RESEARCH - Criminals and Road Safety

MUARC LogoResearchers at the Monash University Accident Research Center (MUARC) have looked at the relationship between the criminal activity of individuals and the potential for their involvement in fatal or serious injury collisions. Not surprisingly, they found that those who engage in anti-social behaviour are also likely to exhibit risky driving behaviour.

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CASE LAW - R v Chisholm

BC Courts Coat of ArmsThis is a tragic case where a rear end collision resulted in the death of a taxi driver and severe burns to his passenger when the taxi caught fire post collision. The events that led up to the taxi being rear ended are no doubt common in every day traffic here in British Columbia, but in this case did not end in a near miss.

VIDEO - Electronic Stability Control

ESC LogoElectronic Stability Control (ESC) is a technology that should be standard on all vehicles. The system compares the driver's intended direction of travel with the actual travel of the vehicle many times per second. If they do not match, selective braking is applied to force the vehicle back to the intended path, averting a collision.

Bullying a New Driver

No Road SenseIt was not uncommon to be told that a new driver sign was not being displayed because adults took the sign as a signal to bully the new driver. I thought that was just a convenient excuse to give the policeman when you couldn't be bothered to make sure that the required sign was in place. After all, who wouldn't realize that a new driver deserved more room and a little leeway for mistakes because they were just beginning their driving career?

RESEARCH - Parents (and Other Adults) as Teachers of Traffic Safety

Pedestrians Hold HandsHow did you influence your children to be safe road users? This research report by the British Department for Transport looks at how parents and other adults influence youth between birth and 16 years of age. While these adults see themselves as being responsible, the most common pedestrian tactic is to hold the child's hand.

READING - W.H.O. Speed Management Manual

WHO LogoSpeed has been identified as a key risk factor in road traffic injuries, influencing both the risk of a road traffic crash as well as the severity of the injuries that result from crashes. For instance, pedestrians have a 90% chance of survival if hit by a car traveling at a speed of 30km/h or below, but less than a 50% chance of surviving an impact of 45km/h or above.