THE RELATION OF ACCELERATION FORCE TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT FREQUENCY: A PILOT STUDY

This paper introduces a measure of driving behavior, g-force (acceleration-force), which is predicted to be positively correlated with traffic accident frequency. This hypothesis is tested with accident data for drivers of buses in public transport as the dependent variable, and 2 main topics are therefore discussed throughout the article; the concept and measurement of g-force, and handling of traffic accident data in scientific research. G-force and mean speed are measured onboard city buses in regular traffic. The means of Right/Left, Gas/Brake, the composite g-force, and speed are correlated with drivers\u27 frequency of (bus) accidents for different time periods. No stable relationship is found; only a weak tendency for the dimensions of mean speed and Right/Left to predict bus accidents when time periods of 1 to 5 years are used. The many problems inherent in this kind of field research are discussed and some remedies are proposed