The good news is that FairWarning reports that public support for many reforms is now at its highest level since 2001. Specifically, a new Gallup poll showed that 38% of Americans want stricter gun controls now compared with only 25% last year. The Scientist tells us that 100 American researchers have signed a letter asking […]
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Billboard industry uses disputed research to support safety of electronic sign
A report on FairWarning calls attention to a study from Sweden revealing that drivers stare longer at electronic billboards which may, in turn, increase the risk of a crash. In response the U.S. billboard industry has cited “an unpublished U.S. government study” that purports to deny that these displays affect traffic safety. The wrinkle is […]
Mobile phones in safety helmets?
A questionable new device is available from a company called uClear that will permit safety helmets to receive and transmit signals. The question is whether this is a good idea or fundamentally dangerous. This revolutionary system includes microphones in two earpieces and a controller on the side of the helmet, connected by Bluetooth to various […]
What do we use as an indicator of intervention success?
Earlier this week I commented on the insight into research deficits which can be highlighted in reviews of the extant literature. In particular, I commented on the need for consistent and complete data collection which is suitable for a variety of research purposes and which ultimately can inform the development and refinement of policy and […]
More momentum towards gun control
Since the tragic shooting of 20 schoolchildren in Connecticut a short while ago, there has been a flurry of activity in the U.S. that represents an attempt at improving gun control. Some of the developments have been reported in earlier blogs; this one is simply an update so that readers outside the U.S. can appreciate […]
Firearm research mentioned by US Vice President Biden in response to gun violence
Joe Biden has begun to offer an outline of what he will recommend to the US president as a policy response to gun violence. Early indications suggest that recommendations will include universal background checks for gun buyers, closing the “gun show loophole,” and prohibitions on large capacity magazines. Interestingly, the press is also reporting that Biden would like to remedy the de facto […]
More on gun control in the US
Two stories in the Washington Post caught my attention. The first describes Gun Homicides and Gun Ownership by Country and reveals, not surprisingly, that “The United States has the highest gun ownership rate in the world and the highest per capita rate of firearm-related murders of all developed countries.” When ranked by rate of ownership, […]
Reviews not only keep us informed, they highlight research deficits
Reviews such as the “Graduated Driver Licensing Research Review, 2010 – Present” released in November by the AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety (see link below) provide an excellent summary of recent research for researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers alike. Williams, Tefft and Grabowski succinctly summarise a multitude of research projects. Perhaps most importantly, however, is their […]
A new hazard for children: Hair straightener burns
An injury prevention group in Ireland has sounded an alarm over burns from hair straighteners for children. The Children’s Hospital noted that 17 children three months to nine years attended A&E (ERs) in 2009-10 with hair straightener burns, 9% of the 187 children who had “thermal injuries” that year. Apparently some retailers are refusing to sell […]
What the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2010 says about causes of injury deaths.
Over the years, the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBDS) has provided an excellent resource to support advocacy for injury prevention research. The Lancet has recently published (Dec 14, 2012) findings from the latest GBDS funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The GBDS 2010 focused on comparing estimated mortality and morbidity trends between […]