Using a driving simulator to identify older drivers at inflated risk of motor vehicle crashes

PROBLEM: To develop appropriate assessment criteria to measure the performance of older drivers using an interactive PC-based driving simulator, and to determine which measures were associated with the occurrence of motor-vehicle crash. METHOD: One hundred and twenty-nine older drivers residing in a metropolitan city volunteered to participate in this retrospective cohort study. Using the driving simulator, appropriate driving tasks were devised to test the older drivers, whose performances were assessed by 10 reliable assessment criteria. Logistic regression analysis was then undertaken to determine those criteria that influence the self-reported crash outcome. RESULTS: As expected, driving skill of older drivers was found to decline with age. Over 60% of the sample participants reported having at least one motor-vehicle crash during the past year. Adjusting for age in a logistic regression analysis, the cognitive abilities associated with the crash occurrence were working memory, decision making under pressure of time, and confidence in driving at high speed. SUMMARY: The findings of this retrospective study indicated those individuals at inflated risk of vehicle crashes could be identified using the PC-based interactive driving simulator. Prospective studies need to be undertaken to determine whether the driving simulator can predict future crash events. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This study demonstrated an economical driving simulator approach to screen out problematic or unsafe older drivers before a more detailed but expensive road test is considered.     

Enhancing older driver safety: A driving survey and evaluation of the CarFit program

Objective

To evaluate CarFit, an educational program designed to promote optimal alignment of driver with vehicle.

Methods

A driving activity survey was sent to 727 randomly selected participants living in retirement communities. Drivers (n = 195) were assigned randomly to CarFit intervention (n = 83, M age = 78.1) or Comparison (n = 112, M age = 79.6) groups. After 6 months, participants completed a post-test of driving activity and CarFit recommendations.

Results

Nonconsenting drivers were older and participated in fewer driving activities. CarFit participation was moderate (71%) with 86% of the participants receiving recommendations. 60% followed the recommendations at the 6-month re-evaluation). The CarFit (67.6%) and Comparison (59.3%) groups reported at least one type of self-regulation of driving activity at baseline. There was no significant change in the driving behaviors at the six-month follow-up.

Conclusion

CarFit was able to detect addressable opportunities that may contribute to the safety of older drivers.

Impact on industry

CarFit recommendations may need stronger reinforcement in order to be enacted by a participant.     

珠江三角洲典型城市机动车尾气排放的影响因素分析

机动车技术水平和道路路况是影响机动车尾气排放的两大因素。本文以中山、佛山和广州三个城市为代表城市,首先采用问卷调查和实时采集交通流视频的方式收集三个城市的机动车技术水平信息和道路路况,并分析了上述三个城市的燃油类型和累计行驶里程和交通流的分布特征。分析结果衰明,备城市的机动车技术水平特征及差距,其中广州的出租车、公交车已规模推广环保型燃料,各类车型燃料使用比例不同使得尾气成分有一定差异;广州公交车累计行驶里程和年均行驶里程分布较靠后,公交系统的使用率较高;出租车年均行驶里程低于佛山、中山。在交通流分布上,广州总交通量大于中山;广州各级道路交通量呈梯度递减分布,小时交通量差距较大;中山仅国道承担较大范围的运输,其他各级道路分布形状统一,非工作类出行比例低。     

What vehicle features are considered important when buying an automobile? An examination of driver preferences by age and gender

Introduction

Certain vehicle features can help drivers avoid collisions and/or protect occupants in the event of a crash, and therefore, might play an important role when deciding which vehicle to purchase. The objective of this study was to examine the importance attributed to key vehicle features (including safety) that drivers consider when buying a car and its association with age and gender.

Methods

A sample of 2,002 Canadian drivers aged 18 years and older completed a survey that asked them to rank the importance of eight vehicle features if they were to purchase a vehicle (storage, mileage, safety, price, comfort, performance, design, and reliability). ANOVA tests were performed to: (a) determine if there were differences in the level of importance between features and; (b) examine the effect of age and gender on the importance attributed to these features.

Results

Of the features examined, safety and reliability were the most highly rated in terms of importance, whereas design and performance had the lowest rating. Differences in safety and performance across age groups were dependent on gender. This effect was most evident in the youngest and oldest age groups.

Conclusions

Safety and reliability were considered the most important features. Age and gender play a significant role in explaining the importance of certain features.

Impact on Industry

Targeted efforts for translating safety-related information to the youngest and oldest consumers should be emphasized due to their high collision, injury, and fatality rates.     

Behavioral Factors as Predictors of Motor Vehicle Crashes in Young Drivers

Gains in reducing mortality and morbidity from motor vehicle crashes can be achieved by understanding the behavioral factors that contribute to the elevated risk of motor vehicle-related injury and death. This study investigates the incidence, along with the effect of driver and behavioral factors, on the likelihood of motor vehicle crashes. Seventeen year old newly licensed drivers (n = 1277) in Perth, Western Australia, were recruited and followed over the first 12 months of driving. Using Cox proportional hazard analysis, driver and behavioral factors were assessed to determine whether they predicted the likelihood of a crash in the first 12 months of driving. The crash incidence rate was higher for males (1R = 4.6/10,000 driving days) than females (IR = 3.9/10,000 driving days). Multivariate analysis indicated that drivers who reported to have driven daily prior to obtaining their learners permit (L-plates) were at an increased risk of motor vehicle crash. A twofold increase in motor vehicle crash was apparent among drivers considered to be confident-adventurous drivers compared to low to moderate levels of driver confidence-adventurousness (HR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.29-3.21). The research indicates that a driver's perception of their confidence and adventurousness in the road environment plays a part in the causal pathway leading to a motor vehicle crash. This research points to the need for preventive strategies that focus not only on knowledge and skill acquisition, but also the driver's perception in preparing young people for our roads.     

Characteristics of vehicles driven by teens and adults killed in crashes, 2013–2017

Introduction: Teen drivers experience higher crash risk than their experienced adult counterparts. Legislative and community outreach methods have attempted to reduce this risk; results have been mixed. The increasing presence of vehicle safety features across the fleet has driven fatality numbers down in the past decades, but the disparity between young drivers and others remains. Method: We merged Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data on fatal crashes with vehicle characteristic data from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). The analysis compared the vehicle type, size, age, and the presence of select safety features in vehicles driven by teens (ages 15–17 years) and adult drivers (ages 35–50 years) who were killed in crashes from 2013 to 2017. Results were compared with a similar analysis conducted on data from 2007 to 2012. Results: Teen drivers were more likely than their adult counterparts to be killed while driving older, smaller vehicles that were less likely to have the option to be equipped with side airbags. Discussion: Teenage drivers remain more likely to be killed while driving older, smaller vehicles than adult drivers. Parents and guardians are mainly responsible for teen vehicle choice, and should keep vehicle size, weight, and safety features in mind when placing their teen in a vehicle. Practical Application: These findings can help guide safer vehicle choice for new teen drivers.     

Control strategies for vehicular NOx emissions in Guangzhou, China

Guangzhou is a city in southern China that has experienced very rapid economic development in recent years. The city's air has very high concentrations of various pollutants, including sulphur dioxide (SO₂), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O₃) and particulate. This paper reviews the changes in air quality in the city over the past 15 years, and notes that a serious vehicular-related emissions problem has been superimposed on the traditional coal-burning problem evident in most Chinese cities. As NOx concentrations have increased, oxidants and photochemical smog now interact with the traditional SO₂ and particulate pollutants, leading to increased health risks and other environmental concerns.
Any responsible NOx control strategy for the city must include vehicle emission control measures. This paper reviews control strategies designed to abate vehicle emissions to fulfill the city's air quality improvement target in 2010. A cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that, while NOx emission control is expensive, vehicular emission standards could achieve a relatively sizable emissions reduction at reasonable cost. To achieve the 2010 air quality target of NOx, advanced implementation of EURO3 standards is recommended, substituting for the EURO2 currently envisioned in the national regulations. Related technical options, including fuel quality improvements and inspection/maintenance (I/M) upgrades (ASM or IM240), are assessed as well.     

利用SPAMS研究长沙市秋季PM2.5化学组成及来源

2019年10月12日—11月25日,使用单颗粒气溶胶飞行时间质谱仪(SPAMS)在位于长沙市的湖南省生态环境厅点位进行了为期45 d的定点监测。结果表明,监测期间长沙市总体空气质量小时级别优、良天气占比为80.3%。长沙市首要污染物为PM_(2.5),其主要来源为机动车尾气源,二次无机源次之,工业工艺源排在第三位,占比分别为27.4%,21.5%和17.4%。整体来看,监测期间PM_(2.5)质量浓度的升高大多伴随着以上3种污染源颗粒物的同步升高。机动车尾气源具有明显的早高峰,工业工艺源、生物质燃烧源和餐饮源夜间占比增加。在偏东方向气团主导下,工业工艺源和燃煤源贡献最大;在东北方向气团主导下,PM_(2.5)质量浓度最高,且机动车尾气源占比最高。     

双排气管车辆排气取样检测研究

双排气管汽油车进行尾气检测时，环保监管部门的监管要求与环保尾气检测机构的实际操作常存在分歧。对于双排气管汽油车究竟插入几个取样探头测试，才能准确、科学地检测出尾气中的含量浓度，从而对尾气检测结果做出公正准确的判断，从检测标准要求、比对实验方法验证、排气管构造图解析3个方面对该问题进行了讨论。     

佛山市交通CO2排放及低碳出行对策

以佛山市2012年数据为基础,结合COPERT模型,分析了车型种类、排气量、燃油类型、排放水平等对CO2排放因子的影响规律,探讨了不同车型组成与排放水平下的CO2排放分担率,讨论并评估了佛山市的低碳交通出行对策。结果表明:排放水平对CO2排放因子的影响不明显,除重型客车与公交车,燃油类型对CO2排放因子的影响亦不明显,各车型的CO2排放因子随着排气量的增加而增加;当佛山市机动车平均行驶速度提高至55 km/h时,每辆车CO2综合排放因子可达最小值125.73 g/km;轻型客车和摩托车的CO2排放量最大,分别为1469 493 t/a和394 174.3 t/a,分担率分别为52.1%和14.0%;不同排放水平的载客车CO2排放分担率从大到小排序依次为:国I国0国Ⅱ国Ⅲ国Ⅳ,分别为34.7%、22.0%、21.2%、17.5%及4.6%。