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BTEC APPLIED SCIENCE: UNIT 11 - Learning Aim A
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Matthew HowardUNIT 11- Aim – Investigate factors that cause road traffic collisions and injury
Causes of collision and Injury
I am carrying out a placement in the traffic accident department at the highway agency based
at South Mims. I have been asked by my supervisor to produce a report into the different
factors that can cause road traffic collisions and injury. This report will then be used as a
resource to help drivers involved in collisions understand how to be safe on the road.
The purpose of this report is to explore the 3 factors that can influence a road traffic collision
and what injuries are potentially caused by them. These 3 factors include human, environment
and vehicle. The human factor goes into depth of the feelings and characteristics of a person
that is driving. The environment focusses on the surrounding area around the vehicle and how
it could cause a road traffic collision. The vehicle factor goes into detail of the overall condition
of the vehicle and what could go wrong with the vehicle to cause a road traffic collision.
Human:
Behaviour
Inexperience
Impairment
Distraction
Attitudes toward alcohol
Education
Passengers
Behaviour:
The behaviour of the driver is one of the most influential aspects that could influence a road
traffic collision. Driver behaviour normally can be classified into intended and non-intended
behaviours. The intended behaviour of the driver is the act of the driver’s thoughts, which could
be used to impact the driver’s mental states. Normal driver behaviour includes driver head
rotation, hand motion and gestures, bod movement and eye movement. However, this normal
behaviour can be negatively affected by a range of different factors. For example, the driver’s
feelings are the most influential aspect that could potentially cause a road traffic collision. The
most common feelings include rage, anger, stress and irritation which could potentially result in
a road traffic collision. The driver's attention, distraction and fatigue can also be a very
influential factor that could potentially cause a road traffic incident.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding was a
contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities in 2019.
,Inexperience:
An inexperienced driver can pose a much higher overall accident risk on the road. They often
lack the skills necessary to handle dangerous scenarios and to stay out of trouble if it arises.
Newer drivers may also take chances out on the road that older drivers prefer to avoid. Novice
drivers and drivers with less years of experience in general have a much higher accident risk
than more experienced drivers. A lack of driving experience in terms of the number of
kilometers driven significantly affects the steering competence of the driver. The main way to
deal with inexperienced drivers is to leave plenty of room and not react impulsively to their
hesitation. The level of experience that a driver has plays an important role in the development
of several different behavioral skills like vehicle maneuvering and hazard recognition. A lack of
experience in a driver also results in a higher chance of receiving a fine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drivers aged 16-19 years are
at the highest risk for motor vehicle crashes, with a crash rate per mile driven almost three
times higher than that of drivers aged 20 years and older.
Impairment:
Impairment in a driver can result in a higher chance of a road traffic collision from occurring. A
person's sight, movement, reflexes, and age are all impairments that can affect driving. Reckless
behaviour, slow response times, and medical conditions can also be signs of impairment.
Damaged hearing can also increase the risk of collisions; for instance, failing to hear the horn of
another vehicle can result in a collision because there will be no warning of the car. A person
who has poor vision and may need glasses is more likely to cause an accident because they may
not be able to see something on the road. Vision impairment can lead to a person misreading
signs or estimating distances, which can lead to an accident and injuries. Other variables that
can impair vision include alcohol, drugs, and fatigue, which increases the risk of dangerous
driving. Sleep deprivation is also a common factor that can result in a higher chance of a road
traffic collision from occurring.
Driving while fatigued or drowsy can impair judgment and reaction time, increasing the risk of a
collision. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowsy driving
was responsible for an estimated 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013 in the
US.
Distractions:
Distractions can be defined as anything that takes a driver's attention away from driving, and
they come in various forms, including physical, visual, and cognitive distractions, it is one the
most common factors that can cause a road traffic collision. Distractions can increase the
chance of a road traffic collision significantly. Physical distractions are those that involve a
driver taking their hands off the wheel. This can include reaching for a phone, eating, drinking,
or adjusting the radio. These distractions can be dangerous because they require the driver to
, take their eyes off the road and their mind off driving. This reduces the driver's reaction time
and ability to avoid potential hazards. For example, if a driver is reaching for their phone they
may not see a pedestrian crossing the road, resulting in a collision. Visual distractions are those
that take a driver's eyes off the road. This can include looking at a map or GPS system, reading a
text message. Visual distractions reduce the driver's ability to react to potential hazards. For
example, if a driver is looking at a GPS system and not paying attention to the road, they may
miss a stop sign and cause an accident. Cognitive distractions are those that take a driver's mind
off driving. This can include daydreaming, thinking about personal issues, or talking to a
passenger. When a driver's mind is not focused on driving, they may not notice potential
hazards, react quickly, or make the right decisions. For example, if a driver is thinking about an
argument they had with a family member and not paying attention to the road, they may not
notice a car pulling out in front of them. Multitasking while driving a car is the most dangerous
distraction that could lead to an accident, this is because the driver isn't focused on the road so
they wouldn’t be able to react in time to the situation that is in front of them.
Distractions can be a significant contributor to road traffic collisions. According to the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019
alone. However, many of these collisions could have been prevented if drivers were more
aware of the risks associated with distractions and took steps to minimize them. One way to
prevent distractions is by implementing stricter laws and regulations. Many places have laws
that prohibit the use of phones while driving, and some have banned texting while driving
altogether. Additionally, car manufacturers can design vehicles with built-in safety features
such as hands-free technology or lane departure warning systems. Cars like Tesla's have this
technology built into the software which can help stop road traffic collisions
Attitudes towards alcohol:
Alcohol is one of the biggest factors that could influence a road traffic collision, this is due to
the severe consequences of how alcohol can affect a driver. Drinking alcohol and then driving a
vehicle can severely impair a driver's ability to operate the vehicle safely which can lead to
increased risk of accidents, injuries, and fatalities. There are significant strict limits on drinking
and driving like the possibility of receiving a fine or being imprisoned if a person is caught.
In the past the idea of drink driving was not seen as a big problem. The first law on restricting
the drink driving limit was introduced in 1964, however these laws were not taken seriously
until decades to come. In the past, the societal view of drink driving was often less severe than
it is today. Prior to the 1970s, drunk driving was not seen as a significant problem by many
people, and it was not uncommon for individuals to drive after consuming alcohol. In fact,
driving while intoxicated was even seen as a sign of toughness or masculinity.
Alcohol can significantly impair a driver's judgment and decision-making. When a person
consumes alcohol, it can affect their ability to think and make the right decisions, this can lead
to reckless driving. This type of driving can result in a collision with another vehicle, a
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