Free research paper about general causes of traffic crashes

Research Paper Outline

Thesis Statement: This paper tries to find out some general reasons of traffic crashes and also discusses several studies, previously done on this subject in order to understand traffic crashes and why such accidents take place. The paper will elaborate rules and laws formed by government to control road accidents and their impact.
– Introduction
– Statement of the problem: Traffic crashes claim more human lives than terrorism across the world and also cause damages of more than 400 US billion dollars in US alone. Several steps are taken to minimize the incidents of traffic crash but such accidents are increasing day by day. What could be done to reduce number of road accidents?
– Literature Review: Analysis of various research studies conducted in the past to analyze reasons of road accidents and how road accidents can be minimize.
– Body

Different type of road accidents: Some general reasons of traffic crashes are:

– Human Reasons
– Excessive speeding- A major number of traffic crashes take place because of excessive speed of the vehicle. People tend to leave others behind or just to enjoy their ride, cross the recommended speed limit. Such tendency is observed more in youngsters.
– Drunken driving- People who drink and drive have 800 percent expectancy of meeting with accidents more than one who drives vehicle normally. Consuming such substances affects the ability to control the vehicle and people cannot use even brakes in case of need. Drunken driving is a major contributor of traffic crashes and kills people in a huge number.
– Distractions in driving- distractions of any kind cause traffic crashes. Adjusting mirrors, answering phone calls, operating music system, and appearance of animals on the road are very normal distractions.
– Other Reasons
– Structure and design of Road – design of roads is also a major cause of traffic crashes. Roads on sharp turn cause trouble for the drivers of both sides and sometimes both, being unable to see each other, ram the vehicle and head to head collision takes place.
– Vehicle- it has been observed in a number of cases that accidents occur due to faulty design and lack of safety measures in the vehicle. Not using Seat belts or airbags becomes fatal in traffic crashes.
– Application of Law: the paper will identify and elaborate Law that address road accidents.
– Identification of Law: different types of laws formed by government to control road accidents.
– Discussion and Analysis: A detailed description of identified laws will be presented in the paper.
– Conclusion
– Recommendations: It will cover ways to minimize road accidents.
– Conclusion: summary of key points covered in the paper and restatement of thesis.

Bibliography

A. K Abbas, A. F Hefny and F. Abu-Zidan. (2011). Seatbelts and road traffic collision injuries. World Journal of Emergency Surgery , 6-18.
Bartley, G. P. (2008). Traffic Accidents: Causes and Outcomes. New York: Nova Publishers.
Maxton, G. P. (2004). Time for a Model Change: Re-engineering the Global Automotive Industry. New York: Cambridge University Press.
NHTSA. (2013, 2013). Retrieved October 22, 2013, from www. nhtsa. gov: http://www. nhtsa. gov/NCSA
Noked, N. (2010). Providing a Corrective Subsidy to Insurers for Success in Reducing Traffic Accidents. Harvard Law School .
Pines, M. (2013 , February 19). Drivers. com. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from www. drivers. com: http://www. drivers. com/article/1173/
Porter, B. E. (2011). Handbook of Traffic Psychology. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Programme, U. N. (2007). Enhancing Urban Safety and Security: Global Report on Human Settlements 2007. Sterling, VA: Earthscan.
S. A. Ferguson, D. F. Preusser, A. K. Lund, P. L. Zador, and R. G. Ulmer. (1995). Daylight saving time and motor vehicle crashes: the reduction in pedestrian and vehicle occupant fatalities. American Journal of Public Health, vol. 85 , 92–95.
Sagberg, F. (1999). Road accidents caused by drivers falling asleep. Journal of Accident Analysis & Prevention , 639-649.
Annotated Bibliography
A. K Abbas, A. F Hefny and F. Abu-Zidan. (2011). Seatbelts and road traffic collision injuries. World Journal of Emergency Surgery , 6-18.
Road accidents are a threat to the society and no part of the world is left out of it. This report conducted by Abbas et al. (2011) discusses the issues related to road accidents, its causes and with a special perspective on safety measures like seat belt. Authors have succeeded in presenting a good analytical report on the issue that elaborates the problem and provides some reasonable solutions to solve the issue. Report also describes the losses that society face in terms of human lives and as well as in terms of money. Suggestions, presented in the report, are important for people who are responsible to make policies for safety and security. According to the study half of people who lost their life in road accident are in age group of 15 to 44. A huge number of people damage their body parts in road accidents. It is essential to improve motor-vehicle safety features to reduce number of accidents. Report suggested using innovative technologies and specially seat belt in order to avoid accident. Seatbelts are designed in a manner to prevent passengers and drivers from injuries causes due to hitting or collision of vehicles. According to this study seatbelts reduces mortality by 50 to 80 percent. People who drive without seatbelt are more exposed to abdominal injuries.
Bartley, G. P. (2008). Traffic Accidents: Causes and Outcomes. New York: Nova Publishers.
Graham P. Bartley in his book, ‘ Traffic Accidents: Causes and Outcomes’ expresses his concerns on the issue of road safety. Bartley says traffic crashes have emerged as a serious issue of concern in US and further blames these road accidents for loss of precious human lives and property. He corroborates his argument with the well researched facts and figures. A scientific study and analysis on the issue of traffic crashes is presented in the book that helps readers to understand the problem, its causes and also it suggests solutions to this problem. The book appears to be a precious piece of information for motorists and also for the people who are responsible and related to safety and security of roads. Author describes various reasons of road accidents including consumption of alcohol and drugs while driving, over speeding of vehicle, different types of distractions, avoidance of safety measures, visibility on the road, sharp turns etc. the book also suggest various measures that could help in mitigating number of road accidents. People’s safety is in their own hands hence they should avoid all activities that may result in accident.
Maxton, G. P. (2004). Time for a Model Change: Re-engineering the Global Automotive Industry. New York: Cambridge University Press.
‘ Time for a Model Change: Re-engineering the Global Automotive Industry’ is a valuable book on the issue of road safety By Graeme P. Maxton. Book is well written and tries to understand and analyze the issue in view of totality of circumstances. Author presents important facts and findings in order to understand the issue, discusses causes of the problem and also presents is opinion on the issue. Several remedies have also been suggested by the author to minimize the number of road accidents and solve the issue. The issue has been addressed in a scientific manner which is the strength of this book. The book is important for motorists and other people related to this issue in any manner. The book informs about advancing technology and innovating safety features that can protect people from potential injuries of motor-vehicle accidents. The book informs readers about all major and minor aspects related with road accidents including causes and preventions.
NHTSA. (2013, 2013). Retrieved October 22, 2013, from www. nhtsa. gov: http://www. nhtsa. gov/NCSA
National highway traffic safety administration educates about road accidents and its causes in a well elaborated manner. This web site belongs to the agency that takes care of safety and also is responsible for administering highways. All the data are reliable since these are presented by the agency that monitors road safety and make policies related to the issue. Web site presents several facts and figures and different other kinds of data that indicate the gravity of the problem. The agency also mentions some measures and suggests instructions that should be taken by motorists In order to prevent fatal road accidents. According to NCSA lot of road accidents cased because driver and other members do not wear seat belt. Safety features such as air bags, fog lamp also mitigate the chances of road accidents. NCSA also find out that light weight vehicles are more exposed to road accidents. In year 2011, a large number around 96 percent vehicles were light weight passenger’s vehicles. NHTSA identified that motor-vehicle accidents are major reason behind teen’s death in America. According to report 45 percent of teens did not survive after accident. Majority of the teens were between ages 14 to 18 yrs. According to NHTSA it essential to follow few rules while driving: no alcohol, no speeding, no overloading, no phone and always ride with seat belt.
Noked, N. (2010). Providing a Corrective Subsidy to Insurers for Success in Reducing Traffic Accidents. Harvard Law School .
‘ Providing a corrective subsidy to insurers for success in reducing traffic accidents’ is an article written by Noam Noked. Noam is an academician and is associated with Harvard law school. The author has presented a well researched article and presents a complete analysis on the issue of road accidents in this article. In this article, Noam, being an academician, defines the problem, identify causes of the problem and suggests a number of steps that can minimize and solve the issue of road safety. The article complete covers the issue of road safety and is valuable for the motorists in order to understand the issue. The article is valuable for the people related to road safety in order to prevent road accidents and further to make policies that ensures road safety and security. Authors also describe how people do not obey the traffic rules and laws and end-up with meeting accident. Government formed several laws that protect children and youngsters from road accidents such as eligibility age to get driving license, don’t drink and drive, limited speed and seat belt. Presently number of youngsters dying from road accidents is quite high because they are found abusing laws and also involved in prohibited activities that are necessary for road safety.
Pines, M. (2013 , February 19). Drivers. com. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from www. drivers. com: http://www. drivers. com/article/1173/
Drivers. com focuses on the issue of road accident and in an article namely ‘ top 3 causes of car accidents in America’ describes main reasons of road accidents. The article is written by Michael Pines who as per site is a San Diego based expert of accidents and injury prevention. Author focuses on three main reasons of road accidents and blames drunk driving, over speeding and driving distractions for the fatal road accidents in United States of America. The reasons stated by the expert are undisputedly main reasons of road accidents and author seems to be very informative while elaborating these causes. Road accident and its causes are elaborated in a detailed way by the author and article is very informative for the readers. In the article authors mentioned alternative ways to avoid accidents such as calling taxi or cab if person is drunk, do not speed car more than allowed limit, and do not get distracted. Author asked drivers to emphasize on safety and life by avoiding phone calls, texts messages any other kind of distractions. It is always good be ten minutes late than meeting with an accident or sometime losing life.
Porter, B. E. (2011). Handbook of Traffic Psychology. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Bryan E. Porter in his book, ‘ Handbook of Traffic Psychology’ discusses the issue of road accidents and gives a new perspective to the issue by focusing on it psychological aspect. Author in this book thoroughly discusses the issue, tries to find out causes of road accidents, and also suggests effective solutions to the issue. Psychological aspect is one main interesting aspect of the issue that has been mentioned by the author. Psychological behavior of the people who are involved and affected in road accidents is presented and analyzed in an effective way. Author discusses how psychology of people affects driving and they drive safely or negligently. The state of mind matters a lot while driving and needs concentration and any kinds of distraction can cause problems. This book appears to be very useful for those who are responsible for the policy making on the issue of road accidents.
Programme, U. N. (2007). Enhancing Urban Safety and Security: Global Report on Human Settlements 2007. Sterling, VA: Earthscan.
‘ Enhancing Urban Safety and Security: Global Report on Human Settlements 2007’ is a book, presented by United Nations Human Settlements Programme. This book recognizes traffic crashes as one major threat to modern society and urban life. Book touches urban aspect of the issue that is very practical since there are places where numbers of accidents in rural areas are les in comparison of urban area. Several facts and figures are presented in the book with very reliable data that portrays the issue in a different way. Book thoroughly discusses about lacuna in policies and lack of concerns towards the issue and hints apathy of policy makers for the issue. Causes and solution of road accidents are thoroughly discussed in the book and responsibility of People is also fixed for traffic crashes that claim more human lives and causes damage to the property like any other thing else.
S. A. Ferguson, D. F. Preusser, A. K. Lund, P. L. Zador, and R. G. Ulmer. (1995). Daylight saving time and motor vehicle crashes: the reduction in pedestrian and vehicle occupant fatalities. American Journal of Public Health, vol. 85 , 92–95.
Ferguson and Treusseer et al. (1995) in their research article identified the nature and causes of accidents occurred due ‘ day saving time’. Writers formed assumption that at the time of sunrise and sunset chances of road accidents are high because of transition in light. During sunrise time, people who did not sleep disrupt their circadian rhythm due to improper sleep and jet lag which results in road accidets. Jet lag often causes headach, unconsiosness, and fatigue; It also change human time schedule which cause mental stress. According to the study this chang caused road accidents. Authors studied various road traffic incidents accoured around sunrise and sunset time total 6 hours. The study concluded that day saving time and alteration in time schedule does not result in road accidents. Assumption formed under the study was not right. The study was conducted before fall change as per general standard time upto nine weeks after spring change. findings of researc study shows that , during day saving time daylight shift by an hour towards bussy traffic hrs there were not ay icrease in road accidents. Under the study scholars reasearch various accidents occurred between 1987 to 1991. The accidents occurred during established time were lower than accidents that are estimated under the study.
Sagberg, F. (1999). Road accidents caused by drivers falling asleep. Journal of Accident Analysis & Prevention , 639-649.
This study analyzed the percentage of road accidents causes due to driver fall asleep while driving. It is very normal to lose steering control while driving if driver are feeling sleepy. This happens normally during time or when driver is tired. Under the study total 29, 600 drivers were provided with the questionnaire. Out of total only 31 percent drivers were agreed to fill the questionnaire. Drivers were asked about fatigue as a factor for accident. They were also asked about their experience of driving when they are very tired. According to the report, around 4 percent respondents accepted sleep as an influential factor for accident. Major findings of the study includes around 19 percent accidents caused during night time, 8 percent due to running-off the road, 8 percent due to long journey at single stretch and 7 percent due to personal injuries. The study also analyzed influence of gender on the accidents occurred due to sleep. Total 10 percent male drivers as compare to 4 percent female drivers were fallen asleep; however this could be due to higher percentage of male drivers, and high speed preference by male. Total four percent of incidents where driver fallen asleep were resulted in accidents. Findings of the study show that sleep is also one of the major causes of the road accidents.