Negative impacts of noise exposure on health and performance may result in part from "learned helplessness," the syndrome of deficits typically produced by exposure to uncontrollable events. People may perceive environmental noise to be uncontrollable, and several effects of noise exposure appear to parallel "learned helplessness" deficits. In the present socioacoustic survey (N = 1,015), perceived control over aircraft noise correlated negatively with some effects of noise (though not others). Furthermore, these effects were better predicted by perceived control than by noise level. These observational data support the claim that "learned helplessness" contributes to the effects of noise exposure.

Low- and Middle-Income Countries suffer the large majority (93%) of global road crash deaths and face particular challenges in managing this crisis. This paper presents global data and trends revealing underlying features of the problem for LMICs. LMICs are commonly grouped and described together in road safety commentaries, yet appreciation of the substantial differences between LICs and MICs is vital. While global deaths per 100,000 people have stabilized during the UN Decade of Road Safety, the population rate has increased in LICs (by 8.2%), while decreasing in HIC and MIC. LICs have less resources to address road safety and younger populations adding to risk. Wide variations on road safety performance exist within country income groups, with some of this variance occurring systematically between regions. Absolute numbers of deaths are increasing due to increasing population and increasing vehicle fleets in LMICs compared with HICs. The capacity of MICs, and especially LICs, to manage road safety is hampered by poor crash data to guide action as well less available funding and resources to achieve safer road engineering, safer vehicles, and protect the large proportions of vulnerable road users. Road crash deaths and injuries are retarding the economic growth of LMICs and investing road safety is a costeffective means by which LMICs can move towards becoming HICs. Vital opportunities for cost-effective savings of lives and debilitating injuries in LMICs include better management of speed (especially through infrastructure), improving safety infrastructure for pedestrians, increasing seatbelt use, and shifting travel from motorcycles to buses through provision of Bus Rapid Transit systems.

When the runaways at Sydney Airport were reconfigured, noise increased in some low-noise areas and decreased in some high-noise areas (while other areas remained highly exposed and unchanged, or minimally exposed to aircraft noise). Residents were surveyed before (N=1015), immediately after, and several years after the reconfiguration. This data set allows consideration of the extent to which ratings of the neighborhood are determined by noise versus other factors (parks, air pollution, safety). Residents were also asked whether they would consider moving because of the noise. From the follow-up data we examined which features of the residents satisfaction with the area and the noise, as well as features of the residents themselves (noise sensitivity, general sensitivity, personality, home ownership) predicted considering moving and moving. These results address the issue of the importance of soundscape in residential satisfaction, relative to other factors.

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Whether or not people habituate and/or adapt to a negative soundscape remains a contentious issue. The Sydney Airport Health Study has involved interviews with residents before, soon after, and several years after the runways were reconfigured. Noise increased in some low-noise areas and decreased in some high-noise areas (while other areas remained highly exposed and unchanged, or minimally exposed to aircraft noise). Of the pre-reconfiguration sample, 23.6% reported getting used to the noise. This paper examines the factors which predict who will get used to the noise and who will not, by regression against a number of predictors: noise exposure, sensitivity, attitude, personality, age, gender. The post-reconfiguration studies also allow examination of the speed with which reaction changes with changed exposure, and the factors which predict changes in reaction. Underlying mechanisms other than adaptation and habituation are considered.