Overdone Safety Paper Introductions

When reading the published literature, it is easy to see when common approaches are used for different parts of research papers. Over the years, I have seen the same generic concept for the introduction used in many transportation safety research papers. While there are a few structures that change the order, the same basic introduction includes:

• Citing statistics and stating how safety is a critical issue (number of fatalities, injuries, and crashes) - even comparisons to other top causes of death, such as heart disease and cancer.

• Stating how society couldn't function or exist without the transportation system - it plays an essential role in society!

• Something along the lines of: "Despite advancements in vehicle technology, road accidents continue to be a leading cause of death worldwide" - where the advancements in vehicle technology can be replaced with "implementation of safety countermeasures," "enhanced driver education," or any other general topic related to what specific research question the author is investigating.

• A transition to discussing how the advancement of technologies,  data systems,  or analytical methods has created the PERFECT opportunity to do this particular research.

• A statement along the lines of: "given the importance of safety,..." then stating how their objective is incredibly important and timely, inferring (but never stating!) that this particular research is going to change the world and solve many safety issues.

Sometimes, the authors will mix the introduction with the literature review. In these cases, the literature review is embedded in the above and assists in establishing the importance of what the authors are trying to achieve. It is all for safety, right?

Writing an introduction in this way is something that I have been guilty of in the past. As we learn, it is easy to follow the pattern and approach you see - particularly when attempting to learn from and emulate researchers that you have a lot of respect for.   However, this makes it easy to fall into the same trap and perpetuate something that started off fine but then needed to evolve but didn't.

Rather than using this over-worn approach (and let's be honest, the readers pretty much all know the statistics and importance of safety), why don't authors focus the start of the introduction on the specific issue they are addressing with their research? Try to draw the reader in. Using the same generic introduction, just reworded, is something I find off-putting (and I'm sure others do, as well). Get my attention from the beginning. 

While thinking on this earlier, I was feeling a little whimsical - so I wrote a short satirical piece related to this, provided below.

Ode to the Endlessly Creative World of Transportation Safety Research and Its Trusty Sidekick, Infrastructure 

Deep in the realm of academia, where ink never dries, and citations grow on trees, lies the treasure trove of transportation safety research papers. To navigate through these texts is akin to embarking on an odyssey. One where the Sirens aren't deadly creatures but rather overused introductory phrases that, despite their repetitiveness, have an uncanny ability to lure unsuspecting readers into a trance.

Every voyage begins with the familiar echo, "Transportation: the very lifeblood of our bustling society." This revelation is akin to discovering that the sky, in fact, appears blue. Each time we read this, we are stunned, left to ponder if we've ever truly seen a car before or merely gazed upon a mythological beast of modernity.

Then, just as our ship navigates the known seas, we are told, "Urban expansion beckons an ever-growing need for safe and efficient transportation infrastructure." At this juncture, one can't help but imagine sprawling cities where citizens, in lieu of roads, have opted for a complex system of trampolines and slides for their daily commute. Alas, the reality is a tad more grounded.

Yet, the saga doesn’t stop there. No, because each city is guarded by the unsung heroes – the roadway engineers. Armed with protractors, blueprints, and a dash of bravado, they strive to protect our streets from chaos. We are often reminded, "These brave souls engineer roads, ensuring our morning coffees don't suffer the tragedy of a spill." In their quest, every gradient is calculated, every bend pondered upon, lest an unsuspecting commuter be led astray.

The plot thickens as our paper-toting navigators unravel "state-of-the-art network screening" like an oracle reading tea leaves, revealing hotspots that beg for salvation. These so-called hotspots, potentially guarded by dragons in another dimension, are usually intersections where blinkers seem optional.

But fear not! For these navigators come prepared with their bag of spells, the "analysis of countermeasures." Some might argue it sounds more epic than reality warrants. But who are we to judge? If renaming a speed bump to "The Great Asphaltic Hump of Deceleration" makes the paper more intriguing, so be it.

In this dance between safety research and infrastructure ballet, there's always the rhythm of collaboration. Ah, the waltz with “[Random Infrastructure Agency].” They are the gatekeepers of ancient scrolls (or, you know, spreadsheets) that, when decoded, can reveal secrets like why Mrs. Robinson's cat keeps crossing the road at the same darn spot.

The narrative then takes an introspective turn: "Optimized infrastructure isn't just concrete and paint; it's the symphony of civilization." Here, the authors beckon the reader to pause and reflect, possibly shedding a tear for that pothole they drove over this morning.

In wrapping up this joyride of an odyssey, it’s clear that these introductory segments serve as our trusty map, guiding us through the winding pathways of transportation safety and infrastructure marvels. Without them, we might lose our way, thinking roads simply sprout from the ground or that vehicles run on dreams and fairy dust. To the authors, who tirelessly recycle these phrases for our reading 'pleasure,' we offer a toast! May your journeys continue, and may your intros forever be... consistent.