1,721,110 research outputs found
Child restraint advice and fitting service in Queensland
No full textFor many years, the RACQ has assisted thousands of members/ non-members with child restraint sales and advice; and conducted seat belt/child restraint wearing rate surveys for Queensland. This study aimed to expand on previous research about the use of child safety restraints in Queensland. Stakeholder interviews were conducted involving experts in child restraints/safety areas. Attitudinal and observation surveys were developed and undertaken to gauge the level of community awareness, understanding and use of infant/child restraints across the state.\ud
Major findings included:\ud
- around one-third of the restraints were deemed to be unsuitable for the child's height and weight;\ud
- parents/carers think it is easy to install child restraints, yet do so poorly;\ud
- 10% of children observed were not restrained while travelling in the vehicle; and\ud
- parents/carers need better information about restraint selection, installation and use
Expanding the focus of injury control: challenges and opportunities
No full textThe prevention of impaired driving has been viewed to be the purview of the traffic law system. Although public health and medicine have made occasional forays into the field, the silos of activities have remained distinct.\ud
This single issue, single solution approach has had both positive and negative consequences. On the positive side, public education campaigns and other interventions were easy to develop and deliver because the focus was clear and the linkages were direct. On the negative side, once the media attention declined, public and governmental interested waned, positive traffic safety increments also waned. Alcohol, drugs and traffic safety is generally not the priority it was in the 1980s. In an era of diminished resources and shifting priorities many are still following the same 'dominant paradigm' of using the traffic law system to prevent and control impaired driving. The challenge is to seize upon opportunities and to piggyback on new priorities and concerns. This paper will focus on three areas where impaired driving and injury control could become an issue: medicine/health care, environment and globalisation. Each has entry points, both for research and for effective injury control, and affords opportunities for further integration with current public and private sector priority issues
The private car: a home on the road?
No full textPeople have attachments to private territory associated with concepts such as ownership, control, and freedom. The establishment of these territories plays a vital role in the regulation of social interaction and the establishment/maintenance of self-identity.\ud
Application of Altman’s typology of territory provides a framework for understanding how various types of territory are understood, marked, and defended. This paper explores how people relate to their motor vehicle as a mobile form of primary territory. Our relationship to the car is characteristic of relationships with other primary territories. However, the place in which the car is used, the road network, is public territory with a highly defined set of regulations to guide its use. The result of this is inherently problematic, leading to assertive, aggressive and sometimes maladaptive defence of the primary territory. By investigating how territoriality impacts upon driver behaviour it is possible to explore situations that trigger anti-social (and conversely pro-social) driving in an effort to more effectively target public education, training and enforcement programs
The Haddon matrix: its contribution to injury prevention and control
No full textWilliam Haddon Jr, a public health physician, was instrumental in applying scientific methods to the study of injuries, particularly motor vehicle injuries. The Haddon matrix, a conceptual model for the systematic exploration of countermeasures, provides an integrated approach to injury control. The matrix includes pre-event, even, and post-event phases, and human, agent/vehicle, and environmental factors. In the motor vehicle field, the matrix helped to shift what was a nearly exclusive focus on the pre-event/human cell to a broader approach involving event and post-event phases. As a result, much has been accomplished through vehicle design changes and other factors to ameliorate the consequences of crashes. In addition, considerable progress has been made in changing behavior in ways that reduce the likelihood of crashes or the severity of their consequences, primarily through the passage of laws in combination with education and public information efforts
Where will the journey end?
No full textBefore proceeding I wish to state that in preparing this paper I have used commentary taken from the publication of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (IBC) 'Recovery'.\ud
I am pleased to acknowledge it in this particular forum, as the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia's Chief Executive, Neil Weatherstone is one of the keynote speakers.\ud
Every journey, no matter by what mode of transport, is commenced with the thought of reaching its final destination without incident.\ud
While safety projects, specifically road safety projects, are being undertaken throughout the world statistics show the enormity of injury and death.\ud
Concentrating only on road trauma in Australia, but more specifically Queensland, what is the major problem in the failure to safely conclude a journey
An electronic driving licence when used as an ignition key could save thousands of lives
No full textIn July 1996, a joint European driving licence format and design was introduced. An earlier ministerial meeting, had decided that the new licence should have a chip to be introduced at a later time. The advantage of a chip built into a plastic card is that, in addition to the printed licence information, the chip may contain additional information about the bearer if that is desirable. The chip information may increase the security of the card and, for instance, store a coded fingerprint. This will make it very difficult to use the card if it is in the wrong hands
A systematic approach to the control of persistent and recidivist drinking drivers
No full textA systematic approach to the control of road trauma in Australia has been successful in integrating measures directed at human behaviour, the road environment and vehicle. However, some aspects of road trauma control appear intractable. Among these is the control of the persistent drinking driver. Currently in Australia, about 30% of fatal crashes are associated with alcohol use and of these, about 30% involve repeat drink- driving offenders.\ud
Approaches to the control of the recidivist drinking driver can cover behavioural and technological tactics, and post-event review and rehabilitation. Measures work best in combination. Behavioural approaches include education, deterrence, enforcement; the use of technology such as ignition interlocks for vehicles; and separating the offender from his vehicle when behavioural approaches have proved ineffective. Post-event review and rehabilitation must be integrated with other behavioural controls
Workplace injury and alcohol use in a major state rail organisation
No full textWithin the railway industry, alcohol misuse has the potential to affect productivity and also to endanger the lives of the public and employees. This paper will outline the findings of a survey of 4979 railway employees and their use of alcohol and perceptions of alcohol as a problem in the workplace. Of the sample, 13% reported having seen an alcohol related accident and 84% felt that alcohol affected the railway workplace. Issues associated with workplace problem drinking will be discussed along with employee opinions on how to address this major workplace health and safety issue
The role of crash testing in the development of a safer road transportation system
No full textRoad systems are to provide safe and efficient transportation of people and goods. Many aspects of the road transportation system are designed and it is important for the community to have the safest road system possible. Indeed, the community should be demanding zero fatalities on our roads. This paper describes the engineering testing and evaluation processes used in the development of safer road environments. Predominantly roadside safety barrier systems have been developed through this testing process. But there is also a need to develop policies and practices which describe where barriers should be used. Light poles and luminaires have also been tested and evaluate. They need to fracture or dislodge when both light and heavy vehicles collide with them. This paper will outline the proposed testing program, the issues and the likely outcomes. The paper will also describe the benefit of this research to Australia
Behaviour Change Programs
No full textSummary Reduction in injury-related harm experienced by the community is possible. By application of the scientific disciplines to the problem of injury, we can achieve solutions to this public health problem. This is a guide to injury prevention and control. Stevenson and McEvoy at University of Sydney, McClure at Uni of Qld. \ud
Audience For tertiary students
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