Observational Before-After Studies in Road Safety [Hardcover]

E. Hauer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0080430538 | ISBN-13: 978-0080430539 | Publication Date: February 1, 1997

This three part monograph aims to enable road safety researchers and professionals to interpret correctly the results of one of the main sources of knowledge about the effect of road safety engineering measures, the "observational Before-After study". Part I, Essentials - contains information the author regards as essential for forming an opinion of results obtained by others, and for planning and analysing such a study. This is written to be accessible to all. Part II, Adaptations of conventional approaches - explains how to avoid the errors and improve the results obtained from the predominant methods currently used. This Part employs algebra and statistical analysis. Part III, Elements of a new approach - presents new approaches to improve future methods of observation and analysis.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Dr Rune Elvik
This is an important textbook, more profound in its approach than anything else I have seen in the field of road safety. Ezra Hauer's ambition is obviously to turn the study of road safety into a proper science, and he has come a long way in doing that.

The book is certainly needed. Hauer does not respect the 'received wisdom', but asks fundamental questions and shows how frustatingly difficult they are to answer. ...Hauer is an excellent teacher... His extensive use of numerical examples in the book makes it easy for readers to check their understanding of the mathematical models that are presented.

[Hauer's] unique combination of analytical rigour and a sparkling writing style, interspersed occasionally with elegant polemics, cheers me up. It makes real fun to read.
Institute of Transport Economics, Norwegian Centre for Transport Research
B.G. Heydecker
extensive coverage of the topic in an accessible and yet profound manner...a valuable source for those who wish to learn about the evaluation of road safety measures, and for those who have data that they wish to use in this way...Researchers of road safety measures will find sound advice on approaches to their studies and practical procedures for the analysis of their data. I expect that a wide range of readers beyond these will enjoy this book, as indeed I did.

Accident Analysis and Prevention
Ian Glendon, Griffith University, Queensland
.... For anyone in the early stages of, or contemplating any form of, road safety intervention, the book could be considered as essential reading. --Ergonomics Abstracts

Product Details

• Hardcover: 306 pages
• Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Limited (February 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0080430538
• ISBN-13: 978-0080430539
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,903,097 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-reading for those conducting safety studies, January 11, 2005

By 

Anonymous Reviewer (Washington DC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Observational Before-After Studies in Road Safety (Hardcover)

This is one of the best technical books I've ever read on any subject--and I've read many of them! It should be must reading not only for those who conduct transportation safety studies--the subject of the book-- but also for those conducing any observational study ("before/after study"), whether safety-related or not.

This book is a valuable and much-needed contribution to the technical literature. The book begins by showing how classical statistical techniques are often misused in observational studies. Classical techniques assume a rigorous experimental design, with random assignment to treatment and non-treatement groups. These conditions do not apply to observational studies, such as those determining the influence of smoking on health. Errors such as assuming safety in the immediate "before" period is a good predictor of safety in the "after" period are discussed. The book then goes on to provide valid techniques that work. It shows how to compare the what would have been the safety in the after period without treatment, to the safety that was achieved. Complications of assessing the safety in the before and after periods are addressed.

The book is not only an important technical contribution, it is also extremely well-written. The author's writing style is extremely lucid and should serve as an example to others. The first section of the book provides a qualitative description of the material. Subsequent sections then repeat the material, but with mathemtatical rigor. Numerous numerical examples (some with real-world data; others with hypothetcial data for simplicity sake) make the material clear. Mathematical dervivations are provided for rigor, but isolated from the rest of the text to keep from overwhelming the reader.

The author writes with a conversational style, frequently re-emphasizing important points. He takes care to show at all points where he is in the logical discussion and how the current topic fits in to the overall picture. Some of the words are written tongue in cheek. My favorite is his description that
"they do not have a problem of congnition, but only of brittle bones".

In short, the book is outstanding for both its technical content and for the way the material is presented.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greate negotiation, September 29, 2008

By 

Isis T. Cabral "Eduardo" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Observational Before-After Studies in Road Safety (Hardcover)

The product arrived on time, and it fullfiled my expectations.
I do recommend this seller