Tag: cars and traffic

Driving home from night shifts is risky

Graveyard shift workers are not only subjected to higher risks of health problems – they can pose an immediate threat to themselves and others when heading home for bed.

Urban planners have little sway on lowering use of cars

Environmentally friendly cities with densely populated downtown centres offering a comprehensive array of services are not what changes people’s use of cars; the key lies with the residents themselves.

Women are greener in traffic

Swedish researchers think the planet might be less threatened by air pollution from cars if more men followed the example of women.

Lower speed limits save lives

Swedes lowered the speed limits on some of their worst roads. That same year, they saw fewer traffic fatalities.

Do reckless drivers generally take more risks?

New research project aims to find out if reckless drivers are generally more willing to take risks in their lives. If so, we may have overestimated the importance that seat belts and drink driving have on road safety.

Where do we look when driving around a corner?

Using the latest eye-tracking technology and vehicle telemetry, a Finnish researcher has investigated the visual behaviour of driving a car through curves.

Bike helmets are less effective than we think

Previous research may have overestimated the protective effect of bicycle helmets, new analysis reveals.

Rewarding safe drivers could make roads safer

Cheaper insurance rates for cautious drivers might be one way of reducing traffic accidents.

Kids aren’t dummies − back seats are still unsafe

Swedish research shows that children aged four to twelve are not sufficiently protected in the rear seats of our cars.

Gender equality for crash test dummies, too

Crash test dummies are always male. That means today's cars don't protect women as well as men. Swedish researchers think the solution is a female crash test dummy -- and they have made one.

Traffic pollution threatens young lungs

Infants who live along streets with heavy traffic run higher risks of problems with impaired lung functions.

Women and children aren’t saved first

It’s a myth that seamen give women and children priority when ships are sinking. Women have much less chance of surviving and children are even worse off.

Urban design makes birds hit the high C

Birds raise their pitch to drown out traffic noise and to make themselves understood in the urban landscape.