Module Science-Based Road Safety Research Describe and value science-based road safety research and its application as fundamental to achieving further improvements in road safety.

Module Major Topics Traditional Methods Engineering and Public Health Science-based Methods Quality Data and Data Systems Data Driven Approaches to Road Safety The Importance of Professional Support for Science- based Approaches

Module Safety Research Goal The goal of safety research is to illuminate ways to reduce the negative externalities associated with motor vehicle related crashes such as fatalities, injuries, property damage, and congestion. Think about it …

Module Methods of Decision Making Expert Opinion Conventional Wisdom Collective Experience Scientific Method Think about it …

Module Weaknesses of Other Methods Crashes Vary Randomly Hunches are Often Incorrect Inability to Process Data Counter-productive Recommendations

Module Weaknesses of Traditional Methods Think about it …

Module Weaknesses of Traditional Methods Mad Cow disease0 Avian Flu0 All other deaths 8,364 Homicide 17,732 Suicide 31,484 Common flu 36,000 Auto accidents 44,000 Other accidents 65,277 Diabetes74,219 Lower-respiratory126,382 Stroke157,689 Cancer556,902 Other diseases645,150 Heart disease685,089 Think about it …

Module Why Science? In short, the justification for basic research in all fields lies in the knowledge-generating utility of scientific discoveries and in the well-founded anticipation—but not guarantee—that some of those discoveries will in the long run prove to be of great practical benefit.

Module Five Characteristics of Science 1.Public Scrutiny 2.Willing to Do without Answers 3.Doubt Is Unpleasant; Certainty Is Absurd 4.Willing to Question the Obvious 5.Ability to Test among Competing Answers Think about it …

Module Steps in the Scientific Process 1.Review the Literature. 2.Postulate Relationships or Theories. 3.Generate Testable Research Hypotheses. 4.Design a Study. 5.Collect Data. 6.Apply Appropriate Statistical Methods and/or Models. 7.Correctly Interpret Results. Think about it …

Module Observational Study Limitation Lack of Experiments Weaknesses in Observational Studies Occupant protectionOccupant protection Non-crashesNon-crashes SpeedingSpeeding Commercial vehiclesCommercial vehicles

Module Data Quality and Limitations The government is very keen on amassing statistics – they collect them, add them, raise them to the n th power take the cube root and prepare wonderful diagrams. But what you must never forget is that every one of those figures in the first instance comes from the village watchman, who just puts down what he damn well pleases. Sir Josiah Stamp (1929) Traffic Safety and Human Behavior, David Shinar

Module Applied Technologies Reporting Crashes Responding to Crashes Collecting Victim and Crash Information Managing and Storing Crash Information Linking Crash Records with Hospital Records Analyzing Crashes Disseminating Crash Information to Stakeholder Agencies Educating Safety Professionals

Module Data Driven Success Think about it …

Module Prerequisites for Safety Support Mission MissionChampionsResources

Module Review Traditional Methods Engineering and Public Health Science-based Methods Quality Data and Data Systems Data Driven Approaches to Road Safety The Importance of Professional Support for Science- based Approaches