Effect on fatality risk of changing from secondary to primary seat belt enforcement

BACKGROUND: Most seat belt use laws originally passed in the United States contained language restricting enforcement to drivers already stopped for some other reason. States that have since removed this secondary enforcement restriction have reported increased seat belt use. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the effect of these law changes on driver fatality rates. METHOD: Trends in passenger vehicle driver death rates per billion miles traveled were compared for 10 states that changed from secondary to primary seat belt enforcement and 14 states that remained with secondary enforcement. RESULTS: After accounting for possible economic effects and other general time trends, the change from secondary to primary enforcement was found to reduce annual passenger vehicle driver death rates by an estimated 7% (95% confidence limits 3.0-10.9). CONCLUSION: The majority of U.S. states still have secondary enforcement laws. If these remaining secondary laws were amended, an estimated 696 deaths per year could be prevented.     

南钢1~#、2~#高炉出铁场除尘系统风量集中改造的实践

论述了南钢1#、2#炉出铁场除尘风量集中改造技术,并对风量集中改造的原因、改造方案和效果进行评定,利用两个高炉共用一个出铁场除尘器的特点,瞬时将风量集中到单座大喷的高炉,强化异常生产状态下铁口抽风的效果,解决大喷时厂房"冒烟"的问题。     

可燃气体燃爆特性综合试验装置构建与甲烷试验

为研究半开敞空间内可燃气体爆炸过程,设计带有泄压面的气体爆炸室,并在此基础上构建一套可燃气体燃爆特性综合试验装置。运用该试验装置,研究预混塔内甲烷气体分层现象以及甲烷爆炸浓度与最小点火能之间的变化规律。甲烷分层试验结果表明:静置一段时间后,预混塔中甲烷浓度随高度的增加而增大。最小点火能试验结果显示,当甲烷的试验爆炸体积分数在10%～13%时,其浓度与点火能之间呈现比较平缓的变化关系,而当其体积分数小于10%或大于13%时,浓度稍微变化,其点火能将发生明显变化。     

基于高斯模型对氯气泄漏浓度分布的快速估算方法研究

利用高斯模型对氯气泄漏浓度分布进行了较全面地探讨和研究,分析了高斯模型的实用性,探索了通过地面任意两点的浓度测量值快速计算泄漏源流强和泄漏点的高度以及地面浓度最大值及最大值位置的方法。提出了估算浓度等于和大于某一定值的区域的办法,并通过三个不同浓度的等值线的估算值和模拟值进行了比较,证明该方法的合理性。该方法完全可以推广到其它的模型和各种不同的条件,对于提高事故处置的侦检效率具有积极的意义。     

Investigating the effect of geometric dimensions of median traffic barriers on crashes: Crash analysis of interstate roads in Wyoming using actual crash datasets

IntroductionDespite the numerous safety studies done on traffic barriers’ performance assessment, the effect of variables such as traffic barrier’s height has not been identified considering a comprehensive actual crash data analysis. This study seeks to identify the impact of geometric variables (i.e., height, post-spacing, sideslope ratio, and lateral offset) on median traffic barriers’ performance in crashes on interstate roads.MethodGeometric dimensions of over 110 miles median traffic barriers on interstate Wyoming roads were inventoried in a field survey between 2016 and 2018. Then, the traffic barrier data collected was combined with historical crash records, traffic volume data, road geometric characteristics, and weather condition data to provide a comprehensive dataset for the analysis. Finally, an ordered logit model with random-parameters was developed for the severity of traffic barrier crashes. Based on the results, traffic barrier’s height was found to impact crash severity.ResultsCrashes involving cable barriers with a height between 30″ and 42″ were less severe than other traffic barrier types, while concrete barriers with a height shorter than 32″ were more likely involved with severe injury crashes. As another important finding, the post-spacing of 6.1–6.3 ft. was identified as the least severe range in W-beam barriers.Practical applicationsThe results show that using flare barriers should reduce the number of crashes compared to parallel barriers.     

Carbon monoxide levels at a toll plaza near Durban, South Africa

Reliable measurements of pollutant levels in the vicinity of a toll plaza appear to be rare. In order to assess the exposure of toll booth operators to carbon monoxide, a continuous carbon monoxide monitor was installed at head height in the booth of a medium density traffic lane at the Mariannhill toll plaza, situated on a busy highway near Durban, South Africa. Measurements in excess of 500 ppmv were recorded and the high daily mean carbon monoxide concentrations may account for some of the symptoms such as headaches and general malaise that have been reported by workers in the booths. Generally, carbon monoxide levels recorded far exceed the recommended limit set by the South African authorities. These results have led to recommendations regarding the structure of new and existing toll booths to minimize the exposure of toll booth workers to adverse effects of vehicle-emitted pollutants.     

颗粒活性炭对UASB处理垃圾渗滤液促进作用的研究

通过对比研究,考查了用UASB处理垃圾渗滤液时,投加颗粒活性炭对加速UASB反应器中污泥颗粒化进程、缩短启动时间、提高处理效果的影响。结果显示:启动时间缩短了近1/3,最大有机负荷提高近40%且出现了更大颗粒污泥,但COD去除效率没有明显提高。