The same is true for pedestrians, as more and more people choose to commute to work or stores by foot in areas that are largely congested. Look at New York City or Chicago. These cities have a high number of pedestrians due to the heavy traffic and potential for delays due to that traffic. In areas with a large number of pedestrians, crosswalks can often be found at nearly every intersection and should be watched closely by motorists.

Are Organized Traffic Measures Similar Around the World?

Although many countries have adopted organized traffic models, not all countries use the same signs or signals to indicate when to stop, when to go, when to yield, etc. The Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals is making an attempt to push all countries using methods of organized traffic to adopt some form of uniformity so that expatriates, tourists and drivers new and old can recognize the markings, signs and signals and abide by them regardless of where they are in the world.

Depending upon the location, when no markings, signs or signals are present, a different set of rules may apply. Tourists should always perform their due diligence prior to driving in unfamiliar areas to ensure that they are prepared and aware of the laws governing motorists in these areas. In most instances, motorists should keep to the correct side of the road and pay close attention to any intersections.

Turning in Organized Traffic

It is very rare that a driver actually has a straight drive from one point to another. For this reason, the blinkers are used to signal to others using the roadway that the vehicle is intending to turn. In instances where drivers are turning across oncoming traffic lanes, motorists wishing to turn have to stop prior to turning to wait for any oncoming traffic to pass. Many cities have dedicated lanes for those needing to turn, so as not to slow any following motorists. Turning rules also vary worldwide, so it should be inquired about in any countries that you are traveling within.

Source: the car accident attorneys at SOS Personal Injury.

Filed Under: Law & Legal, News & Media, Society & Culture Tagged With: What Is Organized Traffic?

Vehicle Inspection Regulation by Country and Continent

October 17, 2011 By Dom

Vehicle Inspection Laws

Every country has its own rules and processes of ensuring the roadworthiness of vehicles that operate within their jurisdiction. This type of regulation serves different purposes in different countries, but mostly as a safeguard against accidents and environmental problems caused by air and noise pollution.

Vehicle inspection is a government’s way of checking a vehicle to make sure that it conforms to the country’s standards on safety and/or emissions. These inspections vary in interval, from annually to anywhere between two to ten years. Depending on the country, the inspection can coincide with the transfer of title to a vehicle or annually after the vehicle has reached a certain number of years running.

To better understand how vehicle inspection around the world is performed, we gathered the following information and presented it according to region, starting with the Americas.

Vehicle Inspection in the Americas

Canada makes use of two types of vehicle inspections: emission testing, which is done bi-annually through a third-party contractor (a private emission testing center); and the safety testing program conducted annually, bi-annually, or upon car purchase and prior to its registration, depending on the province. Provinces are free to decide as to whether or not to require vehicle inspections, and only select territories impose both types of vehicle inspection.

The system is somewhat similar in the United States wherein state governments are free to decide on the conduct vehicle inspection as well as to its specifications. The country holds emission tests periodically in accordance to the Clean Air Act of 1990, while safety inspections are done annually or bi-annually depending on the state. These inspections are done by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or private testing centers duly approved by the state’s Department of Transportation.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, vehicles undergo safety inspection as well as emission levels and noise levels. The government accredits private companies to conduct these tests. Once vehicles pass the inspection, the government issues them an electronic stamp associated with the vehicle’s license plate. This makes it easier for the government to identify those vehicles that are due for annual inspection.

Vehicle Inspection in Asia

China requires new vehicles to pass safety regulations on the day they are manufactured while emission levels are monitored and offenders penalized by the police. Each province/economic region/city has the responsibility to regulate and enforce its rules on vehicle inspection.

Japan has a system called “shaken” where vehicles are required for inspection three years after they are manufactured, and every two years thereafter.

Safety and emissions tests are done annually on all vehicles in Singapore, starting on a vehicle’s third model year. Public transportation, such as buses and taxicabs, are inspected annually or semi-annually depending on a vehicle’s age.

Inspections take a different form in Turkey; aside from a safety inspection scheme that adheres to the European Council’s directive 96/96/EC, the government also conducts administrative checks to make sure a vehicle’s taxes are paid as well as a visual check to ensure that the car matches the documents.

Vehicle Inspection in the European Union

In December 1996, the European Union released its directive 96/96/EC which contains a mandate requiring all member states to conduct periodic safety and emission tests for motor vehicles. The directive placed minimum requirements for each category of vehicle. Private cars with up to 8 seats and light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tons are required to have their first inspection within the its first 4 years and every 2 years thereafter. Other types of vehicles such as buses, vans, trucks, ambulances, etc. are required to be inspected annually, while military vehicles and fire trucks are exempt from routine inspection.

Vehicle Inspection in Oceania

Australia allows each state to lay down its rules and regulations regarding vehicle inspection, which consist of emission and safety tests conducted periodically or prior to transfer of vehicle ownership.

In New Zealand, licensed inspectors conduct annual inspections on vehicles up to six years old, while older cars, heavy vehicles, and rental cars are inspected twice a year and issued a Certificate of Fitness by the New Zealand Transport Agency.

As a responsible car owner, make sure that you adhere to the safety and emissions testing and other traffic regulations implemented by your country or state. Drive safe!

Source: the car accident attorneys at SOSPersonalInjury.org.

Filed Under: Business & Economy, Law & Legal, News & Media, Society & Culture, Travel

Why Ralph Nader’s “Unsafe at Any Speed” was a Special Book

October 17, 2011 By Dom

Unsafe at Any Speed book

A closer look at the book that forever changed the way car engineers and vehicle manufacturers designed and developed automobiles.

Ralph Nader earned himself enemies of a different sort – the multimillion, multinational sort – after the publication and subsequent success of his book in 1965. The book was direct in its title, Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile. Its contents, wrapped up in eight chapters, were a reflection of a one-man crusade against major automobile manufacturers in the US at that time.

In presenting his main topic and supporting arguments, Nader took careful note of the features and characteristics of car models that were unsafe. This, he said, is indicative of the industry’s insistence on comfort and cost-effectiveness at the expense of safety measures, against well-founded and technically informed criticism of car design and engineering. He mentioned several industry insiders, one of which is the Tire and Rim Association, which confirmed that the tire pressures in the Chevy Corvair left the car’s front tires overloaded and therefore unfit by industry standards.

The book opens with the rear-engineered Chevrolet Corvair by the General Motors, or what Nader referred to as the “The One-Car Accident”. Aside from the tire pressure problem earlier described, he also mentions the swing-axle suspension design, which was prone to “tuck under” in certain circumstances.

In succeeding chapters, Nader criticizes several other vehicle features, from design elements such as panels and dashboards, to style elements and even gear shift quadrants. He claims that cars are excessively ornamented, with bumpers that are dangerously hazardous to pedestrians and instrument panels and dashboards with shiny chrome and glossy enamel finishes that reflect incoming light into the driver’s eyes. Nader concludes that aggressive styling stands as proof that the car design now has precedence over good vehicle engineering.

Another important point Nader raises with regards to vehicle features is the lack of a standard gear shift pattern for makes and models fitted with automatic transmission. The differences in gear shift patterns make it difficult for drivers to adjust between using the “PNDLR” pattern (reverse at the bottom next to low, used by GM, Packard, Rambler, and Studebaker) to using the “PRNDL” of Ford, Chrysler’s push-button selection, and Chevrolet’s “RNDL” pattern with a separate hand brake for parking. This leads to accidents, as drivers who were intending to shift gears, for example, would accidentally select reverse. Nader’s criticism of the different gear shift patterns resulted to the standardization of the “PRNDL” pattern first used by Ford.

Nader also touches upon several issues that include poor workmanship, failure to honor warranties, vehicle impact on air pollution, and data from crash science that were ignored by the American automotive industry. By way of conclusion, Nader urges the government to put pressure on the automotive industry to prioritize the safety of road users.

Overall, Unsafe at Any Speed is a work of investigative journalism, with substantial references and materials from industry insiders, as well as in-depth observation of vehicle features. Today it continues to be referred to as “that book about the Corvair”. Vehicle conditions have improved over the years, and while the cases presented in the book no longer reflect the vehicles we have today, the awareness – of vehicle design, safety considerations, and some skeletons hidden in car trunks – that it raised proves to be the book’s main legacy.

Source: the car accident attorney at SOSPersonalInjury.org.

Filed Under: Education, History, Law & Legal, News & Media, Society & Culture Tagged With: Ralph Nader facts, Ralph Nader history, Ralph Nader trivia, Unsafe at Any Speed auto industry, Unsafe at Any Speed book, Unsafe at Any Speed facts, Unsafe at Any Speed nader, Unsafe at Any Speed Ralph Nader, Unsafe at Any Speed trivia

What is the Seat Belt Legislation and How Does It Work?

October 17, 2011 By Dom

Should I Wear my Seat Belt?

Car ownership had its boom days after the Second World War, when both the automobile industry and the technology for the production of automobile parts experienced unprecedented growth. Faced with a growing number of vehicle owners and, consequently, road accidents (both vehicular and non-motorized road accidents), the US State of Wisconsin introduced legislation in 1961, which made front seat belts mandatory in cars. New York followed suit in 1962, and the rest of the United States in 1963.

The seat belt legislation evolved over the years as countries became more aware of the effect of seat belts in vehicle safety. From the compulsory fitting of seat belts in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, legislators amended the law to include the compulsory wearing of seat belts. Amendments were also made to cover both the driver and front passenger and, quite recently, rear passengers as well.

Does the Seat Belt Legislation Work?
Evidence supports the effectiveness of the seat belt legislation in reducing fatalities in vehicle collisions. Road safety authorities conclude that the use of seat belts reduced the number of casualties in road accidents, which is supported, in turn, by experiments that make use of both human cadavers and crash test dummies. In these experiments, the chances of dying or incurring injury in car crashes were considerably reduced when seat belts were used.

Other studies confirm this finding by stating that when seat belts are worn, fatality rates go down by 30 to 50 percent. For drivers wearing a lap-shoulder seat belt, those rates trend lower by 48 percent according to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Also, in 2000, the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) did a statistical research of its data and concluded that passengers age 1 to 4 years old who used child safety seats were 71 percent more likely to survive a car crash. Vehicle occupants over 4 years of age also saw a great reduction in casualties, making the FARS conclude, at last, that safety belts were able to save more than 11,000 live in the year 2000 alone.

All these studies point towards the effectiveness of seat belt legislation in saving the lives of vehicle occupants in the event of a vehicle collision or other road accident. On the other hand, there remains an opposition to seat belt legislation.

Seat Belt Legislation Opposition
If it’s effective at saving lives, why is there an opposition to the compulsory fitting and wearing of seat belts? There are two common grounds for opposition, the first of which is in the nature of the seat belt law: according to the opposition, the forced wearing of seat belts is a form of infringement of liberty. Vehicle occupants who do not wear seat belts are doing so with conscious knowledge of the fact that they can suffer more in property damage, injury, and possibly death as a result of their decision to forgo the seat belt.

A majority of those who oppose the seat belt legislation consider the official estimates to be overstated, or not reflective of the complete picture, which includes additional risks for other road users. On these grounds, the opposition refers to the theory of risk compensation first studied by researcher John Adams. In brief, the theory states that the lesser the risks of injury and death are, the more drivers will reduce their precautions while driving. This theory also has strong evidence to its credit, which makes it a rather strong argument against the seat belt legislation.

To this day, the debate remains. Regardless of how things end up, it’s important to remember that laws are enforced, and failure to abide by them can mean consequences for the traffic offender. It’s also worth noting that the laws that pushed for the mandatory fitting and wearing of seat belts in all motor vehicles ushered in the introduction of many other safety measures in the design and manufacture of automobiles.

Source: the car accident attorneys at SOSPersonalInjury.org.

Filed Under: Education, History, Law & Legal, News & Media, Society & Culture Tagged With: seat belt history, seat belt news, seat belts and safety, seat belts survival rates, to wear or not to wear seat belts, vehicle safety facts, vehicle safety info, vehicle safety trivia, wearing seat belts

What Is Risk Compensation?

October 17, 2011 By Dom

What is risk compensation?

Whenever debate arises over the compulsory wearing of seat belts, the opposition can be heard citing evidences of risk compensation. What is risk compensation and what role does it play in the Seat Belt Legislation opposition?

In 1981, John Adams of the Department of Geography, University College London published a study that looked into data from several countries with seat belt laws. It hoped to establish a correlation between increased seat belt use and the reduction of injuries and fatalities resulting from vehicle collision and other road accidents. Data showed that in all associated deaths and injuries, the accidents were being displaced from car drivers to other road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. While fatalities may have decreased, the number of accidents – as well as the probability of injury and damage to property – remains unchanged.

Over the years, other studies conducted on road safety interventions such as anti-lock brakes, bicycle helmets, speed limits, etc. all provided evidence of a phenomenon, which investigators called “risk compensation”.

Risk Compensation and Human Nature
As a theory of social behavior, risk compensation describes the effect that happens when people perceive a change in the risks they face. Risk compensation claims that people make adjustments to their behavior according to the level of risk or danger and that, most of the time, when these dangers are perceived to be lesser, people tend to be bolder. The feeling that they are safer somehow makes them less cautious of their actions.

Several evidences exist to support this theory, which point to the universality of this behavior. Some researchers and commentators say that risk compensation is self-evident since people will truly act more cautiously when faced with great risks or dangers. All the same, research was conducted, mostly on road safety, which revealed that risk compensation can be observed in various conditions, from seat belt usage in automobiles to ski helmet use and use of skydiving safety gears. No matter the conditions, the situation remains: as people perceive themselves to be safer or more protected, concern and alertness tend to take the back seat.

Evidence of Risk Compensation
As mentioned, risk compensation has been observed in the use of anti-lock brakes. In three separate studies conducted in Canada (1993), Denmark (1997), and Germany (1994), there is a direct correlation between the presence of an anti-lock brake system and the drivers’ road behavior. Speed is generally faster for drivers with the ABS system in place compared to those who lack the technology in their cars. They also tend to follow leading cars closer and brake later, leading researchers to conclude that the ABS fails to show any measurable improvement in road safety.

The same trend was observed in drivers who were habitually belted and those habitually unbelted. In 1994, a US study found out that the driving style of drivers who are used to wearing seat belts run contrary to the expected heightened concern for safety. Habitually belted drivers were seen to be safety-conscious but were actually revealed to drive faster and less carefully when belted. Subsequent research showed that those who were not in the habit of wearing seat belts display risk compensation when asked to drive with seat belts on, driving faster than they would on average without the seat belt. This change in driving style continued to be observed after the drivers returned to driving without seat belts.

Conclusion
Independent studies conducted on skydiving safety gear, speed limits, ski helmets and bicycle helmets also show evidence of risk compensation. With this evidence in place, does this mean that seat belts and other safety systems designed to save lives are useless? The debate on seat belt use goes on, but as for other safety mechanisms, experts still promote their use. While seat belts and ABS systems have no effect on the rate of accident occurrences, they do have a positive effect in buffering the damages caused by accidents that result from miscalculations and errors of human judgment.

Source: the Santa Monica car accident attorneys at SOS Personal Injury.