Andrew Kubas

Oil County Traffic Safety: Perspective of Western North Dakota Residents

The sharp increase in travel volumes, the shift in traffic mix, and the large increases in traffic crashes have transformed the travel environment in the oil region of western North Dakota. Roads once used only for local access and agricultural purposes are now being used at high volumes to serve expanding oil production. Oil companies, oil workers, commercial trucks, and industrial equipment associated with gas and oil development all use these roads to access oil drilling and production sites. This change has led to an increase in traffic volume and a larger number of overweight and oversized vehicles on the road. A survey questionnaire was sent to drivers to understand better the perceptions and behaviors of road users in this region. County-level crash data were gathered for the state of North Dakota to understand changes in driving conditions during the latest oil boom, specifically between 2004 and 2011. This study addresses two key goals related to improving traffic safety in the region: first, to examine public perceptions of traffic safety issues and priorities and, second, to address crash trends and possible intervention strategies with a focus on the interaction between large trucks and passenger vehicles. Survey results indicate that drivers perceive the region to be dangerous and that driving improvements can be made. Crash data reveal that most crash statistics are growing at exponential rates. One safety initiative, ProgressZone: Moving Forward Safely, appears to be beneficial, but further improvements must take place.

Assessment of Three Affiliated Tribes Primary Seat Belt Intervention

Tribal populations experience a greater risk for traffic injuries than other populations. The Three Affiliated Tribes on the Fort Berthold Reservation recently enacted a primary seat belt law to improve public safety on its roads. A comparison of field observation study results from early in the intervention and from a later observation study revealed that gains in seat belt use may have eroded in towns. On highways, however, the intervention appears to have produced sustained gains in seat belt use by male drivers of cars and sport utility vehicles. Previous studies showed that the longer-term success of the primary law intervention requires ongoing reinforcement with respect to education and enforcement activities.