Browsing by Subject "roadway safety"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The Decision To Speed In the United States – A Mixed Methods Study
    (2020-06) Peterson, Colleen
    Speeding remains a major and consistent cause of U.S. roadway fatalities. The current research used a mixed methods approach to build a more comprehensive understanding of which U.S. drivers decide to speed and why to inform novel speeding interventions. Data came from an online survey of a diverse group of drivers (N=309) from across the U.S. The survey collected information on participant demographics, driving history, behaviors, and related attitudes in the form of both open- and close-ended questions. The first manuscript identified qualitative themes from narratives explaining how and why participant speeding behaviors changed with age. Results show U.S. drivers often make deliberate choices to speed and do not consider speeding to be dangerous after achieving perceived driving mastery, but they tend to speed less due to family responsibility and prioritizing safety. The second manuscript featured latent class analysis resulting in four driver typologies representing: Externally Motivated Reactors, Non-Reactors, the Perceived Invulnerable, and the Perceived Vulnerable. Externally Motivated Reactors and Non-Reactors class members had the highest probability of extreme speeding, while Perceived Vulnerable class members endorsed a host of less risky driving responses. The third manuscript identified quantitative and qualitative commonalities and differences between minor, moderate, and extreme speeders. Speeders were most differentiated quantitatively by proportion of high risk and sensation-seeking personalities and qualitatively by the permanence and extent of speed reductions after crashes, speeding tickets, or driving with passengers. For all speeder types, considering oneself a good driver or not at-fault for a crash reduced intention to change speeding behaviors. These mixed methods results holistically describe a spectrum of U.S. drivers, their perceptions, attitudes, and contexts that lead to different speeding behaviors, and how these change with age. Findings show that effective means of encouraging U.S. drivers not to speed may be multi-pronged interventions encompassing environmental, social, and cognitive reframing approaches. Anti-speeding campaigns should target high sensation seekers, emphasize the safety of all roadway users, explain the connection between speed and safety, underscoring how speeding reduces driver control. Broad-based use of safe systems road design and expanded law enforcement strategies are also recommended.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Feasibility of a Quantitative Rural Safety Policy Improvement Index (RSPII): Phase I
    (University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, 2009-05) Knapp, Keith K.; Young, Kelcie; Utecht, Brad
    Many factors that contribute to fatal crashes are related to human behavior. One method of adjusting these behaviors is through the enactment and enforcement of legislatively-based safety improvement measures (LSIMs). The objective of this research was to investigate the feasibility of a research-based rural safety policy improvement index (RSPII) to quantify the state-by-state impacts of LSIMs. Recently completed LSIM summaries categorized the direct safety impacts of 23 behavioral highway safety countermeasures as “proven” with “high-quality” research. It was concluded that a RSPII was feasible and six LSIMs were selected for consideration with a RSPII framework. The LSIMs selected include the implementation of a comprehensive graduated driver licensing program, primary seat belt law, motorcycle helmet use law, sobriety checkpoints, ignition interlocks, and automated speed enforcement. A six-step RSPII framework and a pilot application are documented in this report. Two estimation methods were used to quantify the rural roadway safety impacts of primary seat belt law implementation. It was estimated that 488 fatalities or 248 unbelted front seat passenger vehicle occupant (≥ 13 years old) deaths could be avoided if this were to occur. More detailed applications for all six LSIMs selected will be completed in Phase II of this project.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Simulated driver performance, error, and acceptance study of a J-turn intersection with 3 levels of signage
    (2024-01-08) Morris, Nichole L; Schwieters, Katelyn R; Tian, Disi; Craig, Curtis M; nlmorris@umn.edu; Morris, Nichole L; University of Minnesota HumanFIRST Lab
    Thirty-six participants with limited previous experience and knowledge of J-turn intersections participated in a simulation study to examine their acceptance of J-turns and left turning navigational performance at three simulated J-turn intersections in counterbalanced order, each featuring one of three signage levels (minimum, intermediate, and full). Participants navigational path was visualized and scored for error occurrence by 3 raters/coders. Eleven different error types occurred and they were classified as minor, moderate, or major severity errors. Participants provided demographic information, crash history, and acceptance of J-turn intersections (across three scales) before and after driving through the simulated J-turn intersections. The data has been deidentified and is available to provide a better understanding of common errors from drivers who are experiencing J-turn intersections for the first time and the resultant influence that their error experiences have on their acceptance of the novel intersection design.