The deterioration of deterrence effects of driving legislation: Have we been giving wrong signals to policymakers?

This paper suggests that the apparently observed initial success of legislation to control drunken driving accidents by law enforcement and sanctions, followed by a return of accident levels to initial trends may be an artifact of failure to properly model the accident process. The point is illustrated by simulating a model of accidents in which drunken driving is controllable with a change in laws. It shows that this control effect can easily be swamped by other plausible accident inducing forces. Finally, it is argued that the cost of failing to maintain efforts to control drunken driving may be greater than the social costs of maintaining high enforcement levels and stiff penalties.     

车外人员撞击伤特点分析

目的以真实案例为基础,研究汽车碰撞事故中,不同机动车车型、不同交通方式等因素造成车外人员撞击伤的特征。方法选取上海地区发生的汽车与车外人员碰撞事故案例200例,通过对事故中的人、车等检验对比,分析车外人员撞击伤的特点。结果车外人员撞击伤主要出现在下肢,其次为胸部和头部;行人（含推车人）撞击伤出现频次与骑车人（含自行车或摩托车后座乘员）无明显差异;小轿车和小客车事故中撞击伤多见于下肢,大客车多见于胸部;车外人员被撞击后发生抛甩频率随车速的加大而增高,且通过车体痕迹检验,人体与车辆挡风玻璃发生（二次）撞击伤匹配程度最高。结论分析汽车与车外人员碰撞事故人体撞击伤特点,对于交通伤法医学鉴定及深化交通伤机制研究具有参考价值。     

Application of 3D documentation and geometric reconstruction methods in traffic accident analysis: with high resolution surface scanning, radiological MSCT/MRI scanning and real data based animation

The examination of traffic accidents is daily routine in forensic medicine. An important question in the analysis of the victims of traffic accidents, for example in collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists, is the situation of the impact. Apart from forensic medical examinations (external examination and autopsy), three-dimensional technologies and methods are gaining importance in forensic investigations. Besides the post-mortem multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the documentation and analysis of internal findings, highly precise 3D surface scanning is employed for the documentation of the external body findings and of injury-inflicting instruments. The correlation of injuries of the body to the injury-inflicting object and the accident mechanism are of great importance. The applied methods include documentation of the external and internal body and the involved vehicles and inflicting tools as well as the analysis of the acquired data. The body surface and the accident vehicles with their damages were digitized by 3D surface scanning. For the internal findings of the body, post-mortem MSCT and MRI were used. The analysis included the processing of the obtained data to 3D models, determination of the driving direction of the vehicle, correlation of injuries to the vehicle damages, geometric determination of the impact situation and evaluation of further findings of the accident. In the following article, the benefits of the 3D documentation and computer-assisted, drawn-to-scale 3D comparisons of the relevant injuries with the damages to the vehicle in the analysis of the course of accidents, especially with regard to the impact situation, are shown on two examined cases.     

Massive lesions owing to motorcyclist impact against guardrail posts: analysis of two cases and safety considerations

Two motorcycle riders lost control of their vehicle, fell, and hit a guardrail, which acted as a blade and led to a rapid, fatal outcome. In one case, the high velocity of the body at the time of the impact resulted in complete detachment of the trunk. Reconstruction of the accident dynamics enabled the guardrail post to be identified as the means of injury in both cases. The two accidents occurred over a short period of time, highlighting a dangerous phenomenon that in less severe cases is presumably associated with different degrees of survivor disability. The accidents deserve mention, because a different design of the impact surface of the guardrail post might have prevented the lethal outcome. There is an urgent need for legislators to pass regulations that modify crash barrier homologation criteria, which have been devised primarily for the safety of car passengers but fail to protect motorcyclists.     

Reforming Public Safety: An Evaluation of the 1983 British Seat Belt Law

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of the 1983 British seat belt law in England and Wales. The methodology employed is interrupted time series analysis.
In terms of a lasting impact, the seat belt legislation for automobiles compares favorably with other interventions designed to decrease deaths and injuries on the road, such as legislation to control drinking and driving. Typically, such legislation is effective only in the short term. In contrast, the seat belt law thus far shows a stronger and more lasting shift in the reduction of serious and fatal car casualties. The post intervention decline in this variable is stronger than a control series that consists of the number of fatal and serious non-car casualties. A more marginal reduction is found for non-serious car casualties even though this drop in injuries is slightly stronger than a control category of nonserious non-car casualties. The paper suggests also that the seat belt legislation may have had a short term effect on the number of fatal and serious accidents on weekend nights, the period of time during which alcohol-related crashes are most likely to occur.
The policy implications of this study suggest that with comparable compliance, such an intervention may similarly be effective in the United States and other Western countries which up to now have used primarily deterrence-based approaches to reduce highway casualties.     

90例行人撞击伤案例分析

目的 探讨行人交通事故和致伤车辆类型的关系,总结其规律.方法 回顾90例行人交通事故案例,分析致伤车辆、损伤部位、损伤特点、严重程度之间的关系. 结果 不同类型致伤车辆所致的撞击伤好发部位取决于受撞击时人体的姿势和车头突出部位的高度,其损伤特点与作用力大小、方向和接触面光滑程度相关. 结论 通过对行人撞击伤的损伤部位、损伤特点、严重程度的分析,可以推断致伤车辆类型.     

我国食品安全监管问题探析

目前,我国食品安全事故频发,给民众的健康和政府的形象都带来了严重的影响。尽管政府相当重视并加大了监管力度,但收效有限。本文针对我国食品安全监管存在的主要问题以及成因进行分析,从政府监管手段方面提出了相应的解决办法。     

车外人员与汽车碰撞事故现场痕迹特点分析

道路交通事故的发生是人、车、道路等因素综合作用的结果，碰撞过程中。三者之间在极短的时间内发生了强烈的相互作用，如制动、碰撞、损伤产生等。事故发生后。根据国家GA41—2005《道路交通事故痕迹物证勘验》标准规定。交通事故现场痕迹包括路面痕迹、车体痕迹、人体痕迹、其它痕迹等勘验是确定交通事故责任和成因的主要依据。本文研究中通过对200起车外无防御能力的道路使用者（行人、自行车、三轮车、摩托车）与汽车碰撞事故现场痕迹。如人一车一道路位置。车辆的制动印痕、行驶速度、碰撞痕迹，人体致伤特点等各种客观的信息参数．寻找易于提取、利于计算分析、有助于事故重建的现场痕迹参数特点。以此建立起基于现场痕迹信息综合处理的事故再现参数体系。为后续重建交通事故碰撞过程研究提供参考依据。     

Interpretation of blood alcohol concentration in maritime accidents—A case report

The human element is increasingly acknowledged as an important factor contributing to accidents at sea. Alcohol and drug abuse is becoming an increasing problem among seafarers in the last few years. Recently we registered a few similar maritime accidents on the Adriatic coast. During the analysis of these incidents, it became apparent that the consumption of alcohol on duty was the main cause of the ship being stranded. We report a maritime accident recently happened in port of Rijeka, where the merchant ship stranded on the main breakwater. During the investigation, forensic alcohol analysis established that master's consumption of alcohol on duty was the main cause of the incident. The BAC–UAC relation we found was not physiologically possible, so further diagnostic workup demonstrated that urine was diluted. Various issues are being discussed, such as urine dilution, retrograde calculation, elimination rate, two subsequent blood samples, drinking after the accident, as well as prevention measures. Our observations indicate a need for stricter and more precise legislation as well as more frequent police control that will hopefully result in prevention of serious maritime accidents caused by alcohol consumption. In our opinion, better understanding of the above mentioned apparent problems in navigation rules and maritime law regulations can prevent similar accidents from happening in the future. Accidents like the one described cause double damage for society: due to acute health problems of the crew and navigation safety, as well as due to the long-term harmful consequences such as suspension of career on ship board and early retirement of employees.     

STRESS IN PRISON STAFF: AN OCCUPATIONAL STUDY*

A survey was conducted into the sources of occupational stress and their effects on levels of health for a group of New Zealand prison staff: Staff were categorized into three groups: Prison Officers. Ranking Prison Officers, and Instructors In addition, a control group of noncommissioned Army personnel was used as a comparison sample. Subjects were administered a job-specific “sources of stress” questionnaire, a life events measure, a personality measure (the Neuroticism Scale Questionnaire), and three health measures-the General Health Questionnaire, a medical visit checklist, and a psychosomatic symptom checklist. Factor analysis of the stress questionnaire revealed six job-specific sources of stress factors These were identified as staff relationships, task pressures, relationships with inmates, promotion, the work environment, and the impact on family life of living in a prison village. Results showed that the levels of stress experienced by staff varied across the three groups. In addition, on the three health measures all staff groups were found to score significantly higher than the control group. Further analysis showed that the variables isolated could be related to a general model of stress.     

THE MISSING LINK IN GENERAL DETERRENCE RESEARCH*

Research on the deterrent effects of punishment falls into two categories: macro‐level studies of the impact of aggregate punishment levels on crime rates, and individual‐level studies of the impact of perceived punishment levels on self‐reported criminal behavior. For policy purposes, however, the missing link—ignored in previous research—is that between aggregate punishment levels and individual perceptions of punishment. This paper addresses whether higher actual punishment levels increase the perceived certainty, severity, or swiftness of punishment. Telephone interviews with 1,500 residents of fifty‐four large urban counties were used to measure perceptions of punishment levels, which were then linked to actual punishment levels as measured in official statistics. Hierarchical linear model estimates of multivariate models generally found no detectable impact of actual punishment levels on perceptions of punishment. The findings raise serious questions about deterrence‐based rationales for more punitive crime control policies.     

正交试验设计辅助Pc-Crash实现事故再现分析

目的利用Pc-Crash实现事故再现分析时,探索由参数敏感性分析方法确定那些对仿真结果有显著影响的参数,通过对这些参数进行合理处理尝试提高仿真结果的精度。方法引入基于正交试验设计的参数敏感性分析方法。结果将此方法应用到Pc-Crash优化计算器内参数敏感性分析的实践中,获得了对碰撞后车辆运行轨迹有影响显著的参数。通过对一实际碰撞试验的再现研究,验证了敏感性分析所得结论在指导优化参数选取方面的有效性。结论研究表明借助正交试验设计辅助Pc-Crash实现事故再现分析具有实用价值。     

Drinking and driving in Singapore, 1987 to 1989.

Between 1987 and 1989 there were approximately 5,000 cases of fatal and injury-sustained road traffic accidents, of which 2.3-3.0% were alcohol related (blood alcohol levels greater than the legal limit of 80 mg% ethanol). The offenders of alcohol-related accidents are mostly Chinese (> 79%), male (> 98%), and more often 30-40 years old. The majority of the alcohol-related accidents (> 74%) took place between 8 P.M. and 4 A.M. in fine weather and light traffic. Rear-end, head-on, and side-on collisions comprised > 60% of all the alcohol-related accidents, and losing control of vehicles approximately 30%. Drunken driving cases for the same period that were not accidents showed a number of characteristics similar to those for accidents. In Singapore, motorcycle riders and pedestrians are more prone to road fatality than other road-user groups. International comparisons of road fatalities per 100,000 population gave Singapore one of the lowest accident rates (8.1-8.4) as compared with countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan.     

Corporate environmental violence and racism

Drawing upon a social justice framework, this analysis expands and integrates issues relating to corporate violence and environmental justice to investigate the spatial distribution of chemical accidents across census tracts in Hillsborough County, Florida. To test the hypothesis that corporate environmental violence (CEV) is more likely to impact blacks and Hispanics, data from the 1990 census was combined with chemical accident data obtained from the U.S. EPA under the Accidental Release Information Program (ARIP). The results of our bivariate analysis suggest that blacks and Hispanics reside closer to chemical facilities reporting accidents than their white counterparts. A multivariate analysis of the problem reveals that racial sub-populations are much more likely to be proximate to these accidents even when facility location and urbanization are controlled. We discuss the implications of our findings and point out that any solutions to the unequal distribution of CEV must lie outside the traditional criminal justice response. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Regulating Risk: Implications of the Challenger Accident*

This analysis describes how the NASA organization contributed to the loss of the Challenger on January 28, 1986. The competitive environment, NASA organization characteristics (its structure, processes, and transactions), and the regulatory environment all influenced the decision to proceed with the launch. To be effective, strategies to control, change, or eliminate undesireable behavior should address the cause of that behavior. Understanding how organizations contribute to technical system accidents leads to the conclusion that efforts to reduce accidents in risky technological systems must include the organizations that produce them. Suggestions for policy aimed at curtailing organizational-technical system accidents are discussed.     

轿车与自行车碰撞事故仿真研究及骑车者致伤特点分析

目的研究计算机仿真技术重建自行车骑行状态下交通事故发生过程,并探讨此技术在分析真实事故中骑车者人体致伤方式、特点及损伤程度上的可行性。方法通过对事故人、车痕迹鉴定和模型建立,构建相关碰撞环境并利用高性能计算机及PC-Crash软件对事故进行再现研究。结果计算机仿真技术建立的人、车模型在模拟碰撞过程中,骑车者发生的运动过程、损伤分布及损伤动力学响应结果与法医学尸表检验人体损伤部位、程度基本吻合。结论利用计算机仿真技术重建自行车骑行状态下的事故碰撞过程、分析骑车者致伤方式及提供损伤部位动力学响应参数等,对于交通伤法医学鉴定及深化交通伤机制研究具有参考价值。     

The impact of gun control and gun ownership levels on violence rates

What effects do gun control restrictions and gun prevalence have on rates of violence and crime? Data were gathered for all 170 U.S. cities with a 1980 population of at least 100,000. The cities were coded for the presence of 19 major categories of firearms restriction, including both state- and city-level restrictions. Multiple indirect indicators of gun prevalence levels were measured and models of city violence rates were estimated using two-stage least-squares methods. The models covered all major categories of intentional violence and crime which frequently involve guns: homicide, suicide, fatal gun accidents, robbery, and aggravated assaults, as well as rape. Findings indicate that (1) gun prevalence levels generally have no net positive effect on total violence rates, (2) homicide, gun assault, and rape rates increase gun prevalence, (3) gun control restrictions have no net effect on gun prevalence levels, and (4) most gun control restrictions generally have no net effect on violence rates. There were, however, some possible exceptions to this last conclusion—of 108 assessments of effects of different gun laws on different types of violence, 7 indicated good support, and another 11 partial support, for the hypothesis of gun control efficacy.     

Misinterpretation of fetal high voltage and lightning accidents

From medicolegal practice it is known that in deaths caused by low voltage, electric marks may be absent or inconspicuous so that they may remain undetected during the scene examination. That this may happen even in fatal high-voltage accidents is demonstrated by 4 examples from our own autopsy material. The cases reported shared the following features: The decedents were found outdoors under a high-voltage line with a several metres long conductive object being in the immediate vicinity of the body; no extensive burns as those seen after the impact of an electric arc; inconspicuous electric marks on the hands; clearly visible electrothermal skin lesions limited to body regions covered by clothing (especially soles of the feet). Another case report demonstrates that even fatal lightning accidents are not always recognized correctly.     

血清IgE在药物过敏性休克死亡鉴定中的价值

目的 探讨血清IgE在药物过敏性休克死亡鉴定中的应用价值。方法 采用MEIA法，对17例明确鉴定为药物过敏性休克死亡者(休克组)和16例交通事故死亡者(对照组)的心血进行IgE检测，并对2组IgE检测结果进行统计学分析。结果 休克组IgE水平为(622.49±594.67)U／ml，对照组为(45.04±43.62)U／ml；经t检验，2组显著差异(P＜0.01)。结论 血清IgE水平升高，可作为鉴定药物过敏性休克死亡的依据之一。     

Occupational workplace and traffic fatalities in Alsace, France (2000–2005): Results of toxicological investigations

France ranks as leader country in Europe for the consumption of cannabis as well as of psychoactive medications. Whereas the relationship between psychotropics and road accidents is now well-established, few data are still available on the influence of drugs on occupational accidents. The purpose of the present study was to measure the prevalence of psychoactive drug intake (alcohol excepted) among victims of occupational fatalities (including workplace accidents + traffic accidents, i.e. on the way to and from work) occurred in the region Alsace over the period 2000–2005. Data were collected by compiling files on occupational accidents from two different public agencies (CRAM, Regional Sickness Fund Alsace-Moselle; DRTEFP, Regional Department of Work, Employment and Professional Training) together with those from the Medico-Legal Institute of Strasbourg over the period tested. Data analysis showed that 3% of the victims of workplace fatalities were under the influence of drugs (alcohol excluded) at the time of accident, as well as 5% of the victims of occupational traffic accidents. Our results also highlight a low rate of toxicological analyses, since these investigations were requested by the authorities in 41% of traffic victims and only 15% of workplace victims. In France, the relevance of psychoactive drug intake in occupational deaths is much better targeted in the case of traffic fatalities (due to the existence of specific regulations, e.g. compulsory urinalysis for drugs of abuse in drivers involved in a road accident) than in those occurred at workplace (no specific regulations).