Objective: Many studies addressing age-related changes in driving performance focus on comparing young vs. older drivers, which might lead to the biased conclusion that driving performance decreases only after the age of 65. The main aim of the study was to show that changes in driving performance are progressive throughout the adult years.
Methods: A sample of 351 drivers aged 20 to 80 was assessed for their reaction times while driving between road cones. The drivers were exposed to 2 conditions varying according to task complexity. In single task conditions, the drivers performed a full stopping maneuver at a given signal; in dual task conditions, the drivers were distracted before the signal for stopping maneuver was triggered. Reaction times were compared across conditions and age groups.
Results: The results showed that both reaction times and variability of driving performance increased progressively between the ages of 20 and 80. The increase in both reaction times and variability was greater in the complex task condition. The high-performing quarter of elderly drivers performed equally well or better than younger drivers did.
Conclusions: The data clearly supported the claim that driving performance changes steadily across age groups: both mean reaction time and interindividual variability progressively increase with age. In addition, a significant group of older drivers was identified who did not show the expected age-related decrease in performance. The findings have important implications, suggesting that in relation to driving, aging is a progressive phenomenon and may lead to variety of driving performance; age-related studies of driving performance should put more emphasis on investigating changes across the whole driver age range rather than only comparing younger and older drivers. 相似文献
Objective: Slow eyelid closure is recognized as an indicator of sleepiness in sleep-deprived individuals, although automated ocular devices are not well validated. This study aimed to determine whether changes in eyelid closure are evident following acute sleep deprivation as assessed by an automated device and how ocular parameters relate to performance after sleep deprivation.
Methods: Twelve healthy professional drivers (45.58 ± 10.93 years) completed 2 randomized sessions: After a normal night of sleep and after 24 h of total sleep deprivation. Slow eye closure (PERCLOS) was measured while drivers performed a simulated driving task.
Results: Following sleep deprivation, drivers displayed significantly more eyelid closure (P < .05), greater variation in lane position (P < .01) and more attentional lapses (P < .05) compared to after normal sleep. PERCLOS was moderately associated with variability in both vigilance performance (r = 0.68, P < .05) and variation in lane position on the driving task (r = 0.61, P < .05).
Conclusions: Automated ocular measurement appears to be an effective means of detecting impairment due to sleep loss in the laboratory. 相似文献
Oxidation of sulfurized rust in oil tank is complicated, and it is influenced by numerous factors such as water content, air humidity, operating temperature etc. The paper focuses on the oxidation process of sulfurized rust in the wild. Firstly, samples collected from a petrochemical company were put into the sulfurization & oxidation experimental apparatus to gain wet and dry sulfurized rusts. Their chemical compositions and phase were analyzed by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (EDS) -scanning electron microscope (SEM) technique. The results showed that both wet and dry sulfurized rusts had S, Fe2O3, Fe3S4 and FeS2, whereas FeS only existed in wet sulfurized rust. The two kinds of rusts gave a short length of side, diamond appearance and a large pore size in structure. Then oxidation of wet sulfurized rust was investigated, which included electrochemical reaction stage, electrochemical & chemical reaction coexisting stage and chemical reaction stage. The final oxidation product of wet sulfurized was determined to be Fe2O3. On the basis of this study, an indicator for monitoring and early-warning was proposed to prevent plants in vicinity of the accidental vessel or tank from fire and explosion. 相似文献