Films for Highway Safety and Traffic Engineers

Colpitts, K. · 1986 · ROSA P / United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration

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Summary

This document, titled *Films for Highway Safety and Traffic Engineers* (FHWA-IP-86-25), serves as a comprehensive catalog and synthesis of audiovisual resources available for highway safety education and professional training. Published in December 1986 by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and prepared by Analysis Group, Inc., the report addresses a critical gap in technology transfer: while numerous films existed to educate engineers and the public, practitioners often lacked knowledge of their existence, content, or availability. The primary motivation was to bridge this disconnect, enabling traffic engineers and safety professionals to select appropriate materials for training and public outreach based on their specific personnel, budget, and equipment constraints. The methodology involved compiling abstracts for a wide range of films sourced from both public agencies and private organizations. The catalog is organized alphabetically by film title and includes a subject index for keyword-based retrieval. Each entry provides specific details, including a content abstract, production year, target audience, film length, available formats (such as 16mm, VHS, Beta, or slide-tape), and sources for purchase, rental, or loan. The document also lists contact information for over 30 sources, including the FHWA, the National Safety Council, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and various university libraries. The authors acknowledge that the catalog is not exhaustive and encourage users to verify prices and formats directly with suppliers, noting potential compatibility issues with foreign-made films. The findings present a diverse inventory of educational materials covering technical and non-technical subjects. Topics range from specialized engineering concerns, such as pavement research, crash tests, and construction zone barricades, to broader safety issues like alcohol education, seat belt usage, and driver behavior. The catalog includes materials aimed at various demographics, from children and junior high students to professional drivers and highway patrol officers. For instance, it lists films demonstrating the efficacy of air bags, the dangers of hydroplaning, and proper school bus conduct. The document highlights that many films are available for loan or at low cost, facilitating access for agencies with limited funds. The significance of this report lies in its role as a centralized resource for technology transfer in highway safety. By aggregating scattered audiovisual aids into a single, accessible reference, it supports the dissemination of safety knowledge and best practices. The report anticipates periodic updates to reflect new productions and the growing popularity of videocassette technology. It concludes by inviting readers to submit suggestions for future editions, ensuring the catalog remains a dynamic tool for the transportation engineering community.

Key finding

The document provides a curated list of available films and audiovisual aids for highway safety education, detailing their content, sources, and formats to assist professionals in selecting appropriate training materials.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Topics

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• public messaging
• rail grade crossings
• regulatory evaluation

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Applied Guidance: countermeasure evaluation
• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence
• Methodological Resource: dataset resource