It is unknown if basic motorcycle training prevents crashes, injuries, or deaths on public roadways. This research analyzes the participants of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's "Basic RiderCourse updated" to understand risk-taking tendencies, personal protective equipment usage, and favorability of the "Basic RiderCourse."…

Inexperienced and poorly trained Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCSs) contribute to aircraft accidents and other serious aviation mishaps, which negatively impact human safety, the environment, government and personal property, and the efficient and smooth operation of the National Airspace System (NAS). The Federal Aviation Administration…

This dissertation adds to the economic study of gun and marijuana laws. Chapter 1 studies the impact of stand your ground laws (SYGs) on traffic fatalities. Chapter 2 investigates the effects of campus concealed carry laws (CCCs) on higher education outcomes. Chapter 3 looks at the impact of medical marijuana laws (MMLs) on youth crimes. The first…

While studies have shown a consistent association between athlete status and risk-taking behavior (RTB), comparatively little is known about the mechanisms that potentially account for the influence of athletic participation on RTBs. The current study tests a theoretical model linking sensation seeking to RTBs through the perception of risk and…

Human interaction with automation is a complex process that requires both skilled operators and complex system designs to effectively enhance overall performance. Although automation has successfully managed complex systems throughout the world for over half a century, inappropriate reliance on automation can still occur, such as the recent…

An information point was defined in this study as any object, structure, or activity located outside of a traveling vehicle that could potentially attract the visual attention of the driver. Saturation flow rates were studied for three pairs of signalized intersections in Toledo, Ohio. Each pair of intersections consisted of one intersection with…

This study explored the relationship between adolescent risk behavior and flow, a state of optimal experience characterized by a spontaneous and fluid, yet deeply focused state of awareness (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996). The purpose of the study was to better understand adolescent risk taking, as well as how it may interact with experiences of flow.…

Heavy drinking among college students has been identified as a major public health concern in the United States. While research on college drinking is extensive, it is almost exclusively focused on white non-Hispanic populations, with minimal attention to ethnic minority groups--particularly the Hispanic college student. The aim of this study was…

Because of the large number of deaths, severe injuries and huge financial loss due to auto accidents and poor traffic management, road safety and traffic management have become very important areas of interest among research community. As a result, Vehicular Ad-hoc Network (VANET) becomes a promising technology to improve road safety and quality…

The central phenomenon researched in this case study was higher education administrators' decisions to institutionalize a safe ride program at a small, rural college. The purpose of this single/within-site case study was to describe the changes that happened at a rural public institution of higher education and the surrounding community in the…

Digital imaging has seen an enormous growth in the last decade. Today users have numerous choices in creating, accessing, and viewing digital image/video content. Color management is important to ensure consistent visual experience across imaging systems. This is typically achieved using color profiles. In this thesis we identify the limitations…

Although researchers have investigated the role of new student orientation and transition programs on college campuses, the focus has been primarily on issues such as retention and persistence rates of program participants, academic preparation techniques, and program content or logistics. Little research has been reported on student volunteers or…

Driving behavior is a contributing factor in 85% of all traffic crashes; therefore, driver reeducation must be centered on increasing safe driving behavior. Because self-reflection strategies have been shown to change behavior, a study using a self-assessment tool was conducted with Virginia adult drivers mandated to complete a driver improvement…

The purpose of the proposed study was to determine whether there is a correlation between attitudes toward the use of handheld cellular telephone devices while driving and the use of such devices while driving, with particular interest in the role of gender, age, marital status, parental status, age of children, having a disability, level of…

The factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains the subject of intense investigation. The DSM three-factor conceptualization of PTSD has not been empirically supported; rather, two four-factor models of PTSD (King, Leskin, King, & Weathers, 1998; Simms, Watson, & Doebbeling, 2002) have garnered the majority of support…