Human Factors in Traffic Crashes

This chapter describes how traffic crashes are the most frequent cause of unintended fatalities in the Unites States, when compared with accidents occurring in public places, in homes, or at the work place. These crashes accounted for 41,821 deaths and 3.2 million injuries that resulted from about 6.4 million crashes in 2000. Although these numbers are staggering and involve huge personal, emotional, and financial losses, the fatality rate per distance traveled has been steadily declining. If the fatality rate per vehicle kilometer had remained the same as it was in 1970 at 2.9 fatalities per 100 million kilometers, there would have been about 131,00 fatalities in 2000. Therefore, there is evidence that highway safety has significantly improved over the years. The major topics of this chapter include the human factors aspects of: (1) vehicles, such as marking and signaling systems and their role in rear-end crashes, headlighting for night-driving visibility and its effect on drivers’ visibility and night crashes, motorcycle braking systems and rider performance in crash avoidance, and railroad crossing safety factors in drivers’ information processing; (2) pedestrian and bicycle safety; (3) highway signing and driver information systems; and (4) effects of alcohol and drugs on traffic safety and human performance.

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