A pedestrian and traffic safety study was conducted in San Diego County, California, with 1,587 adult and teenage traffic violators who were attending traffic school. The surveys were disaggregated on the basis of respondents' demographic characteristics. There were 589 Spanish speakers and 998 English speakers. The surveys measured respondents' safe driving score and correlated the score with their assessment of safety and the level of aggression shown toward pedestrians in six photographs. Photographs were selected to depict certain pedestrian and driving environments and pedestrian-vehicle interactions. The photographs were used as a means of assessing the drivers' level of sensitivity to pedestrian environments. Respondents were asked to assess drivers' behaviors on certain roads, their levels of aggression toward pedestrians, and the quality of sidewalks. Responses to the photographs were analyzed with demographic differences (adults and teen, Spanish and English) and the safe driving measure scores. Significant differences were found in the responses on the basis of driving measure and demographic differences. Many respondents were unaware of California laws related to pedestrian's rights and duties when sidewalks are missing. They were also insensitive to pedestrian-driver conflict situations. Some of the lack in understanding or empathy toward pedestrians is due to inadequate treatment of pedestrian safety issues in the literature on aggressive driving. On the basis of this research, it is felt that aggressive acts toward pedestrians need to be included in the definition of aggressive driving so that drivers are made aware of the rights of pedestrians.
Drinking and driving are still a serious concern on the roads, even though the last twenty years has seen an increase in exposure to various designated driver programs. Even though a majority of people have either been one or used one, most designated drivers have still consumed some alcohol. Another option is that of an outside driver, such as a safe ride program in which a safe ride is offered for free by taxis or volunteers. One such program under study, offers a ride home for both the driver as well as their vehicle. To examine the population who utilizes such a program two studies were conducted which included 1,985 participants (1206 male, 744 female) from two major California cities. The volunteer drivers gathered data during their rounds between January 2002 and September 2002. If the current safe ride program not been in place 632 Participants (44%) reported that they would have driven themselves home. 582 participants (40%) have used back roads in the past to evade being stopped by the police; on average they used back roads 3.4 times in the past month. When questioned about having control over not drinking and driving 455 (32%) participants didn't feel they had control over their choice to avoid drinking and driving. Participants who reported having driven back roads in the past to avoid confrontation with the police after drinking had significantly higher estimated BAC levels than those who said they had never done so. This sample reflected similar populations.
Drinking and driving are still a serious concern on the roads, even though the last twenty years has seen an increase in exposure to various designated driver programs. Even though a majority of people have either been one or used one, most designated drivers have still consumed some alcohol. Another option is that of an outside driver, such as a safe ride program in which a safe ride is offered for free by taxis or volunteers. One such program under study, offers a ride home for both the driver as well as their vehicle. To examine the population who utilizes such a program two studies were conducted which included 1,985 participants (1206 male, 744 female) from two major California cities. The volunteer drivers gathered data during their rounds between January 2002 and September 2002. If the current safe ride program not been in place 632 Participants (44%) reported that they would have driven themselves home. 582 participants (40%) have used back roads in the past to evade being stopped by the police; on average they used back roads 3.4 times in the past month. When questioned about having control over not drinking and driving 455 (32%) participants didn't feel they had control over their choice to avoid drinking and driving. Participants who reported having driven back roads in the past to avoid confrontation with the police after drinking had significantly higher estimated BAC levels than those who said they had never done so. This sample reflected similar populations.
In an effort to examine the driving behaviors of military personnel, this study surveyed 469 marines. These military personnel were stationed in California; more than half reported recently returning from deployment overseas. During base stand downs, the marines were given a survey that asked them to report on various previous driving behaviors, perceptions of aggressive or risky driving actions, and perceived stress. Participants who reported recent deployment to a fighting zone (Iraq) reported significantly higher scores on items such as being a risk taker, losing their temper while driving, and the right to retaliatory action against aggressive actions from other drivers. The results of this study indicate a need for further examination of the driving habits of military personnel as well as a closer exploration of risk-taking behaviors of personnel recently returned from combat zones.
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