دانلود رایگان ترجمه مقاله مقایسه تصادفات در ایام تعطیلات عمومی و تعطیلات آخر هفته (نشریه الزویر 2013)

مقایسه تصادف ها در طول ایام تعطیلات عمومی و تعطیلات عادی

Comparison of crashes during public holidays and regular weekends

Abstract

Traffic collisions and fatalities during the holiday festive periods are apparently on the rise in Alberta, Canada, despite the enhanced enforcement and publicity campaigns conducted during these periods. Using data from 2004 to 2008, this research identifies the factors that delineate between crashes that occur during public holidays and those occurring during normal weekends. We find that fatal and injury crashes are over-represented during holidays. Amongst the three risky behaviors targeted in the holiday blitzes (driver intoxication, unsafe speeding and restraint use), non-use of restraint is more prevalent whereas driver intoxication and unsafe speeding are less prevalent during holidays. The mixed results obtained suggest that it may be time to consider a more balanced approach to the enhanced enforcement and publicity campaigns.

1 Introduction

1-1 Background

Motor vehicle collisions are a major concern in many developing and developed countries. For instance, recent Canadian data showed that a total of 2767 fatalities and 194,177 injuries occurred on the roads as a result of motor vehicle collisions in 2007 (Transport Canada, 2007). In the Canadian Province of Alberta alone, nearly 400 people are killed and more than 27,000 people are injured in over 112,000 motor vehicle collisions each year (Alberta Transportation, 2006). The annual social cost of motor vehicle collisions to Albertans is estimated at $4.68 billion or 2.4% of Alberta’s gross domestic product. Therefore, much more work needs to be done to make our roads safer for all users at all times.

With regard to time, traffic collisions and the ensuing fatalities during the statutory holiday festive periods are apparently on the rise in both developing and developed countries (Anowar et al., 2009, 2012). For example, a total of 6937 collisions occurred in 1999 during the holidays and long weekends which killed 39 people in Alberta but the total number of crashes escalated to 11,337 in 2008, with 43 people killed (Alberta Transportation, 1999, 2008). Although collisions during statutory holidays represent only a small percentage (less than 10%) of the total motor vehicle collisions occurring in Alberta, the number of fatal collisions occurring during statutory holidays is found to be higher than those during non-holidays. Overall, the average number of fatal collisions for these holidays (1.11 per day) is approximately 18% higher than the non-holiday rate (0.94 per day). The average number of people killed per day on Albertan roadways during these holidays is also higher than the rest of the year (Anowar et al., 2012).

Consequently, there are more aggressive police enforcement activities and publicity campaigns targeted at drink-driving, speeding and other risky driving behaviors during these festive holidays in Alberta and worldwide (Alberta Transportation, 2006; Transport Canada, 2001; Pilkington, 2000; Watson et al., 2002; Alsop and Langley, 2000). Moreover, traffic fatalities and enforcement activities during these long weekends often attract disproportionately more media and public attention. A sample of news headlines in Alberta shows that this issue is a concern for rural and urban communities, large municipalities and small towns, and printed and electronic media:

“Christmas Eve crash near Mundare kills three, orphans baby” (Edmonton Journal, 27/12/2010).

“Long weekend means police patrol roads” (Channel 880 News, 21/4/2011).

“Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will hunt speeders on Easter long weekend” (Calgary Herald, 21/4/2011).

“The Labour Day long weekend proved once again to be deadly on Alberta’s roadways” (Crowsnest Pass Promoter, 4/9/2008).

Holidays are meant to be times of enjoyment and festivity. Unfortunately, these times also have the image as a time for partying, drunkenness, speeding and other reckless driving behaviors. Holidays are also associated with a large increase in recreational private travel resulting in longer trip distances, and more travel in rural and unfamiliar environment. Supposedly, owing to these factors, in many countries of the world, holiday periods are commonly viewed as times of heightened danger on the roads resulting in fatal and injurious traffic collisions. Hence, additional resources are frequently employed during public holidays to boost enforcement and publicity campaigns. However, these factors are also overrepresented during regular weekends and relatively little research has beendone onidentifying the road safety issues related to specifically public holidays.