Harmful

Laws Banning Studded Tires

IMPACT:

LOCUS:

ORIGIN: peer-reviewed systematic review

Author(s): NPO Staff

The Problem:

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the largest sources of public health harms. For people ages 1 to 34, motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death. Almost five million people each year suffer injuries during motor vehicle crashes that require emergency care. CDC Fact Sheet: Motor Vehicle Safety. Adverse weather conditions including snow and ice contribute to the incidence of motor vehicle crashes. Some evidence suggests that studded tires reduce accidents in inclement weather by providing better traction for motor vehicles. Studded tires are also known to damage road surfaces.

The Law:

States have the authority to ban or limit the use of studded tires. Some ban all studded tires, see Fl Rev Stats 316.299 (Florida), 9 ID Statutes 49-948 (Idaho), and Wisc. Trans Code 306.01 (Wisconsin). Other states have enacted seasonal limitations on their use, see 90 MGL 60 (Massachusetts), Ca Vehicle Code § 27454 (California), 67 Pa. Code. § 175.80 (Pennsylvania) and OH R.S.5589.081 (Ohio).

The Evidence:

According to the author of a peer-reviewed meta-analysis, laws banning studded tires result in small increases in motor vehicle crashes during winter months. Elvik. The effects on accidents of studded tires and laws banning their use: a meta-analysis of evaluation studies. Accident Analysis & Prevention 1999; 31:125-134. Of the 7 studies that Elvik identified as meeting the inclusion criteria, two were based in the United States, one in Canada, one in Germany and three in Japan. Six of the studies found that laws banning studded tires were associated with small increases in accidents during winter seasons. A meta-analysis revealed a weighted mean increase in winter accidents of 4 percent. This finding is consistent with meta-analysis results in the same review indicating that actual studded tire use reduces accident rates during winter.

The Bottom Line:

According to the author of a peer-reviewed meta-analysis, the evidence suggests that banning studded tires causes a small increase in motor vehicle accidents during the winter.

Categories:
Transfer of Juvenile Offenders to Adult Criminal Courts

IMPACT:

LOCUS:

ORIGIN: Community Guide systematic review

Publication Date: 12/07/2009

Author(s): NPO Staff

The Problem:

Youth violence is an enormous public health problem in the United States, standing as the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 24. CDC, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. WISQRS.  Juvenile court systems have often been criticized for inadequately deterring and poorly preventing recidivism among violent youthful offenders.  Steiner B, Hemmens C, Bell V.  Legislative Waiver Reconsidered: General Deterrent Effects of Statutory Exclusion Laws Enacted Post-1979.  Justice Quarterly.  2006;23(1):34-59.

The Law:

All states have adopted laws that allow judicial waiver of jurisdiction by the juvenile court system, which sends young offenders to adult criminal systems.  Some states use a discretionary approach, giving deference to the juvenile court judge.  Other states employ an automatic approach: jurisdiction is waived for specific violent offenses or when the offender has prior violent arrests. For examples of juvenile waiver laws, see RCW 13.40.110 (Washington), Fla Stat § 985.556 (Florida), and MN Stats 260B.101 (Minnesota).

The Evidence:

In a systematic review, a Community Guide expert panel reviewed seven studies evaluating the impact of six laws allowing juvenile transfer. McGowan A, Hahn R, Liberman A, et al. Effects on violence of laws and policies facilitating the transfer of juveniles from the juvenile justice system to the adult justice system: a systematic review. Am J Prev Med 2007;32(4S):S7–S28. Across the studies, the reviewers observed an overall negative effect. Notably, there was a 34 percent median increase in recidivism among youths processed though adult systems compared to those retained in the juvenile courts. In addition, transfer of youths led to an increase in pretrial violence, victimization and violence in adult facilities, and elevated suicide rates among the incarcerated youths. According to the expert panel, there was not enough evidence to determine the true effect of waiver as a deterrent.

The Bottom Line:

In the judgment of a Community Guide expert panel, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that processing youths through adult systems has a negative impact on public health.

Additional Resources: Heilbrun, et al. A National Survey of US Statutes on juvenile transfer: implications for policy and practice. Behavioral Sciences and the Law. 1998;15(2):125-149.

Categories: