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Academic Profile: Dr Michael Fitzharris

Dr Michael Fitzharris

Michael has nearly fifteen years of experience in studies and contract research related to road safety and injury prevention. This has included research for government in the areas of speeding, drink-driving and drug driving and the evaluation of vehicle safety systems such as airbags and seatbelt technology for industry. He completed his PhD in the area of physical and psychological health post-trauma, and his research extends to the prevention of falls in older adults as well as research in developing countries.

Before re-joining Monash University, Michael worked for The George Institute for International Health where he was a Senior Research Fellow in the Critical Care and Trauma Division.

Research areas

  • Physical and psychological health outcomes following traumatic injury
  • Road safety policy development and evaluation, particularly in areas of drink-driving, speeding and seat-belt use
  • Evaluation of the injury reduction benefits of vehicle safety technology
  • Development and use of health, crash, and coronial data to identify policy solutions
  • Community-based falls prevention interventions for older adults

Publications

Peer-reviewed journal articles

  • Fitzharris M, Dandona R, Kumar GA, Dandona L. (2009). Crash characteristics and patterns of injury among hospitalized motorised two-wheeled vehicle users in urban India. BMC Public Health; 12;9:11. PubMed citation Free article in PMC | at Journal website
  • Fitzharris MP, Bowman DM. (2008). Booster seat use by children aged 4-11 years: evidence of the need to revise current Australasian standards to accommodate overweight children. Medical Journal of Australia; 189(10):597-8 (Letter) PubMed citation Free article at Journal website
  • Fitzharris, M., Charlton, J., Bohensky, M., Koppel, S. and Fildes, B. (2008). Booster seat use by children aged 4-11 years: evidence of the need to revise current Australian Standards to accommodate overweight children. Medical Journal of Australia, 188: 328–331 PubMed citation Free article at Journal website
  • Lenne, M., Ashby, K. and Fitzharris, M. (2008). Analysis of General Aviation Crashes in Australia using the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System. International Journal of Aviation Psychology; 18(4), 1-13  Journal website
  • Koppel, S., Charlton, J., Fildes, B. and Fitzharris, M. (2008). How important is vehicle safety in the new vehicle purchase process? Accident Analysis and Prevention, 40(3), 994-1004. PubMed citation
  • Koppel, S., Charlton, J., Fitzharris, M., Congiu, M. and Fildes, B. (2008). Factors associated with the premature graduation of children into seatbelts. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 40(2): 657-666. PubMed citation
  • Bowman, D. and Fitzharris, M. (2007). Too small for concern? Public health and nanotechnology. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 31(4), 382-384. 31(4): 382-384. PubMed citation
  • Fitzharris, M., Fildes, B., Charlton, J. and Kossmann, T. (2007). General health status and functional disability following injury in traffic crashes. Traffic Injury Prevention 8: 1-12. PubMed citation
  • Fitzharris, M., Franklyn, M., Frampton, R., Yang, K., Morris, A. and Fildes, B. (2004). Thoracic aorta injury in motor vehicle crashes: The effect of impact direction, side of body struck, and seat belt use. Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection, and  Critical Care 57(3): 582-590. PubMed citation
  • Langford, J., Fitzharris, M., Newstead, S. and Koppel, S. (2004). Effectiveness of mandatory licence testing for older drivers in reducing crash risk among urban dwelling older Australian drivers. Traffic Injury Prevention 5(4): 326-335. PubMed citation
  • Langford, J., Fitzharris, M., Newstead, S. and Koppel, S. (2004). Some consequences of different older driver licensing procedures in Australia. Accident Analysis & Prevention 36(6): 993-1001. PubMed citation
  • Fildes, B., Charlton, J., Fitzharris, M., Langweider, K. and Hummel, T. (2003). Injuries to children in child restraints. International Journal of Crashworthiness 8(3): 277-284. Journal website
  • Franklyn, M., Fitzharris, M., Morris, A., Fildes, B., Yang, K. and Frampton, R. (2003). A preliminary analysis of aortic injuries in lateral impacts. Traffic Injury Prevention 4(3): 263-269. PubMed citation
  • Day, L., Fildes, B., Gordon, I., Fitzharris, M., Flamer, H. and Lord, S. (2002). Randomised factorial trial of falls prevention among older people living in their own homes. British Medical Journal 325(7356): 128-131. PubMed citation Free article at Journal website
Other publications
Related links