Crime Prevention for Truckers Study

DTMC75-14-D-00008LThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiated this project to understand the nature and prevalence of harassment and assaults against truckers. Harassment, in this study, is defined as the threat of harm or actual physical harm perpetrated against a trucker, their possessions, vehicle, or cargo. Harassment was evaluated for women and minority male truckers with incidence among non-minority males serving as a control. The project team first performed a literature review on the topic, which indicated that threats of harm and actual physical harm are the most common types of crime committed against women and minority truckers; however, they are experienced differently among the two groups. The literature review was followed by the development of an online survey to collect data. The data collected pertained to three driver groups: 1) women truck drivers, 2) minority male truck drivers, and 3) non-minority male truck drivers (control group). Next, a statistical analysis was performed to determine if the nature and frequency of crimes committed against women and minority male truck drivers differ significantly from the control group of non-minority male truck drivers. The survey data provided important insights into the nature and frequency of harassment against truck drivers, where and when these incidents occur, characteristics of the aggressors, how many of these incidents go unreported and why, and the harassment odds risk of women and minority truck drivers relative to non-minority truck drivers. The following are suggestions provided by surveyed truck drivers for preventing future harassment against truckers and include enhancing safety at existing trucking facilities, providing additional parking facilities, allowing firearm carrying in the trucking industry, improving communication within the trucking industry, providing personal safety training to truck drivers, and developing educational material to increase awareness. Note: regulatory and policy changes related to carrying firearms are beyond the purview of FMCSA\u2019s authority

Vehicle Classification and Equipment Type Crash Data and Market Survey

DTNH22-15-A-00050NHTSA evaluates market trends and crash data to understand how FMVSS affect motor vehicle safety. This report describes a crash data and market survey of five vehicle and equipment categories that all have unique relevance in the FMVSS: (1) large passenger vehicles, trucks, and SUVs excluded from FMVSS No. 208 air bag requirements (Class 2B); (2) limousines over 10,000 lbs. GVWR; (3) \u201centertainer\u201d buses and motor homes over 26,000 lbs. GVWR; (4) medium buses that carry 11 or more occupants; and (5) motorcycle helmets. A market survey was conducted for all five vehicle and equipment categories, while the crash data analysis was conducted only for Class 2B large passenger vehicles of GVWR 8,500 lbs. to 10,000 lbs

Assessment of Insourcing/Outsourcing Practices for Traffic Monitoring Data Collection

DTFH61-13-D-00012, Task Order No. 0006The State Departments of Transportation (DOTs), Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and local transportation agencies have been conducting traffic monitoring activities in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration\u2019s (FHWA) Traffic Monitoring Guide for over 30 years. Part of their role includes collecting quality data for a vast array of uses for their own internal programs, Federal uses and the general public. State DOT highway travel monitoring program personnel is continually challenged to maintain or expand their programs as well as implement advanced traffic monitoring technologies such as highway traffic monitoring data collection hardware and traffic statistics data management software. Over the years, numerous changes have occurred in the technologies available, improvement in quality of the traffic counting methods, the need for more efficient traffic counting programs and expanded scope of traffic data collection. Changes in how these traffic counting functions are performed have led some agencies to considering or moving toward contracting out various parts of their counting program (outsourcing) while others have continued to perform their activities using their own internal staff insourcing). This report presents the findings of the assessment of state DOTs, MPOs, and local transportation agencies\u2019 resourcing practices for all aspects associated with traffic data collection activities under three categories: 1) equipment installation, 2) permanent and portable counts, and 3) other/non-traditional contracting practices. The report shares the insight that was gained into the rationale behind agencies\u2019 decision-making processes by collecting data from approximately 80 agencies and conducting interviews with approximately 30 agencies throughout the U.S. The report summarizes the findings regarding agency practices for resourcing in several categories such as staffing, equipment, quality assurance/quality control, funding, and technology, along with some of the rationale behind the agencies\u2019 resourcing decisions, challenges the agencies have been facing, and methods they employed to overcome them. The report is intended to serve as a resource document to initiate dialogue between the state DOTs, MPOs, and local agencies to learn from each other\u2019s experiences. The report also provides a conceptual framework about the key considerations for developing decision-support mechanisms for the agencies to evaluate their current resourcing profiles

The metabolic syndrome is not associated with homocysteinemia: The Persian Gulf Healthy Heart Study

Background: It is uncertain whether homocysteine and the metabolic syndrome or its components are related in the general population, as studies investigating the association between homocysteine levels and insulin resistance have shown conflicting results. Methods: In an ancillary study to the Persian Gulf Healthy Heart Study, a cohort study of Iranian men and women aged ≥25 yr, a random sample of 1754 subjects were evaluated for the association of plasma homocysteine levels and the metabolic syndrome using National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-Adult Treatment Panel (ATP)-III criteria. Total homocysteine levels and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Subjects with lower HDL-cholesterol and higher blood pressure showed significantly higher homocysteine levels (p=0.001 and p<0.0001; respectively). There was no significant difference in serum levels of homocysteine between subjects with and without the metabolic syndrome. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the metabolic syndrome did not show a significant association with serum homocysteine levels after adjusting for sex, age, smoking, fruit and vegetable intake pattern, body mass index, and physical inactivity. Concurrent elevated CRP levels and the metabolic syndrome also did not show a significant association with serum homocysteine levels after adjusting for sex, age, and lifestyle cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions: There was no association between the metabolic syndrome using NCEP-ATPIII criteria and homocysteinemia in this study. These data refute the hypothesis that homocysteine levels are influenced by the metabolic syndrome, at least in general healthy population

Transit, Call Centers, and 511: A Guide for Decision Makers

Transit, Call Centers, and 511: A Guide for Decision Makers explores the operational characteristics of 511 telephone traveler information systems and examines how 511 systems interact with transit system call centers. This report inventories existing 511 systems throughout the country, documents the extent of transit participation and transit agency experiences with 511, and presents guidance to assist transit agencies and 511 system administrators in determining a transit-511 telephone strategy

Final Evaluation Plan: Model Deployment of a Regional, Multi-modal 511 Traveler Information System Task Order BA7746

This is the final evaluation plan for the model deployment of a regional, multi-modal 511 traveler information system

I-40 TTIS (Traveler and Tourist Information System) Tourist Intercept Survey

The Branson Travel and Recreational Information Program (TRIP) in Branson, Missouri, and the I-40 Traveler and Tourist Information System (TTIS) in the I-40 corridor of northern Arizona are two Field Operational Tests (FOTs) of Traveler Information Services in Tourism Areas funded through the National Advanced Rural Transportation Systems Program. The evaluation of Branson TRIP and the I-40 TTIS is being conducted by Battelle under the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program Assessment Support contract with the Department of Transportation's ITS Joint Program Office. As part of the overall evaluation, several tests have been planned. This document serves as a detailed test plan for one such test: tourist surveys