Summary

This study was commissioned to provide information on seat belt wearing rates in the Northern Territory and in provincial towns in Victoria and New South Wales. Data was obtained through observation of restraint use in Alice Springs and Darwin and in six towns in each of Victoria and New South Wales. A strict sampling frame was followed that ensured as far as possible that a representative sample of road users in the surveyed towns was obtained. The results of this survey were found to be very similar to those of the Stage 1 survey.

Summary

Reports of in-depth crash studies from Australia, UK, Europe and the USA were reviewed. Successful studies were found to have defined and explicit objectives, a sound statistical design, appropriate analysis, and a substantial report which was related to the objectives of the study. On-scene studies gather transient information, and allow development of insight into the crash process; follow-up studies are more convenient, but at the cost of 1st information. The resources required for each are similar.

Summary

The report identifies aggregations of crashes by location (black spot), or by other common characteristics. Further work involved correlating crash occurrence with road parameters such as alignment, roughness etc, on a selected sample of road and examined the feasibility of automating the procedures nationwide.

Summary

The Federal Office of Road Safety developed an education package "Out and About" aimed at children aged 5-11 years. The material is a major component of a campaign for the safety of children in the traffic environment. This report summarises the major findings of three phases of evaluative research undertaken amongst primary school teachers, parents and pupils who had trialled the "Out and About" material. Overall the reactions were very positive about the usefulness of the material.

Summary

This report addresses the topic of driver fatigue, an issue that is receiving increasing attention in the road safety field.

Summary

As part of an evaluation of a national increase in the heavy vehicle speed limit to 90 km/h from 1 January 1987, an attitude survey of 453 drivers and 90 operators of heavy vehicles was undertaken in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland in June and July 1987. Current speed of travel is around 100 km/h and is influenced by route based factors rather than speed limit. A heavy vehicle speed limit of 100 km/h is preferred, for safety reasons.

Summary

 The development and implementation of the Pre-Licence Motorcycle Training Course at the NSW Traffic Education Centre was reviewed. Six areas are dealt with in the report: Developing the Pre-Licence Motor Cycle Course; Adequacy of Resources; The Participants in the Course: The Contribution of Individuals and Groups from the Community; Perceptions of Course's Success; Requirements for Running a Successful Course. The report concludes with a set of conclusions relating to each of these areas.

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Summary

The Federal Office of Road Safety has produced a pre-primary schools version of the road safety education resource material “Out and About”. This report details the evaluative research undertaken amongst pre-school teachers, pupils and parents, once the resource had been trialled on 10 pre-schools and 32 pre-school classes. Teachers using the materials were generally positive about the usefulness of the sensibly age-related road safety concepts.

Summary

The literature describing the biomechanical response of children to impact is reviewed. The results of a computer simulation of a real child pedestrian impact using the computer program MADYMO are presented. The results of this simulation show good agreement with currently accepted tolerance levels for head impact in children.