Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit will provide an introduction to the key principles and practices in road safety. As an introductory unit, special emphasis will be given to the broad context of road use/transport in society and the economic and social implications of road crashes. It will introduce the basics of information retrieval, road crash analysis and interpretation, and the strategic development of road safety countermeasures.

Aims

The aim of this unit is for you to acquire an understanding of the fundamental concepts and methods used in road safety.

Objectives

On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:

1. Locate, retrieve and interpret road safety related information (including road crash data) from government and non-government sources;
   
2. Be able to identify factors that contribute to crashes or to elevating crash risk and catagorise them into the three main types of factor (human, environment and vehicle);
   
3. Be familiar with, and able to apply, the Haddon matrix as a way of conceptualising the causes of road crashes and countermeasure design;
   
4. Understand the role of multi-disciplinary approaches and 'the 3Es' in addressing the road user, the road environment and the vehicle in a systematic manner (especially for countermeasure design).
   

Content

The major themes that will be covered in the unit include:

• the role of road use/road transport in society and its economic and social implications;


• international, national and state road crash trends;


• methods for interpreting road crash trends;


• the social and economic costs of road crashes;


• the history of road safety, both internationally and nationally;


• the success of road safety as a public health measure;


• road crash causation/prevention models eg. Haddon matrix;


• the strategic use of road user, road environment and vehicle countermeasures (eg. the three "Es");


• process and outcome evaluation methods;


• the role of cost-benefit analysis;


• the function of road safety programs and strategies; and


• the role of government and the community in road safety.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will generally be delivered in the form of a weekly two-hour lecture, followed by a discussion-oriented tutorial designed to promote critical analysis and debate (and including practical exercises to be completed and submitted during class). Extensive use will be made of case studies to illustrate the value of a strategic approach to road safety and to provide problems for tutorial exercises and assessment purposes. The relevance of the unit will be enhanced through the use of guest lecturers from government and non-government agencies as well as active researchers in the road safety area.

The case studies will draw on both Australian and overseas experience, to increase the relevance of the unit for international students. Issues such as drink driving (alcohol use) will be treated in a culturally sensitive manner. The tutorials will focus on promoting discussion among students in order to demonstrate the value of multi-disciplinary approaches and teamwork.

Assessment

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Assessment name: Report Outline
Description: Prepare a Report Outline (including headings, subheadings, basic content and structure, main references) reviewing a major road safety problem (500 words)
Relates to objectives: 1-2
Weight: 10%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Assignment
Description: Prepare the review/report of a major road safety problem (using outline from Assessment 1) (3000 words).
Relates to objectives: 1-2
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

Assessment name: Assignment
Description: Prepare a report critiquing a major road safety countermeasure (3000 words)
Relates to objectives: 1-4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

TEXTBOOK

Clark, J. (Ed.). (1999). Safe and mobile: Introductory studies in road safety. Armidale: Emu Press.

REFERENCES

Australian Transport Council. (2000). National road safety strategy: 2001-2010. Retrieved November 20, 2006, from http://www.atcouncil.gov.au/documents/NRSS_01_10.aspx

Austroads. (2003). Australasian Road Safety Handbook: Volume 1 (AP-R234/03). Retrieved November 20, 2006, from http://www.onlinepublications.austroads.com.au/script/Details.asp?DocN=AR0000156_0904

Austroads. (2005). Australasian Road Safety Handbook: Volume 2 (AP-R268/05). Retrieved November 20, 2006, from http://www.onlinepublications.austroads.com.au/script/Details.asp?DocN=AS081906068455


Austroads. (2005). Australasian Road Safety Handbook: Volume 3 (AP-R275/05). Retrieved November 20, 2006, from http://www.onlinepublications.austroads.com.au/script/Details.asp?DocN=AS789146417160

Elvik, R. & Vaa, T. (2004). The handbook of road safety measures. New York: Elsevier.

Evans L. (2004). Traffic safety. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. Retrieved from http://www.scienceservingsociety.com/ts/text.htm

Haddon W. (1980). Advances in the epidemiology of injuries as a basis for public policy.Public Health Reports, 95(5), 411-421.

Queensland Transport. (2003). Safe4Life : The Queensland Road Safety Strategy 2004-2011. Retrieved http://www.roadsafety.qld.gov.au/

Trinca G.W., Johnston I.R., Campbell B.J., Haight F.A., Knight P.R., Mackay M., McLean A.J., Petrucelli E (1988). Reducing traffic injury: A global challenge. Melbourne: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

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Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 02-Jan-2013