A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examining self-reported seatbelt use in jurisdictions with primary versus secondary enforcement across the United States revealed that, whilst in general self-reported seatbelt use increased over the study period of 2002 to 2010, jurisdictions with primary enforcement laws had significantly higher seatbelt use than jurisdictions with […]
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Auction your paper?
I am not suggesting you accept this suggestion, but it is amusing, intriguing, and somewhat sensible. Given that it comes from Richard Smith, former editor of the BMJ, it deserves consideration. In his words, “instead of submitting your paper to one journal you should auction it to the highest bidder. Today I did it.” Smith […]
“Bring it on” in the 2nd United Nations Global Road Safety Week (6th -12th May 2013)
The 2nd United Nations (UN) Global Road Safety Week is to be held from 6th to 12th May 2013. This week marks the beginning of the third year of a 10-year-long international initiative, “the Decade of Action for Road Safety.” The focus of this week is to raise awareness about pedestrian safety. This week has […]
Air pollution: Cans of air the solution?
In a story circulating the globe, it seems that an enterprising businessman has come up with an interesting approach to China’s air pollution woes: Fresh air in a can. China unfortunately is renowned as a country with chronic air pollution in it’s major cities, and this is problematic for the millions of people exposed to this […]
Children’s road safety TV adverts to be axed in UK
Rafael Consunji sent me the following clipping with this comment: “I am very sad for the children in the UK. To a man (and woman), everyone I met from the UK can recite the adverts that they saw as kids that encouraged them to be safer pedestrians.” I replied that I had no doubt that […]
Controversial safety trade-off under consideration: burns vs poisoning
According to a report in FairWarning, California is proposing to weaken its fire safety standards by dropping the requirement for the use of flame retardants in U.S. couches and other furniture. The current standard stipulates that foam used in cushions be able to withstand a 12-second exposure to a small, open flame. To meet this […]
A good sign (and some light relief!)
Plaque on towpath in Regents Park London advising bicylists and pedestrians how to live in harmony. […]
Pedestrian airbags can save lives
I was fascinated to see this article regarding a pedestrian airbag in the new Volvo V40. We are all aware of the appalling road safety statistics for pedestrians – around 15% of Australia’s road toll each year is contributed by pedestrians, and two thirds of these fatalities are caused by impact with a vehicle. A […]
The NRA’s war on gun science
The central public policy question — does gun control save lives? — is impossible to answer without solid research. But there has been much less research in the US since 1996 as a result of the gun lobby’s success in denying federal funds for scientific research into gun violence. In spite of the courageous stand […]
The magical land of NRAnia
I may soon have to apologize for the number of blogs related to the gun control issue in the U.S., but its importance cannot be underestimated and just now there seems to be a lot to report. So bear with me. What you will see below was sent by a colleague who prefaced the link […]