Washington State and Colorado were the first states to legalize recreational marijuana. According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the number of drivers who tested positive for marijuana in traffic fatalities increased 48% from 2013 to 2014, and marijuana legalization may have influenced this increase. Since marijuana legalization is new to the United States, the effects of this change in policy are untested in the literature. The purpose of this quantitative study using a regression point displacement design was to examine the relationship between traffic fatalities involving cannabinoids in Washington State before and after marijuana legalization. Rational choice theory and perceptual deterrence theory provided the framework for the study. Existing state level data of traffic fatalities from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System were analyzed using regression point displacement. Pre and post legalization Washington state fatalities were compared against 43 control groups where marijuana has not been legalized for recreational use. Results from ANCOVA analysis indicated no statistical difference between Washington State and other nonlegalized states in traffic fatalities involving cannabinoids. This is one of the first studies exploring the effects of marijuana legalization on public safety. These results suggest marijuana legalization may not contribute to the increase in traffic fatalities. Findings may provide legislators and traffic safety stakeholders with information in creating legislation legalizing marijuana as well as strategy and a research agenda to address traffic fatalities.

Thesis (M.Med. (Forensic Pathology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Introduction and background: Road traffic fatalities remain a worldwide burden with more than half of those fatalities comprising of vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists). This prompted the World Health Organization and United Nations to establish Sustainable Developmental Goals aimed at reducing road traffic crashes. The study explored factors relating to pedestrian fatalities on the R71 road, which may inform future interventions to enhance pedestrian safety. Aim: The study aimed at profiling pedestrian road traffic crash fatalities on the R71 road admitted at Polokwane Forensic Pathology Services. Methodology: A quantitative descriptive study utilising total population purposive sampling of pedestrians that demised because of R71 road traffic crashes over a 3-year period was done. There were 65 cases studied. Results: The study revealed that the fatalities were more male adult pedestrians than females, who were between 20 -39 years old. Majority of those pedestrians were wearing dark coloured clothing with no reflectors on. The pedestrian fatalities were mostly seen over the weekend and between evening and midnight. The fatalities peaked in December and February (summer season). The common locality of the pedestrian fatalities was Mankweng and Mentz village (Area 3). Most of those pedestrians sustained head injuries. Conclusion: Contributory factors and injuries of those pedestrian fatalities that demised because of R71 road traffic crashes were identified, which some were similar to those already highlighted in literature.

Neste trabalho foram estabelecidos os fundamentos metodológicos baseados na identificação dos fatores de risco, fatores de risco identificados, necessários na elaboração de campanhas de segurança viária, orientados pelas diretrizes estabelecidas no projeto CAST (Campaigns and Awareness-raising Strategies in Traffic Safety), o qual define a identificação do comportamento-problema gerador de acidentes como elemento essencial na definição do objetivo de cada campanha. Não havendo dados estatísticos consistentes e confiáveis dos quais seja possível extrair esta informação, foi necessário identificar os fatores comportamentais que estão na origem de atos inseguros e que devem ser prioritários na elaboração de campanhas de segurança viária. Para o efeito, foi necessário estabelecer uma metodologia que envolveu a utilização de diferentes instrumentos de coleta de dados com o objetivo de identificar os comportamentos-problema, assim como outros fatores relacionados à infraestrutura e ao meio ambiente que poderiam induzir esses comportamentos. Esta metodologia envolveu a aplicação de Grupos Focais que orientaram a elaboração de um questionário voltado para a identificação dos fatores de risco do sistema viário, comportamentos de risco e opiniões relacionados com os tipos de mensagens de campanhas. Este questionário foi posteriormente aplicado a uma amostra de condutores, juntamente com o DBQ – Driver Behaviour Questionnaire, este orientado para a identificação de comportamentos de risco de cada inquirido. A associação desses dois instrumentos permitiu a identificação de fatores de risco no sistema viário, assim como comportamentais de risco habituais e as preferências dos inquiridos sobre tipos e mensagens de campanhas, bem como meios de mídia. A análise estatística dos dados coletados permitiu identificar os seguintes fatores de risco relacionados à via: (1) más condições da infraestrutura da via, (2) más condições de sinalização, (3) más condições dos veículos que trafegam pelas vias, e (4) interação principalmente com pedestres. Foram ainda identificadas as suas opiniões relativamente a comportamentos-problema dos demais usuários do sistema viário, destacando-se os seguintes fatores: (1) sono, (2) bebidas, (3) drogas e (4) mensagens de texto. Quanto à importância das campanhas, os inquiridos consideram que elas devem: (1) ser dirigidas aos fatores de risco identificados, (2) estar associadas a outras ações como fiscalização e (3) seus resultados devem ser divulgados pelos órgãos de governo. Finalmente, acerca das mensagens das campanhas e tipos de mídia utilizados, os inquiridos consideraram que as mensagens devem: (1) utilizar laços afetivos, (2) ser mais impactantes, (3) conter cenas reais, (4) ter finalidade educativa; e as mídias mais adequadas seriam: (1) televisão, (2) internet (com ênfase às redes sociais) e (3) painéis de mensagens variáveis. Quanto ao questionário DBQ, foram identificados sete fatores comportamentais dos próprios inquiridos com maior peso e relação com atos inseguros: (1) Baixo nível de aptidão, (2) Infração, (3) Distração/Inatenção, (4) Condução agressiva, (5) Baixa consciência da situação, (6) Estresse e (7) Adaptação Comportamental. Esses fatores representam os tópicos prioritários que devem ser trabalhados em futuras campanhas. / This research established the methodological principles based on the identification of risk factors necessary for elaboration road safety campaigns, following the guidelines recommended by the CAST (Campaigns and Awareness-raising Strategies in Traffic Safety) project, which defines the identification of main problem behaviors generating accidents as an essential element in the definition of each campaign goal. Since there is no consistent and reliable statistical data proveding this information, it was necessary to identify the behavioral factors that originate unsafe acts and that should be priority in road safety campaigns. In order to achieve this result, it was necessary to establish a methodology involving the use of different data collection tools with the intention of identifying the problem behaviors, as well as other factors related to the infrastructure and environment capable to induce these behaviors. This methodology involved Focus Groups application that directed the elaboration of a questionnaire aiming at a identifing road system risk factors, risky behaviors and opinions regarding the types of campaigns messages. This questionnaire was further applied to a drivers\' sample, together with the DBQ Driver Behavior Questionnaire, which was directed to the identification of risky behaviors of each respondent. The association between these two instruments enabled the identification of road system risk factors, as well as common risky behaviors and the respondents\' preferences about the types of campaign messages and media means. The statistical analysis of the collected data enabled the identification of the following risk factors related to the road system: (1) poor road infrastructure conditions, (2) poor signing conditions, (3) poor vehicle conditions, and (4) interaction mainly with pedestrians. Opinions about problem-behaviors were also identified, stressing the following factors: (1) drowsiness, (2) drink and drive, (3) drugs and medication effects (4) texting driving. Concerning the campaigns importance, the respondents considered that they should: (1) be directed to identified risk factors, (2) be associated to other actions such as enforcement and (3) have its results published by the government entities. Finally, regarding the campaign messages and the used media types, the respondents considered that the messages should: (1) use affective anchors, (2) be more impactful, (3) contain real scenes, (4) have educative purpose; and the most adequate media would be: (1) television, (2) internet (with emphasis to the social networks) and (3) variable message panels. With respect to the DBQ questionnaire, seven behavioral factors based on the respondents own experience were identified as more important and related to unsafe attitudes: (1) poor fitness to drive, (2) violations, (3) distraction/inattention, (4) aggressive driving, (5) poor situation awareness, (6) stress and (7) behavioural adaptation. These factors represented the priority topics that should be handled in future campaigns.

Neste trabalho foram estabelecidos os fundamentos metodológicos baseados na identificação dos fatores de risco, fatores de risco identificados, necessários na elaboração de campanhas de segurança viária, orientados pelas diretrizes estabelecidas no projeto CAST (Campaigns and Awareness-raising Strategies in Traffic Safety), o qual define a identificação do comportamento-problema gerador de acidentes como elemento essencial na definição do objetivo de cada campanha. Não havendo dados estatísticos consistentes e confiáveis dos quais seja possível extrair esta informação, foi necessário identificar os fatores comportamentais que estão na origem de atos inseguros e que devem ser prioritários na elaboração de campanhas de segurança viária. Para o efeito, foi necessário estabelecer uma metodologia que envolveu a utilização de diferentes instrumentos de coleta de dados com o objetivo de identificar os comportamentos-problema, assim como outros fatores relacionados à infraestrutura e ao meio ambiente que poderiam induzir esses comportamentos. Esta metodologia envolveu a aplicação de Grupos Focais que orientaram a elaboração de um questionário voltado para a identificação dos fatores de risco do sistema viário, comportamentos de risco e opiniões relacionados com os tipos de mensagens de campanhas. Este questionário foi posteriormente aplicado a uma amostra de condutores, juntamente com o DBQ – Driver Behaviour Questionnaire, este orientado para a identificação de comportamentos de risco de cada inquirido. A associação desses dois instrumentos permitiu a identificação de fatores de risco no sistema viário, assim como comportamentais de risco habituais e as preferências dos inquiridos sobre tipos e mensagens de campanhas, bem como meios de mídia. A análise estatística dos dados coletados permitiu identificar os seguintes fatores de risco relacionados à via: (1) más condições da infraestrutura da via, (2) más condições de sinalização, (3) más condições dos veículos que trafegam pelas vias, e (4) interação principalmente com pedestres. Foram ainda identificadas as suas opiniões relativamente a comportamentos-problema dos demais usuários do sistema viário, destacando-se os seguintes fatores: (1) sono, (2) bebidas, (3) drogas e (4) mensagens de texto. Quanto à importância das campanhas, os inquiridos consideram que elas devem: (1) ser dirigidas aos fatores de risco identificados, (2) estar associadas a outras ações como fiscalização e (3) seus resultados devem ser divulgados pelos órgãos de governo. Finalmente, acerca das mensagens das campanhas e tipos de mídia utilizados, os inquiridos consideraram que as mensagens devem: (1) utilizar laços afetivos, (2) ser mais impactantes, (3) conter cenas reais, (4) ter finalidade educativa; e as mídias mais adequadas seriam: (1) televisão, (2) internet (com ênfase às redes sociais) e (3) painéis de mensagens variáveis. Quanto ao questionário DBQ, foram identificados sete fatores comportamentais dos próprios inquiridos com maior peso e relação com atos inseguros: (1) Baixo nível de aptidão, (2) Infração, (3) Distração/Inatenção, (4) Condução agressiva, (5) Baixa consciência da situação, (6) Estresse e (7) Adaptação Comportamental. Esses fatores representam os tópicos prioritários que devem ser trabalhados em futuras campanhas. / This research established the methodological principles based on the identification of risk factors necessary for elaboration road safety campaigns, following the guidelines recommended by the CAST (Campaigns and Awareness-raising Strategies in Traffic Safety) project, which defines the identification of main problem behaviors generating accidents as an essential element in the definition of each campaign goal. Since there is no consistent and reliable statistical data proveding this information, it was necessary to identify the behavioral factors that originate unsafe acts and that should be priority in road safety campaigns. In order to achieve this result, it was necessary to establish a methodology involving the use of different data collection tools with the intention of identifying the problem behaviors, as well as other factors related to the infrastructure and environment capable to induce these behaviors. This methodology involved Focus Groups application that directed the elaboration of a questionnaire aiming at a identifing road system risk factors, risky behaviors and opinions regarding the types of campaigns messages. This questionnaire was further applied to a drivers\' sample, together with the DBQ Driver Behavior Questionnaire, which was directed to the identification of risky behaviors of each respondent. The association between these two instruments enabled the identification of road system risk factors, as well as common risky behaviors and the respondents\' preferences about the types of campaign messages and media means. The statistical analysis of the collected data enabled the identification of the following risk factors related to the road system: (1) poor road infrastructure conditions, (2) poor signing conditions, (3) poor vehicle conditions, and (4) interaction mainly with pedestrians. Opinions about problem-behaviors were also identified, stressing the following factors: (1) drowsiness, (2) drink and drive, (3) drugs and medication effects (4) texting driving. Concerning the campaigns importance, the respondents considered that they should: (1) be directed to identified risk factors, (2) be associated to other actions such as enforcement and (3) have its results published by the government entities. Finally, regarding the campaign messages and the used media types, the respondents considered that the messages should: (1) use affective anchors, (2) be more impactful, (3) contain real scenes, (4) have educative purpose; and the most adequate media would be: (1) television, (2) internet (with emphasis to the social networks) and (3) variable message panels. With respect to the DBQ questionnaire, seven behavioral factors based on the respondents own experience were identified as more important and related to unsafe attitudes: (1) poor fitness to drive, (2) violations, (3) distraction/inattention, (4) aggressive driving, (5) poor situation awareness, (6) stress and (7) behavioural adaptation. These factors represented the priority topics that should be handled in future campaigns.

Fatal automobile crashes have claimed the lives of over 33,000 people each year in the United States since 1995. As in any point event, fatal crash events do not occur randomly in time or space. The objectives of this study were to identify spatial patterns and hot spots in FARS (Fatal Analysis Reporting System) fatal crash events based on temporal and demographic characteristics. The methods employed included 1) rate calculation using FARS points and average daily traffic flow; 2) planar kernel density estimation of FARS crash events based on temporal and demographic attributes within the data; and 3) two case studies using network kernel density estimation along roadways to determine hot spots fatal crashes in Jefferson County and Warren County. Rate calculation analyses revealed that travel on roads with high speed limits and winding topography led to the highest number of crashes and highest rate of fatal crashesper 1,000 daily vehicles. Planar kernel density estimation results showed temporalpatterns, revealing that ‘hot spots’ and fatalities were highest in the summer, and typically occurred from 2pm-6pm on the weekends. Further, the 16 to 25 year age group was responsible for the most significant ‘hot spots’ and the most fatal accidents. Also showing that the most significant hot spots involving alcohol occurring in close proximity to meeting places such as bars and restaurants. Finally, results from the network kernel density estimation revealed that most hot spots were in high traffic areas of where majorr oads converged with secondary roads.

Thesis (MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / This study investigated the effectiveness of the national road safety strategy towards reducing accidents and road fatalities on the N1 in the Limpopo Province. Qualitative research was conducted to determine the experiences of the traffic law enforcement officers in implementing the road safety strategy in the Limpopo Province. Primary qualitative data were collected using the semi-structured questionnaire supplemented by telephonic interviews. Two groups of participants including the traffic law enforcement officers (n=10) and managers (n=5) participated in the study. The study established the domains of effective implementation and areas of challenges with discrepancy between the expected level of strategy implementation and availability of sufficient human and fiscal resources to enhance effective strategy implementation. The factors that impeded the effective implementation of the road safety strategy towards reducing accidents and road fatalities on the N1 in the Limpopo Province included the inadequate allocation and distribution of traffic officers in areas with a high probability of accidents, delayed recruitment of sufficient traffic law enforcement officers and unavailability of required budgeted funds for procurement of state of the art physical equipment to monitor the speed and magnitude of traffic flows and real-time surveillance and capture of road safety transgressions. The findings revealed that there is a considerable need for traffic law enforcement managers to collaborate with behavioural professionals and the police to ascertain effective behavioural change mechanisms to encourage road safety compliance. However, recruitment and constant re-training of traffic law enforcement officers on best practice strategies for traffic law enforcement could be useful to ensure the effective implementation of the road safety strategy; thereby contributing towards the reduction of accidents and road fatalities on the N1 in the Limpopo Province.