Impact of Energy Sector Growth on Perceived Transportation Safety in the Seventeen-County Oil Region of Western North Dakota: A Follow-Up Study

摘要: The sharp increase in travel volumes, shift traffic mix, and large increases crashes have transformed the environment oil region of western North Dakota. Roads once used for local access agricultural purposes now mostly serve expanding production. Oil companies, workers, commercial trucks, industrial equipment associated with extraction use these roads to drilling production sites. This has led a larger number overweight oversized vehicles on road. A survey questionnaire was sent drivers better understand perceptions behaviors road users this region. County-level crash data were gathered state Dakota changes driving conditions during latest boom – specifically between 2004 2013. study addresses two goals improving safety region: first, examine public issues priorities; and, second, address trends possible intervention strategies. Survey results indicate that perceive be dangerous. Crash reveal overall events are growing at near exponential rates, some metrics worsening even when factoring vehicle miles traveled population growth.