Safety

135 KiB

Open AccessCorrection

Correction: Pless, B. Risk Compensation: Revisited and Rebutted. Safety 2016, 2, 16

by Barry Pless

Safety 2016, 2(3), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety2030019 - 21 Sep 2016

Viewed by 3126

Abstract

I regret that the following errors have been found in the published paper [1].[...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Return of Cycling—Safety Implications)

3176 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chores at Times of Fatal or Serious Injuries Associated with Tractor Overturns with and without Rollover Protection

by Henry P. Cole, Melvin L. Myers and Susan C. Westneat

Safety 2016, 2(3), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety2030018 - 19 Sep 2016

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5846

Abstract

This study describes chores when farmers were either fatally or seriously injured and required emergency medical treatment as a result of overturns of tractors with or without rollover protective structures (ROPS). Data from the 2002 Kentucky Farm Tractor Overturn Survey were used for this study. The data were collected by a telephone survey of a population-based random sample of 6063 (7.98%) of Kentucky’s 76,017 farm operators as listed in the Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service database. Of farm operators interviewed, 551 (9.1%) reported 603 overturns and 5512 (90.9%) reported no overturns in the history of their farm, covering a period from 1925 to February 2002. Only the latest overturn was considered to improve recall accuracy. In addition, since the 1925 to 1959 time period had only 49 (8.1%) of the overturns reported, (14 farmers did not provide the year of most recent overturn); only data from the 1960 to 2002 period (approximately 41 years) were used. After making these adjustments, incidents evaluated included 25 cases (one fatal and four serious nonfatal injuries) that involved ROPS-equipped tractor overturns and 88 cases (24 fatal and 64 serious nonfatal injuries) that involved non-ROPS tractor overturns. Chores at highest risk for tractor overturns were identified for which educational and ROPS retrofit interventions could be emphasized. The highest frequency of overturn-related fatalities and nonfatal injuries were associated with hay harvesting, rotary mowing, and on-farm travel chores. These three chores represented 68.2% of fatal events and 50.0% of permanent and 56.6% of temporary disability overturn incidents. Tragically, in countries such as India and China with emerging mechanization, a large majority of tractors are produced without ROPS that can be expected to result in the same overturn-related epidemic of deaths experienced in highly mechanized countries, despite evidence of the protection provided by ROPS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agricultural Safety and Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

5372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping Bicycle Crash Risk Patterns on the Local Scale

by Martin Loidl, Gudrun Wallentin, Robin Wendel and Bernhard Zagel

Safety 2016, 2(3), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety2030017 - 1 Sep 2016

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 8152

Abstract

Currently, mainly aggregated statistics are used for bicycle crash risk calculations. Thus, the understanding of spatial patterns at local scale levels remains vague. Using an agent-based flow model and a bicycle crash database covering 10 continuous years of observation allows us to calculate and map the crash risk on various spatial scales for the city of Salzburg (Austria). In doing so, we directly account for the spatial heterogeneity of crash occurrences. Additionally, we provide a measure for the statistical robustness on the level of single reference units and consider modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) effects in our analysis. This study is the first of its kind. The results facilitate a better understanding of spatial patterns of bicycle crash rates on the local scale. This is especially important for cities that strive to improve the safety situation for bicyclists in order to address prevailing safety concerns that keep people from using the bicycle as a utilitarian mode of (urban) transport. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Return of Cycling—Safety Implications)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

1136 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

Risk Compensation: Revisited and Rebutted

by Barry Pless

Safety 2016, 2(3), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/safety2030016 - 29 Aug 2016

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 18454 | Correction

Abstract

This Commentary addresses the ongoing disagreements between many safety advocates who endorse traditional models of prevention and those who oppose them, arguing that safety measures are offset by risk compensation (RCT). The debate is especially heated with respect to regulatory or legislative prevention measures. After explaining the rationale behind risk compensation (aka risk homeostasis theory) (RHT), I provide examples of RCT studies to explain why I believe they should be rejected. The main basis for my rebuttal, however, rests on data that show steady declines in unintentional injury mortality, which, according to RCT, should not have occurred. There are many other reasons for rejecting this theory, and it seems that the time has come for the debate to finally be concluded. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Return of Cycling—Safety Implications)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Safety, Volume 2, Issue 3 (September 2016) – 4 articles

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI