title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. sabreena.anowar@mail.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Sabreena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anowar
authors.forename: Shamsunnahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yasmin
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tay
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control