The query of gender disparity in visitors accidents is a fancy one, encompassing numerous components similar to driving behaviors, mileage, automobile varieties, and societal roles. Statistical evaluation of accident knowledge reveals a major distinction in accident charges between genders, with males usually concerned in a better variety of collisions, notably deadly ones. As an example, knowledge from quite a few research present a constant sample of male drivers being overrepresented in single-vehicle crashes and people involving dashing or alcohol impairment.
Understanding the explanations behind these variations is essential for creating efficient highway security methods. By analyzing the contributing components, policymakers and researchers can design focused interventions to cut back accidents for all drivers. This contains selling safer driving practices, addressing infrastructure points, and creating automobile security applied sciences. Traditionally, the give attention to male drivers in accident statistics stemmed from their predominant position as drivers within the early days of vehicles. Nonetheless, as driving patterns have advanced, finding out the nuances inside gender and driving behaviors has grow to be important for a extra complete understanding of highway security.
This evaluation will delve into the precise components contributing to the disproportionate variety of male-involved crashes, discover potential societal and behavioral influences, and look at the implications for visitors security initiatives transferring ahead.
1. Mileage Pushed
Mileage pushed is a vital think about analyzing crash charges by gender. Better publicity to driving conditions logically will increase the likelihood of being concerned in a collision. Research constantly present that males, on common, drive extra miles than girls yearly. This distinction in publicity contributes considerably to the upper variety of collisions involving male drivers. For instance, industrial drivers, who accumulate considerably larger mileage, are predominantly male and expertise larger crash charges in comparison with the final inhabitants, no matter different components. Occupational driving necessitates in depth time on the highway, instantly growing publicity to potential accident situations.
Whereas the upper mileage pushed by males partially explains their elevated involvement in crashes, it doesn’t totally account for the disparity. Even when normalizing for mileage, males nonetheless exhibit larger crash charges per mile pushed in comparison with girls. This implies that different components, similar to driving behaviors and threat notion, play a major position. Understanding the advanced interaction between mileage and different contributing components is vital for creating focused highway security packages. Focusing solely on mileage as an explanatory issue would overlook the behavioral facets that contribute to accident threat.
In abstract, mileage pushed is a major, however not sole, contributor to the distinction in crash charges between genders. Whereas higher publicity by means of larger annual mileage will increase the statistical chance of involvement in a collision, different components additionally contribute to the disparity noticed. Additional analysis analyzing driving behaviors, threat notion, and different contributing components is important for creating complete highway security methods.
2. Driving Behaviors
Driving behaviors symbolize a vital think about understanding the disparity in crash charges between genders. Completely different patterns of driving behaviors contribute considerably to the chance of being concerned in a collision. Analyzing these behaviors offers useful insights into the advanced dynamics of highway security and helps clarify why one gender would possibly expertise larger crash charges than the opposite.
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Dashing and Aggressive Driving
Dashing is a serious contributing issue to visitors accidents, and research recommend males usually tend to interact in dashing and aggressive driving behaviors than girls. This contains exceeding pace limits, fast acceleration, and tailgating. These behaviors scale back response time and enhance the severity of influence within the occasion of a collision. For instance, exceeding the pace restrict by even a small margin can drastically scale back the time obtainable to react to sudden hazards, growing the chance of a crash.
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Impaired Driving
Driving drunk or medication considerably impairs judgment and response time, growing the chance of accidents. Information constantly present a better prevalence of alcohol-impaired driving amongst males in comparison with girls. This disparity contributes to the upper crash charges noticed in male drivers. The disinhibiting results of alcohol can exacerbate dangerous driving behaviors, additional growing the chance of collisions.
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Distracted Driving
Whereas each genders interact in distracted driving, the varieties of distractions could differ. Utilizing cellphones, adjusting the radio, consuming, and attending to passengers are all types of distractions that may divert consideration from the highway. Understanding the precise varieties of distractions prevalent in every gender can inform focused interventions. As an example, campaigns addressing the risks of texting whereas driving is perhaps designed otherwise for various demographics relying on utilization patterns.
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Danger Notion and Determination-Making
Danger notion performs a significant position in driving conduct. People who underestimate the dangers related to sure driving behaviors, similar to dashing or driving in hostile climate situations, usually tend to interact in these behaviors. Analysis suggests variations in threat notion between genders, with males usually exhibiting a better tolerance for risk-taking whereas driving. This could manifest in selections to overhaul in hazardous conditions or to drive at larger speeds, growing the chance of being concerned in a crash.
These behavioral components, mixed with different components like mileage pushed and automobile selection, contribute to the general image of highway security and the disparity in crash charges between genders. Understanding the nuances inside these behaviors offers useful insights for creating focused security packages and interventions geared toward decreasing accidents for all drivers. By addressing particular behavioral patterns, similar to dashing and impaired driving, and selling safer driving practices, it’s doable to enhance highway security for everybody, no matter gender.
3. Danger Notion
Danger notion performs a vital position in understanding the disparity in visitors accident charges between genders. How people understand and assess threat influences their driving behaviors and decision-making processes on the highway. This part explores the connection between threat notion and crash charges, offering insights into why one gender is perhaps extra liable to accidents than the opposite.
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Overestimation of Driving Capacity
Overconfidence in a single’s driving expertise can result in dangerous behaviors, similar to dashing and aggressive maneuvering. Research recommend a possible tendency for male drivers to overestimate their talents in comparison with feminine drivers. This overestimation can lead to a better propensity for risk-taking on the highway, growing the chance of collisions. As an example, a driver who overestimates their capability to deal with a automobile at excessive speeds could also be extra prone to exceed pace limits, resulting in a higher threat of shedding management.
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Tolerance for Danger
People with a better tolerance for threat usually tend to interact in behaviors that enhance the likelihood of accidents. Analysis suggests a possible distinction in threat tolerance between genders, with male drivers exhibiting a doubtlessly larger tolerance for threat whereas driving. This could manifest as a willingness to have interaction in dangerous overtaking maneuvers or to drive in hostile climate situations, doubtlessly resulting in an elevated threat of accidents. For instance, a driver with a high-risk tolerance is perhaps extra inclined to overhaul on a blind nook, regardless of the potential risks.
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Notion of Hazards
Precisely perceiving and reacting to hazards is vital for protected driving. The power to establish potential risks, similar to pedestrians crossing the road or different automobiles making sudden maneuvers, influences a driver’s capability to keep away from collisions. Variations in hazard notion, doubtlessly influenced by components similar to consideration and expertise, can contribute to various accident charges. A driver who fails to understand a hazard in time is at a considerably larger threat of being concerned in a crash.
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Affect of Social and Cultural Norms
Societal and cultural norms can affect threat notion and driving behaviors. Conventional gender roles and expectations could contribute to totally different driving patterns and attitudes in the direction of risk-taking on the highway. As an example, societal pressures on males to exhibit assertiveness would possibly translate into extra aggressive driving behaviors, whereas girls is perhaps extra inclined in the direction of cautious driving practices. These culturally influenced behaviors can influence the chance of being concerned in a crash.
These aspects of threat notion contribute considerably to the advanced interaction of things influencing crash charges. Understanding these nuances offers useful context for creating focused highway security initiatives and interventions. By addressing the underlying components that contribute to dangerous driving behaviors, it’s doable to create more practical methods for decreasing accidents and selling safer driving practices for all drivers, no matter gender.
4. Physiological Variations
Whereas behavioral and social components play a major position within the disparity of crash charges between genders, physiological variations, although usually delicate, warrant consideration. These variations can affect response occasions, spatial consciousness, and susceptibility to sure medical situations, all of which might influence driving efficiency and contribute to accident threat.
Response time, the pace at which a driver responds to a stimulus, will be influenced by components similar to age, bodily health, and sure medical situations. Whereas common response occasions would possibly range barely between genders, these variations are usually minor and are sometimes overshadowed by different contributing components like expertise and driving conduct. Moreover, response time will be improved by means of coaching and apply, mitigating any inherent physiological variations. For instance, skilled drivers, no matter gender, usually exhibit faster response occasions on account of in depth expertise and coaching.
Spatial consciousness, the power to understand and decide the distances between objects and oneself, is one other issue that may affect driving efficiency. Whereas some analysis suggests minor variations in spatial reasoning talents between genders, these variations will not be constantly important and are unlikely to completely account for the disparity in crash charges. Furthermore, spatial consciousness, like response time, will be enhanced by means of apply and expertise. Drivers navigating advanced city environments, for instance, usually develop heightened spatial consciousness as a result of fixed must assess distances and navigate visitors.
Sure medical situations, similar to sleep apnea and coronary heart situations, can enhance the chance of accidents whereas driving. The prevalence of those situations can range between genders, doubtlessly contributing to variations in crash charges. Nonetheless, you will need to be aware that these well being components will not be unique to anybody gender, and managing these situations by means of correct medical care can considerably mitigate the related dangers. As an example, drivers with recognized sleep apnea who adhere to their therapy plans can successfully scale back their threat of drowsiness-related accidents.
In abstract, whereas physiological variations exist between genders, their affect on crash charges is commonly much less substantial in comparison with behavioral and social components. Moreover, many physiological components, similar to response time and spatial consciousness, will be improved by means of coaching and apply. Whereas acknowledging these delicate physiological variations is essential, focusing totally on behavioral facets and selling protected driving practices gives a more practical strategy to decreasing accidents for all drivers, no matter gender. Additional analysis is required to completely perceive the advanced interaction of physiological, behavioral, and environmental components contributing to visitors accidents.
5. Automobile Selection
Automobile selection is a multifaceted issue intertwined with the disparity in crash charges between genders. The varieties of automobiles people select, influenced by components similar to private preferences, life-style wants, and socioeconomic standing, can correlate with their chance of being concerned in sure varieties of accidents. Understanding these connections offers useful insights into the advanced dynamics of highway security.
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Automobile Sort and Measurement
Completely different automobile varieties exhibit various security profiles. Bigger, heavier automobiles, similar to SUVs and vans, usually supply extra safety to occupants in a collision. Nonetheless, their dimension and weight can even contribute to extra extreme outcomes for these in smaller automobiles concerned in the identical crash. Traditionally, sure automobile varieties have been extra standard amongst particular demographics, doubtlessly influencing the varieties of accidents they’re concerned in. For instance, a collision between a compact automobile and a full-size truck is prone to lead to extra important injury and accidents to the occupants of the smaller automobile.
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Automobile Options and Security Applied sciences
Fashionable automobiles are geared up with a spread of security options designed to mitigate the chance of accidents and scale back the severity of accidents. Options similar to anti-lock brakes, digital stability management, and superior airbag methods contribute considerably to improved security outcomes. Nonetheless, entry to those options can range relying on the automobile’s make, mannequin, and 12 months, doubtlessly influencing the security profile of automobiles chosen by totally different demographics. As an example, newer automobiles usually come geared up with superior driver-assistance methods (ADAS) that may assist stop collisions, however these options may not be obtainable in older fashions.
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Motorbike and Bicycle Utilization
Bikes and bicycles, whereas providing gas effectivity and maneuverability, present considerably much less safety to riders in comparison with passenger automobiles. Information usually reveals a better proportion of male riders concerned in bike and bicycle accidents. Understanding the explanations behind this disparity, together with components similar to risk-taking conduct and publicity, is vital for creating focused security interventions. For instance, bike riders are notably weak to extreme accidents in collisions, highlighting the significance of protecting gear and rider coaching packages.
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Automobile Upkeep and Situation
Correct automobile upkeep, together with common tire checks, brake inspections, and fluid adjustments, performs a vital position in guaranteeing protected operation. Neglecting automobile upkeep can enhance the chance of mechanical failures that may result in accidents. Whereas there isn’t any constant proof to recommend important gender-based variations in automobile upkeep practices, it stays a vital facet of total highway security. For instance, worn tires can considerably scale back traction, particularly in hostile climate situations, growing the chance of shedding management of the automobile.
Automobile selection, influenced by particular person preferences, societal norms, and financial components, is intrinsically linked to the broader dialogue of highway security and the disparity in crash charges between genders. Analyzing the varieties of automobiles chosen, the provision of security options, and the prevalence of bike and bicycle utilization offers useful insights into the advanced components contributing to accidents. By understanding these connections, researchers and policymakers can develop more practical security interventions and academic campaigns to advertise safer driving practices and scale back accidents for all highway customers.
6. Journey Function
Journey objective is a major issue when analyzing the disparity in crash charges between genders. Completely different journey functions correlate with various driving behaviors, distances traveled, and time of day, all of which affect the chance of being concerned in a collision. Understanding these connections offers useful insights into the advanced relationship between driving patterns and accident threat.
Commuting, usually related to larger speeds and visitors congestion, presents a distinct threat profile in comparison with journeys for purchasing or leisure. Information means that males usually tend to undertake longer commutes, doubtlessly growing their publicity to higher-risk driving conditions. Ladies, alternatively, would possibly make extra frequent shorter journeys associated to childcare or errands, doubtlessly exposing them to various kinds of hazards, similar to these present in residential areas or college zones. For instance, a driver commuting throughout rush hour faces a better threat of being concerned in a multi-vehicle collision on account of congested roadways and elevated driver stress.
The time of day additionally performs a vital position. Journeys made throughout late-night hours, usually related to social actions and doubtlessly impaired driving, carry a better threat of accidents. Information signifies a better prevalence of male drivers concerned in late-night crashes. Conversely, daytime driving, whereas usually safer, nonetheless presents dangers relying on the journey objective. As an example, a supply driver navigating busy city streets through the day faces totally different challenges in comparison with somebody driving on a freeway throughout off-peak hours.
Analyzing journey objective helps establish particular high-risk situations. Enterprise-related journey, usually involving longer distances and tighter schedules, could contribute to driver fatigue and elevated dashing, elevating accident threat. Conversely, journeys for social or leisure functions is perhaps related to totally different threat components, similar to distracted driving or driving below the affect. Understanding these nuanced connections offers useful context for creating focused security interventions and academic campaigns. For instance, packages geared toward decreasing drowsy driving would possibly give attention to people who ceaselessly undertake long-distance enterprise journeys.
In abstract, journey objective offers a vital lens for analyzing the advanced relationship between driving patterns and crash charges. Analyzing the explanations behind totally different journeys, the related driving behaviors, and the time of day they happen permits for a deeper understanding of the components contributing to the disparity in accidents between genders. This understanding is important for creating focused highway security initiatives that tackle particular high-risk situations and promote safer driving practices for all highway customers, no matter gender.
7. Socioeconomic Elements
Socioeconomic components play a fancy and infrequently neglected position within the disparity of crash charges between genders. These components, together with revenue, training, occupation, and entry to sources, can affect automobile selection, driving behaviors, and publicity to high-risk conditions, all of which contribute to the chance of being concerned in a collision. Understanding the interaction of those components offers useful context for creating complete highway security initiatives.
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Revenue and Automobile Possession
Revenue ranges can affect the varieties of automobiles people personal and function. Decrease revenue could correlate with older automobiles missing trendy security options, doubtlessly growing the chance of extreme accidents in a crash. Moreover, monetary constraints can restrict entry to common automobile upkeep, growing the chance of mechanical failures that would contribute to accidents. For instance, a person with restricted monetary sources is perhaps unable to afford repairs for worn brakes, growing their stopping distance and elevating the chance of a collision.
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Occupation and Driving Calls for
Sure occupations, similar to long-haul trucking or supply providers, necessitate in depth driving, growing publicity to potential hazards. These occupations usually contain tight deadlines and lengthy hours, which might contribute to driver fatigue and enhance the chance of errors. Furthermore, some occupations could also be predominantly held by one gender, doubtlessly skewing crash statistics. As an example, the trucking business, largely dominated by male drivers, experiences larger crash charges in comparison with different professions as a result of elevated time spent on the highway and the inherent dangers related to working giant industrial automobiles.
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Entry to Transportation Options
Restricted entry to dependable public transportation or different modes of transportation can necessitate higher reliance on private automobiles, growing driving publicity and, consequently, the chance of accidents. This may be notably related in areas with restricted infrastructure or socioeconomic disparities. For instance, people dwelling in rural areas with restricted public transportation choices may need to drive longer distances for work or important errands, growing their mileage and publicity to potential hazards.
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Schooling and Danger Consciousness
Schooling ranges can affect threat notion and decision-making associated to driving behaviors. Increased ranges of training would possibly correlate with higher consciousness of visitors security tips and a decrease propensity for dangerous behaviors similar to dashing or impaired driving. Nonetheless, different components, similar to character traits and social influences, can even considerably influence driving conduct, no matter academic attainment. As an example, academic campaigns concentrating on particular demographics may also help elevate consciousness of the risks of distracted driving and promote safer practices behind the wheel.
These socioeconomic components, interwoven with behavioral patterns and societal influences, contribute to the advanced image of highway security and the noticed variations in crash charges between genders. Addressing these components by means of focused interventions, improved infrastructure, and public consciousness campaigns can contribute to making a safer driving surroundings for all people, no matter gender or socioeconomic standing. Additional analysis exploring the intersection of those components is essential for creating complete and efficient highway security methods.
Incessantly Requested Questions
This part addresses widespread inquiries concerning the disparity in visitors accident involvement between genders, offering concise and informative responses primarily based on obtainable knowledge and analysis.
Query 1: Do males trigger extra accidents than girls?
Whereas males are concerned in a better variety of reported accidents, attributing causation solely to at least one gender oversimplifies a fancy problem involving a number of contributing components similar to driving behaviors, mileage, and automobile varieties. Specializing in particular person behaviors and contributing components somewhat than assigning blame to a whole gender offers a extra productive strategy to understanding and addressing highway security.
Query 2: Is the distinction in crash charges solely on account of males driving extra miles?
Whereas mileage is a contributing issue, it doesn’t totally clarify the disparity. Even when controlling for mileage, males nonetheless exhibit larger crash charges per mile pushed in comparison with girls, suggesting the affect of different components like driving behaviors and threat notion.
Query 3: Are males inherently worse drivers than girls?
Attributing driving capability to gender is an oversimplification. Driving proficiency is influenced by a mix of things, together with expertise, coaching, and particular person selections concerning adherence to visitors legal guidelines. Specializing in particular behaviors, similar to dashing or distracted driving, somewhat than making generalizations about complete genders, gives a extra constructive strategy to bettering highway security.
Query 4: How do physiological variations have an effect on crash charges?
Whereas minor physiological variations could exist concerning response time or spatial consciousness, their affect on crash charges is usually much less important in comparison with behavioral and social components. Moreover, many physiological components will be improved by means of coaching and apply.
Query 5: Does automobile selection play a job within the disparity?
Automobile selection, influenced by components similar to private preferences and socioeconomic standing, can correlate with crash involvement. Bigger automobiles supply extra safety in collisions however can pose higher dangers to occupants of smaller automobiles. Entry to superior security options additionally performs a major position.
Query 6: How can these insights enhance highway security for everybody?
Understanding the components contributing to the disparity in crash charges permits for the event of focused security interventions and academic campaigns. Specializing in particular behaviors, similar to dashing, distracted driving, and impaired driving, somewhat than making generalizations primarily based on gender, promotes a extra inclusive and efficient strategy to bettering highway security for all drivers.
Addressing the underlying causes of accidents, no matter gender, is paramount for making a safer driving surroundings for everybody. This requires a multifaceted strategy involving training, enforcement, and engineering options.
The next part will delve into particular suggestions and methods for bettering highway security primarily based on the insights gained from analyzing the components contributing to the disparity in crash charges.
Suggestions for Enhancing Highway Security
These suggestions tackle key components contributing to visitors accidents, aiming to enhance security for all drivers no matter gender.
Tip 1: Promote Defensive Driving Methods
Defensive driving programs equip drivers with expertise to anticipate and react to hazardous conditions, mitigating potential dangers. These programs emphasize proactive driving methods, similar to sustaining a protected following distance, scanning the highway forward for potential hazards, and being ready for sudden maneuvers by different drivers. Broadly obtainable and infrequently incentivized by insurance coverage suppliers, defensive driving programs supply useful coaching for drivers of all expertise ranges.
Tip 2: Tackle Dashing and Aggressive Driving
Dashing is a serious contributing issue to accidents. Public consciousness campaigns highlighting the risks of dashing and its penalties, mixed with stricter enforcement of pace limits, are essential. Implementing visitors calming measures, similar to pace bumps and roundabouts, can even encourage safer speeds in high-risk areas.
Tip 3: Fight Impaired Driving
Driving drunk or medication considerably will increase accident threat. Strengthening regulation enforcement efforts, selling designated driver packages, and growing public consciousness in regards to the risks of impaired driving are important steps. Using expertise, similar to ignition interlock units, can additional deter impaired driving.
Tip 4: Decrease Distracted Driving
Distracted driving, together with cellphone use and different in-car distractions, diverts consideration from the highway, growing accident threat. Public consciousness campaigns highlighting the risks of distracted driving, coupled with stricter enforcement of hands-free legal guidelines, may also help mitigate this problem. Encouraging the usage of expertise that minimizes distractions, similar to voice-activated controls and hands-free units, can additional promote safer driving habits.
Tip 5: Improve Automobile Security Options
Selling the adoption of automobiles geared up with superior security options, similar to lane departure warnings, automated emergency braking, and adaptive cruise management, can considerably enhance highway security. Incentivizing the acquisition of safer automobiles by means of tax breaks or rebates can encourage wider adoption of those applied sciences.
Tip 6: Enhance Highway Infrastructure
Investing in improved highway infrastructure, similar to clearer signage, higher lighting, and well-maintained roads, contributes to a safer driving surroundings. Addressing hazardous highway situations and implementing engineering options to mitigate dangers can scale back the chance of accidents.
Tip 7: Focused Schooling and Consciousness Campaigns
Tailoring highway security campaigns to particular demographics and addressing specific threat components, similar to age, gender, and driving behaviors, can maximize their effectiveness. Collaborating with neighborhood organizations and using numerous media platforms ensures broader attain and influence.
Tip 8: Encourage Steady Driver Schooling
Selling ongoing driver training and coaching all through a driver’s lifetime reinforces protected driving practices and helps drivers adapt to altering highway situations and applied sciences. Refresher programs and superior driving packages can improve expertise and promote a safety-conscious driving tradition.
Implementing these suggestions requires a collaborative effort from policymakers, regulation enforcement businesses, neighborhood organizations, and particular person drivers. Prioritizing highway security by means of training, enforcement, and engineering options contributes to a safer driving surroundings for all.
The next conclusion will summarize the important thing findings and supply a perspective on the way forward for highway security.
Conclusion
Evaluation of the query concerning which gender experiences larger crash charges reveals a fancy interaction of things. Whereas statistical knowledge signifies larger involvement of male drivers in accidents, notably deadly ones, attributing this solely to gender oversimplifies a multifaceted problem. Mileage pushed, driving behaviors, threat notion, physiological nuances, automobile selection, journey objective, and socioeconomic components all contribute to the general image. Understanding these components is essential, not for assigning blame, however for creating focused and efficient highway security methods.
Highway security requires a complete strategy addressing the underlying causes of accidents, no matter gender. Selling defensive driving strategies, combating dashing and impaired driving, minimizing distractions, enhancing automobile security options, bettering highway infrastructure, and implementing focused academic campaigns are important steps. Continued analysis and knowledge evaluation are very important for refining these methods and adapting to evolving societal and technological landscapes. Finally, making a safer driving surroundings necessitates a collective dedication to accountable driving practices and evidence-based security initiatives. Solely by means of such complete efforts can the aim of decreasing visitors accidents and defending all highway customers be achieved.
