- Email: [email protected]
Seat belt law experience in four foreign countries compared to the United States
154
Recent Publications
One shortcoming of this book is that it downplays the need for generalizing the knowledge from investigations and the methods to do this. The authors counsel readers that the ethics of “investigating accidents for the purpose of acquiring enough data for a statistically valid analysis are dubious” (p. 294). I dispute the accuracy of their characterization of the goals of statistical analysis of accident data. Instead, I ask the authors to extend STEP to propose their alternate framework for aggregating fallible evidence over stochastic accident processes. Statistical theory would, indeed, be helpful even within STEP. Hendrick and Benner assert that STEP methods “produce valid and reliable evidence. . .more rapidly than statistical analysis of suspect data” (p. 294). This is, of course, an empirical conclusion, and the authors present no evidence for its justification.
DAVID L. PASSMORE The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA
BRIEF The Visual Display of Quantitative CT, USA, 1983. 197 pp. $34.00.
REVIEWS
Information.
E.R. Tufte.
Graphics
Press,
Cheshire,
It is rare for any of us involved in the anlaysis or prevention of accidents to avoid quantitative information-whether we are civil servants, accident investigators, emergency room physicians, or academic researchers. Frequently we have to present numerical data, and even more frequently interpret that published by others. This book is important as an inspiration for those of us who struggle either to present such data clearly or to understand this form of information. The author argues for excellence in the graphical presentation of statistics, and what is more important, he practises what he preaches. The book is profusely illustrated with many wonderful examples-from fields as varied as the geometry of lane markings in different states to the survival of Napoleon’s armies in the Russian campaign of 181213. There is also a clear exposition of the theory that underlies good statistical graphics, for those of us who don’t know what we are doing but know what we like. The prose is usually as clear as the illustrations, despite a few neologisms: the terms “chartjunk” and “data-ink ratio” are useful, but the new use of the word “duck” is not. This book admirably serves the dual purpose of enlightening and entertaining the reader.
Seat Belt Law Experience in Four Foreign Countries B.J. Campbell and EA. Campbell. AAA Foundation VA, USA, 1986. 70 pp.
Compared for Traffic
to the United States. Safety, Falls Church,
This monograph attempts to place the recent experience of the United States, where motor vehicle occupants in approximately half the states were subject to seat belt legislation by the end of 1986, in an international context. Initially, the authors hoped to identify those factors which were active in four countries with successful seat belt laws (i.e., usage rates were over 85% for at least part of the time, and consistently much higher in many cases) which might be used to enhance programs in the United States. Primarily the comparisons are with Australia, Sweden, West Germany, and the United Kingdom, although brief reference is made to other countries as well. After a brief description of the political and research issues each country has had to face in evaluating seat belt effectiveness, the authors describe five elements of the implementation program in each country: history and demographic factors, wearing rates
Recent Publications
155
before and after the law, enforcement, publicity, and casualty reduction. The monograph concludes with a discussion of those differences between the United States and the comparison countries which might be important in explaining the differences in public response to the law despite its apparent effectiveness. The answers are not as clear-cut as the authors may have hoped, but their speculations may stimulate others to acquire the evidence to confirm or deny their suggestions.
CONFERENCE
PROCEEDINGS
Proceedings of an International Conference on Commuting. A study of its impact on living and working conditions. (Rome, May 29-30, 1986.) Istituto Italian0 di Medicina Sociale, Rome, Italy and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Dublin, Ireland, 1987. (Articles in French, Italian, or English.) State of the Art. The interest of the I.L.O.
in the problem of transport from home to work (French) (M.R. de Grazia, 21-25); Commuting in the European Community: Setting the scene (English) (L. Pickup, 27-54); Commuting and social and economic structures in Italy (Italian) (B. Bracalente and M. Di Palma, 55-68); Geography of commuting in Italy (Italian) (M. Pazienti, 69-85). Impact of commuting
on the hearth and Safety of Workers. Background and design of an international study on the impact of commuting on health and safety of workers (English) (C.L. Ekkers and V.H. Hildebrandt, 99-103); Results and discussion of a study on the impact of commuting on health and safety in the Netherlands (English) (V.H. Hildebrandt, 105-116); Results of an Italian study on the impact of commuting on health and safety of workers (Italian) (G. Costa, 117-132). Problems of Transport, Regional Planning,
Urban and Industrial Development.
muters’ choices of modes of transport: The situation in Italy 137-150); Productivity and commuting (Italian) I. Adorisio, financing: trends and innovations (English) (C.P. Averous, banization and transport technologies (Italian) (C. Podesta,
Com(Italian) (M. Del Viscovo, 151-161); Urban transport 163-169); Commuting, ur172-193).
Trend in Coordinated Policy of Transport, Regional Development, Occupation and Health.
Transport policy in the European Community (French) (L. Buonaccorsi, 199-213); The views of the work force (Italian) (M. Fenzi, 215-223); Urban transport infrastructures (Italian) (M.L. Piva, 225-232); Safety and comfort factors in technological developments in public and private transport (Italian) (E. Vercellotti, 233-243). Communications. The influence of private car restrictions on commuting. The case of Athens (English) (G. Argyrakos, 247-262); The journey to work-more dangerous than machinery? (French) (J.R. Carre, 263-272); Issues in the formulation of policy for the alleviation of the adverse effects of commuting (English) (J.A. Crowley, 273-289); An analysis of commuting patterns in metropolitan areas of Italy (Italian) (G. Del Sole, 291-301); Town and country planning and commuting (Italian) (P.M. Gaffarini, 303308); Women’s mobility and residential and industrial centres in the Rome region (Italian) (G. Gesano, A. Mancini and A.M. Scalia, 309-337); Sickness absenteeism of commuters in Siena (Italian) (M. Giacchi, A. Condello and R. Santori, 339-346); The effects of the Canary Wharf development on commuting patterns (English) (A. Jones and P, Twelftree, 347-360); Women commuters-sickness, accidents, maternity-related factors, resignations (Italian) (R. Lenzi, P. Galvan et al., 361-366); Commuting and health (Italian) (N. Magnavita and 0. Mattei, 367-374); Transport needs on working days and the impact of commuting on transport networks in urban areas of Hungary (Italian) (J. Monigl, E. Nagy et al., 375-384); The determining role of participation and consultation in the organisation of transport (French) (B. Schaefer, 385-390); Commuting by workers
Recent Publications
One shortcoming of this book is that it downplays the need for generalizing the knowledge from investigations and the methods to do this. The authors counsel readers that the ethics of “investigating accidents for the purpose of acquiring enough data for a statistically valid analysis are dubious” (p. 294). I dispute the accuracy of their characterization of the goals of statistical analysis of accident data. Instead, I ask the authors to extend STEP to propose their alternate framework for aggregating fallible evidence over stochastic accident processes. Statistical theory would, indeed, be helpful even within STEP. Hendrick and Benner assert that STEP methods “produce valid and reliable evidence. . .more rapidly than statistical analysis of suspect data” (p. 294). This is, of course, an empirical conclusion, and the authors present no evidence for its justification.
DAVID L. PASSMORE The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA
BRIEF The Visual Display of Quantitative CT, USA, 1983. 197 pp. $34.00.
REVIEWS
Information.
E.R. Tufte.
Graphics
Press,
Cheshire,
It is rare for any of us involved in the anlaysis or prevention of accidents to avoid quantitative information-whether we are civil servants, accident investigators, emergency room physicians, or academic researchers. Frequently we have to present numerical data, and even more frequently interpret that published by others. This book is important as an inspiration for those of us who struggle either to present such data clearly or to understand this form of information. The author argues for excellence in the graphical presentation of statistics, and what is more important, he practises what he preaches. The book is profusely illustrated with many wonderful examples-from fields as varied as the geometry of lane markings in different states to the survival of Napoleon’s armies in the Russian campaign of 181213. There is also a clear exposition of the theory that underlies good statistical graphics, for those of us who don’t know what we are doing but know what we like. The prose is usually as clear as the illustrations, despite a few neologisms: the terms “chartjunk” and “data-ink ratio” are useful, but the new use of the word “duck” is not. This book admirably serves the dual purpose of enlightening and entertaining the reader.
Seat Belt Law Experience in Four Foreign Countries B.J. Campbell and EA. Campbell. AAA Foundation VA, USA, 1986. 70 pp.
Compared for Traffic
to the United States. Safety, Falls Church,
This monograph attempts to place the recent experience of the United States, where motor vehicle occupants in approximately half the states were subject to seat belt legislation by the end of 1986, in an international context. Initially, the authors hoped to identify those factors which were active in four countries with successful seat belt laws (i.e., usage rates were over 85% for at least part of the time, and consistently much higher in many cases) which might be used to enhance programs in the United States. Primarily the comparisons are with Australia, Sweden, West Germany, and the United Kingdom, although brief reference is made to other countries as well. After a brief description of the political and research issues each country has had to face in evaluating seat belt effectiveness, the authors describe five elements of the implementation program in each country: history and demographic factors, wearing rates
Recent Publications
155
before and after the law, enforcement, publicity, and casualty reduction. The monograph concludes with a discussion of those differences between the United States and the comparison countries which might be important in explaining the differences in public response to the law despite its apparent effectiveness. The answers are not as clear-cut as the authors may have hoped, but their speculations may stimulate others to acquire the evidence to confirm or deny their suggestions.
CONFERENCE
PROCEEDINGS
Proceedings of an International Conference on Commuting. A study of its impact on living and working conditions. (Rome, May 29-30, 1986.) Istituto Italian0 di Medicina Sociale, Rome, Italy and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Dublin, Ireland, 1987. (Articles in French, Italian, or English.) State of the Art. The interest of the I.L.O.
in the problem of transport from home to work (French) (M.R. de Grazia, 21-25); Commuting in the European Community: Setting the scene (English) (L. Pickup, 27-54); Commuting and social and economic structures in Italy (Italian) (B. Bracalente and M. Di Palma, 55-68); Geography of commuting in Italy (Italian) (M. Pazienti, 69-85). Impact of commuting
on the hearth and Safety of Workers. Background and design of an international study on the impact of commuting on health and safety of workers (English) (C.L. Ekkers and V.H. Hildebrandt, 99-103); Results and discussion of a study on the impact of commuting on health and safety in the Netherlands (English) (V.H. Hildebrandt, 105-116); Results of an Italian study on the impact of commuting on health and safety of workers (Italian) (G. Costa, 117-132). Problems of Transport, Regional Planning,
Urban and Industrial Development.
muters’ choices of modes of transport: The situation in Italy 137-150); Productivity and commuting (Italian) I. Adorisio, financing: trends and innovations (English) (C.P. Averous, banization and transport technologies (Italian) (C. Podesta,
Com(Italian) (M. Del Viscovo, 151-161); Urban transport 163-169); Commuting, ur172-193).
Trend in Coordinated Policy of Transport, Regional Development, Occupation and Health.
Transport policy in the European Community (French) (L. Buonaccorsi, 199-213); The views of the work force (Italian) (M. Fenzi, 215-223); Urban transport infrastructures (Italian) (M.L. Piva, 225-232); Safety and comfort factors in technological developments in public and private transport (Italian) (E. Vercellotti, 233-243). Communications. The influence of private car restrictions on commuting. The case of Athens (English) (G. Argyrakos, 247-262); The journey to work-more dangerous than machinery? (French) (J.R. Carre, 263-272); Issues in the formulation of policy for the alleviation of the adverse effects of commuting (English) (J.A. Crowley, 273-289); An analysis of commuting patterns in metropolitan areas of Italy (Italian) (G. Del Sole, 291-301); Town and country planning and commuting (Italian) (P.M. Gaffarini, 303308); Women’s mobility and residential and industrial centres in the Rome region (Italian) (G. Gesano, A. Mancini and A.M. Scalia, 309-337); Sickness absenteeism of commuters in Siena (Italian) (M. Giacchi, A. Condello and R. Santori, 339-346); The effects of the Canary Wharf development on commuting patterns (English) (A. Jones and P, Twelftree, 347-360); Women commuters-sickness, accidents, maternity-related factors, resignations (Italian) (R. Lenzi, P. Galvan et al., 361-366); Commuting and health (Italian) (N. Magnavita and 0. Mattei, 367-374); Transport needs on working days and the impact of commuting on transport networks in urban areas of Hungary (Italian) (J. Monigl, E. Nagy et al., 375-384); The determining role of participation and consultation in the organisation of transport (French) (B. Schaefer, 385-390); Commuting by workers