A Guide for Traffic Safety Practitioners: Best Practices for Increasing Seat Belt Use in Rural Communities [Traffic Tech]

This edition of Traffic Tech brief describes the four major components of NHTSA\u2019s forthcoming report, A Guide for Traffic Safety Practitioners: Best Practices for Increasing Seat Belt Use in Rural Communities. This resource will give rural traffic safety practitioners information to implement best practices, including examples of evidence-based and promising programs, to increase seat belt use in rural areas

Development of Discrete Size Measurement Methodologies for Motorcycle Helmets

FMVSS No. 218 defines the discrete size of a motorcycle helmet and requires it on the label; however, it does not specify how to measure the size. In addition, there is no standard procedure for determining the helmet positioning index (HPI) used to align the helmet on the headform for measurements and testing. This research developed procedures to determine HPI and to measure discrete size of motorcycle helmets. Four methods for measuring discrete size and one method for determining the HPI were developed and evaluated

Standardized reporting using CODES (Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System)

DTNH-22-97-H-07282While CODES projects have expanded to 25 states, there is no standardized reporting of the outcome measures that are available with linked data. This paper describes our efforts to build a standard format for reporting these outcomes. This format is conceptualized by laying the injury \u201cpyramid\u201d on its side. Outcome measures are reported as columns across a page with increasing levels of severity from left to right. We discuss several aspects of format development including levels of reporting, specific outcome measures, rates, and selection of appropriate denominators. These simplified reports can be used to plan further studies or as a source of information for fact sheets for further dissemination. Examples of implementation of these reports are provided from the Maine CODES project

Patients with Alcohol Problems in the Emergency Department, Part 1: Improving Detection *

Medical and social problems related to alcohol use are frequently seen in the ED. Often, the tempo of emergency medicine practice seems to preclude assessment beyond that required by the acute complaint. However, detection of ED patients with alcohol problems can occur using brief screening tools. This article was developed by members of the SAEM Substance Abuse Task Force, and describes screening tools that have been used successfully to identify atrisk and dependent drinkers. Their brevity, reproducibility, and accuracy vary somewhat, but screening can be realistically performed in the busy ED setting. The early detection of patients with alcohol problems would provide the opportunity for early intervention, and may reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality in this patient population.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72559/1/j.1553-2712.1998.tb02696.x.pd

Evaluation of Community-Oriented Enforcement Demonstration Projects [Traffic Tech]

This edition of Traffic Tech briefly summarizes a project evaluating effectiveness of two law enforcement agencies\u2019 use of a data-driven approaches to traffic enforcement supported by community-oriented policing to improve traffic safety and increase community support for traffic law enforcement. They focused on improving seat belt use and reducing alcohol-impaired driving. Community-oriented enforcement in these demonstrations was not effective at building support or increasing the perceived risk of enforcement