NCJ Number
1792
Date Published
1971
Length
1016 pages
Annotation
COMPREHENSIVE WORKING MANUAL AND REFERENCE TEXT RELATING TO THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
Abstract
THE ACCIDENT EPIDEMIC HAS BEEN REVIEWED IN TERMS OF COMPREHENSIVE CAUSATIVE AND PERMISSIVE FACTORS. THESE FACTORS INVOLVE THE CLASSIC-HOST (DRIVER), VECTOR (VEHICLE), AND ENVIRONMENT (HIGHWAY)-EPIDEMIOLOGIC TRIAD. EMPHASIS HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT, THE HUMAN FACTOR. THE EXTRAORDINARY FREQUENCY AND DANGER OF THE SLEEPY DRIVER, THE AGING MOTORIST, DRIVER FATIGUE, NATURAL DEATH AT THE WHEEL, AND THE CONFIRMED ALCOHOLIC ARE CRITICALLY ANALYZED. A NUMBER OF CURRENTLY-HELD DOGMAS PERTAINING TO ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REINTERPRETED, SUCH AS THE INFERENCE THAT ACCIDENT PRONENESS IS PRIMARILY PSYCHOLOGIC OR PSYCHIATRIC IN NATURE. THE COMPONENTS OF A RATIONAL AND HOLISTIC APPROACH TO THE PREVENTION OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ARE PRESENTED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)