Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
individual
What campus are you from?
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Madalyn Smith, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Madalyn Smith
Faculty Mentor Name
Scott Parr
Abstract
Motor vehicle-related incidents, including both single-vehicle and multi-vehicle crashes, are the leading cause of line-of-duty death for first responders in the United States. Even though the number of these motor vehicle-related incidents among first responders is rising throughout the county, many public agencies are not willing to put aside money for research into improving first responder roadway safety as they are focused on helping those who are currently being injured, and significantly fewer private agencies are even considering funding such research. Along with the human life-cost of first responder vehicle crashes, the financial cost is substantial, as this can include costs such as workers' compensation, disability claims, court fees, and payouts to crash victims, depending on the severity of the crash and injuries. The findings in this paper will identify the first responder group that is at the greatest risk of vehicular incident and/or fatality and the real cost of first responder vehicle incidents as well as serve to support further research into ways to improve first responder safety in the state of Florida.
Did this research project receive funding support from the Office of Undergraduate Research.
Yes, SURF
First Responder Roadway Safety: Estimating the Financial Cost of First Responder Vehicle Crashes
Motor vehicle-related incidents, including both single-vehicle and multi-vehicle crashes, are the leading cause of line-of-duty death for first responders in the United States. Even though the number of these motor vehicle-related incidents among first responders is rising throughout the county, many public agencies are not willing to put aside money for research into improving first responder roadway safety as they are focused on helping those who are currently being injured, and significantly fewer private agencies are even considering funding such research. Along with the human life-cost of first responder vehicle crashes, the financial cost is substantial, as this can include costs such as workers' compensation, disability claims, court fees, and payouts to crash victims, depending on the severity of the crash and injuries. The findings in this paper will identify the first responder group that is at the greatest risk of vehicular incident and/or fatality and the real cost of first responder vehicle incidents as well as serve to support further research into ways to improve first responder safety in the state of Florida.