NCJ Number
118577
Editor(s)
J D Graham
Date Published
1988
Length
287 pages
Annotation
This book, derived from the conference on "Preventing Motor Vehicle Injuries" convened in Boston by the New England Injury Prevention Research Center on December 10 and 11, 1987, contains an introduction to the field, the major papers presented at the conference, the prepared comments of conference discussants, and an analysis of research and policy directions based on deliberations at the conference.
Abstract
This book relates the emerging interest in injury control to the science of traffic safety. The authors of the papers use state-of-the-art evaluation research methods to assess the merits of policies designed to prevent automobile related injuries. The analyses indicate the need for accurate, reliable information on the implications of traffic safety policies. Papers consider both behavioral change and technological innovations in their evaluation of injury control policies in three problem areas: drunk driving, lack of occupant restraint use, and highway speeding. Using public health or economic frameworks, the papers examine the present and future effects of mandatory safety belt use laws, the lifesaving and economic consequences of alternative automatic occupant restraint designs, the growing intensity of the social and political response to drunk driving, the campaign to raise the minimum legal drinking age, the benefits of higher alcohol taxes, and the impact of the new 65 mph speed limit on highway safety and mobility. The book also offers recommendations for future scientific and policy directions. Chapter references, tables, and subject index.