1.5

- What are the methods that can be used to make safety investment decisions? (Expert opinion, conventional wisdom, collective experience, science based) 2

- Why use a science based method? Crashes are random, guessing can be wrong, personal bias may exist, and competing methods can lead to counterproductive solutions (Schlimbies). 3

- Can you give some examples of events that have triggered changes, even though the event itself had relatively smaller consequences? 5

- Are people good at estimating (long term) risks? Why not? Prehistoric brain 6

- What are the 7 steps of the scientific method? Review the Literature. Postulate Relationships or Theories. Generate Testable Research Hypotheses. Design a Study. Collect Data. Apply Appropriate Statistical Methods and/or Models. Correctly Interpret Results. 8

- Given that true experiments are hard to conduct in highway safety, what is generally done? What are some of the drawbacks of this method? 9

- Is there widespread support for the science based method in the safety community? Why or why not? (awareness, mission, champion, resources) 13

1.6

- What are the 6 steps in a typical engineering study? Step 1: Examine the Crash Data Step 2: Conduct a Field Study Step 3: Identify Countermeasures Step 4: Prioritize Countermeasures Step 5: Implement the Countermeasures Step 6: Evaluate the countermeasure impact 3

- What are the 5 characteristics of a safety audit? A formal examination with a structured process; Conducted independently by professionals who are not currently involved with the project; Completed by a team of qualified professionals representing appropriate disciplines; Focuses solely on safety issues; and Examines the transportation site with respect to all potential road users. 4

- What is the “safe systems approach? Hint: Why did that bloody idiot hit that utility pole? 6

- What is the Haddon matrix? Why is it useful (or any matrix/typology?) 6

2.1

- What are three of the major continuing influences on policies affecting road safety practices and institutional structures? We’ll come back to this

- How many people were killed on US highways in 1964? What was the population of the US? How many miles were driven? Think broadly. 4

- What was highway safety’s “Watergate”? 6

- What’s all the hubbub about a national driver’s license in 2010 and how does it relate to highway safety legislation in the 60s? 7

- What is the relationship between the federal government and the states? 8

- Which of our three areas of concern – the roadway, the road user, and the vehicle -- do you think causes the most crashes? 13

- Should we focus all our $ on behavior? Why not? 14

- What is SHRP2? 16

- What is the AAAFTS? 18

- How does NHTSA’s research focus differ from FHWA? 19

2.2

- Road safety professionals need to know how to find information regarding regulations, guidelines, funding sources, etc. to effectively develop, implement, and manage programs and projects 1

- RITA and BTS also have key roles 2

- SHSR also does safety data improvement and enforcement incentives 5

- How can you as a traffic safety professional, take advantage of the power of interest groups? 9

- Check out ABATE 13

- State Farm produces a top intersection list (most crashes) and publicizes it… is this helpful? 15

- How much money should we allocate to paving vs. highway safety? How about dog food? Immunizations? 16

- Nebraska also has a crash facility 23

- Can you think of other collaborative associations that resulted in success stories?

- Answer: Primary safety belt laws, motorcycle helmet laws, stronger impaired driving laws, etc

- How can education/research organizations affect road safety? Are they always unbiased?

2.3

- Where do some former ISU students work in the highway safety area? McDonald, Crum, Roche, Mescher, Simodynes, Pawlovich, Gent, Crouch, Estochen, Hans, Gieseman, Smadi, Giese, Monsere … 2

- See notes on ISU and AAAFTS

- A common misconception is compliance with current standards equals safe design 11

- Define pragmatic vs. Science based safety 11