Motor vehicle theft is the costliest property crime in the United States equaling billions of dollars in losses each year. Despite law enforcement success in decreasing the rate of motor vehicle theft in recent years, the actual number of thefts has increased. It is vital for law enforcement agencies to know who is committing motor vehicle theft and where vehicles are being stolen. This study answers these questions by examining offender demographic characteristics and the location types most targeted for motor vehicle theft in Texas from 2001 to 2005. The state of Texas was chosen because Texas has continually been ranked second in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Report for the number of reported incidents of motor vehicle theft in the United States.

Thesis (MBA.) --University of Limpopo, 2019. / The study is carried out in order to evaluate the readiness of new car dealerships in Polokwane for the possible levying of carbon taxes. The study is set out to determine the level of understanding and knowledge of carbon taxes by the new car dealerships. With the continuous changing climate, the weather patterns have worsened and the resultant impacts seen through storms, hurricanes, droughts and floods, to name a few, around the globe. This has been as a result of the carbon emissions that has damaged the ozone layer. The ideology of the carbon instruments is that the emitters of carbon will divert to more environmentally friendly methods of running their operations. South Africa is one of the countries that has adopted to implement carbon taxes and the implementation began in 2010 within the motor vehicle industry. However, the motor vehicle industry does not seem to have prepared for the possible implementation of carbon taxes. With Polokwane being a developing city, the researcher aims to determine whether new car dealerships in the city of Polokwane were prepared for the implementation of the carbon taxes. The study was mainly qualitative and borrowed from quantitative methodology for data analysis. The total population amounted to 20 new car dealerships and a sample of 10 was selected for the purpose of the research. The evaluation of readiness was carried out by sampling of ten new car dealerships within Polokwane where a questionnaire was prepared and the participants requested to complete the questionnaire truthfully. The literature review considered prior research in relation to carbon emissions and carbon instruments. Some of the findings include identifying that there is still a gap in terms of knowledge and understanding of how carbon instruments work. However; if carbon instruments are correctly applied and implemented, provides for a good stimulation of economic growth. The laws and regulations around carbon tax still need to be refined to ensure that the desired outcomes are obtained.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is considered the “signature injury” for United States Veterans who deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND) since 2001. Veterans with TBI may be at higher risk for subsequent intentional and unintentional injuries due to cognitive and executive function impairments from the injury and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. This dissertation evaluated the association between TBI and attempted suicide, motor vehicle accidents, and opioid overdose, in a large cohort of United States OEF/OIF/OND Veterans aged 18 to 40 who received care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). These studies utilized data from the VHA electronic medical records collected between April 2007 and September 2012. Study 1 evaluated the association between TBI and attempted suicide. Veterans with TBI had approximately a 4-fold increased risk of attempted suicide compared to those without, adjusting for demographics (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 3.73, 95% CI = 3.07, 4.53). The mediation analyses suggested that the psychiatric conditions substantially attenuated the impact of TBI on attempted suicide (aHR: 1.25 (95% CI = 1.05, 1.48). Study 2 evaluated the association between TBI and motor vehicle accidents. Veterans with TBI had a 56% increased risk of motor vehicle accident compared to those without, adjusting for demographics (aHR: 1.58, 95% CI = 1.27, 1.97). However, the mediation analyses attenuated this association (aHR: 1.17, 95% CI = 0.96, 1.43). Study 3 evaluated the association between TBI and opioid overdose among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans receiving long-term opioid treatment for non-cancer, chronic pain. Veterans with TBI had 2-fold increased risk for opioid overdose compared to those without, adjusting for demographics (aHR: 2.00, 95% CI = 1.26, 3.16). Nevertheless, the mediation analyses suggested that psychiatric conditions attenuated the impact of TBI on opioid overdose (aHR: 1.38, 95% CI = 0.94, 2.01). In conclusion, these studies add to the literature about risk of intentional and unintentional injuries among Veterans with TBI. Additionally, it highlights that Veterans with TBI and at least one co-morbid psychiatric condition are a particularly vulnerable group with the highest risk for injuries.

The presented master thesis deals with the perception of the speed vehicle crew (not the drivers) in traffic in terms of different aspects, that influencing the feeling while driving in the vehicle. This is primarily about the approximation of factors that may have an impact on the speed. The aim of the thesis is to propose an appropriate methodology of measurement and subsequent evaluation of acquired date, which leads to an improvement in the idea of whether witnesses of traffic accidents are indicative of the speed of the vehicles, at reasonable real speed.

The subject of my master’s thesis is creating a mathematical model of motor vehicle driving gear using the software programs MATLAB / Simulink. The results are presented via graphs of the data gained from the simulation of a car driving on a determined track. The parameters used in the model come from a specific file and they can be changed anytime in order to correspond with the particular vehicle.

This research explores the beliefs and behaviour of individuals who have suffered a traumatic experience, specifically the violent crimes of assault, motor vehicle hijackings and armed robbery. The researcher focuses on the occurrence of residual, subclinical symptoms of PTSD that individuals experience subsequent to the specified violent crimes. By identifying and describing trends in commonalities that exist between research participants’ accounts of such residual, subclinical symptoms the research aims to explore and describe these trends, enabling a common understanding and awareness of the longstanding effects that these experiences have on individuals. The qualitative research design allowed for an exploration aimed at understanding the meaning that individuals ascribe to specific events. Three case studies were examined. The researcher ensured the exclusion of individuals who met the criteria for PTSD by making use of the PCL-S. From this approach a thematic analysis was done using the transcriptions of audiotaped interviews with the participants. The three participants chosen for the study were aged twenty-nine (29), thirty (30) and thirty-one (31) independently. Two of the participants experienced an armed robbery, which were, independently, followed by non-violent crime of housebreaking and theft. A third participant experienced an armed robbery during her early childhood, and an additional crime of aggravated robbery in adulthood. The studied violent crimes had taken place between one year eleven months and six years prior to this study. None of the participants have received therapy following their traumatic experience. Five important findings were identified and discussed. Firstly, some individuals still meet the requirements for a diagnosis of PTSD, even years following their experiences with traumatic events. Secondly, following the experience of a violent crime some individual’s core cognitive schemas regarding themselves, their world and their relationships undergo various changes. Thirdly, some individuals experience numerous posttraumatic symptoms, which are not extensive enough to validate the diagnosis of PTSD, but that affect the individual’s life on a regular basis. Nine symptoms were identified in this study. Fourthly, some individuals may experience additional effects following exposure to violent crimes, e.g. physical illness, that is not classified as posttraumatic symptoms. Fifthly, a few individuals who have been the victim of more than one crime may experience cumulative or diminished effects when one explores the overall effects of revictimisation. Results also indicated that individuals may experiences similar posttraumatic symptoms, but that the presentation of these symptoms are unique and are influenced by an individual’s history, cognitive schemas and the characteristics of the crimes that they have experienced. Finally, these findings explored and described the phenomenon of partial posttraumatic stress disorder in order to expand the understanding of this occurrence. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Psychology / MA / Unrestricted

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Prescription drug use is a growing public health concern and studies show it is a contributing risk to motor vehicle collisions. The Appalachian region is also known to have an ever-increasing number of patients on controlled substances. This retrospective study of patients from the years 2011-2015 on controlled substances presenting to an Appalachian Level 1 trauma center after a motor vehicle or motorcycle collision was analyzed in order to determine the rate of opioid use among victims of motor vehicle collisions in the system, as well as evaluate for any differences in resource utilization between these patients and patients not using controlled substances. A total of 2,570 patients were included in the study. Seven-hundred sixty-eight (29.9%) individuals were found to be on a controlled substance. There was a similar mortality rate in both groups (2.8% vs 3.6%). There was no significant difference in hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, ventilator days, or injury severity score. Statistically significant findings include the type of crash (motor vehicle crash vs motorcycle crash) (p=0.003) and position in the vehicle (driver vs passenger) (p<0.001). Motor vehicle crashes and driver position were significantly associated with the presence of a controlled substance.

Florida is one of 12 states that have a no-fault law. The first party benefit coverage is known as personal injury protection (PIP). Every policy sold in the state must include at least $10,000 in personal injury protection. This law went into effect in 1971 and is now being challenged. Changes in consumer, lawyer, and doctor behavior as well as changes in the legal and economic environment have diminished the positive impact of the no-fault law. This thesis will focus on the diminished effectiveness of the no-fault law in Florida. It will be based on research from primary sources. Other legal resources including law review articles and journal publications were consulted for persuasive scholarly views. Published work from insurance institutes and journals were included since they guide practitioners on the application of the law. Insurers, insureds and policymakers face serious challenges regarding Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law. The purpose of this thesis is (1) to review the legislative history of Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law, (2) to assess how well the current system is working (3) examine solutions to compensation from other states and provide relevant data and (4) make recommendations for future legislation. This thesis will recommend proposed changes with guidelines for future legislation to effect the changes necessary to balance the needs of the insurance companies, plaintiffs and defendants.

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