Here is the web version of my research paper
into roller blade injuries.  Completed 
for  "statistics of social behavior".


2 May, 2009

Roller Blade injuries in Northern Indiana

by Benjamin Skeezix

Abstract: In this paper we make a thorough study of
the hazards for roller-blading in a typical temperate climate region.
Seasonal, social, and infrastructure factors are discussed.

Introduction

Along with the increased popularity of roller-blading has come an increase
in the related injuries.  (See Table 1).  While Sommers, et. al. [1] have examined factors
in the sub-tropical Southern California climate, there has been a marked paucity of studies
in temparate regions, where rather different seasonal factors pertain.  This is to
our knowledge the first such study.


Table 1:
        # of roller-blade         # of bicycle-
        injuries  in U.S.        related injuries
        -----------------        ----------------
1980           0                       21,120
1985           1                       22,312
1990       1,307                       17,121
1995       9,417                       17,918


Methodology and results

We reviewed newspaper accident reports for newspapers from four states (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois) from the on-line newspaper repository at Notre Dame University's Center for the Study of Journalism for a 10 year period (1995-2005).  Several of the accidents could be attributed to multiple causes.  We classified and grouped these as indicated below.

  Infrastructure
   * Open manhole covers
   * Broken sidewalks
   * Street grates oriented parallel to roadbed
   * Insufficient or completely absent shoulder at side of road

  Social factors
   * Peer pressure to jump open manholes
   * "Friends" who tie laces together

  Climate factors
   * Snow covering thin layer of twigs atop open manholes
   * Ice