Using alcohol intoxication goggles (Fatal Vision® goggles) to detect alcohol related impairment in simulated driving

Objective: Fatal vision goggles (FVGs) are image-distorting equipment used within driver education programs to simulate alcohol-related impairment. However, there is no empirical evidence comparing the behavioral effects associated with wearing FVGs to alcohol intoxication. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of FVGs in producing alcohol-related impairment in simulated driving.

Methods: Twenty-two healthy males (age: 23 ± 3 years, mean ± SD) participated in a placebo-controlled crossover design study involving 4 experimental trials. In each trial, participants completed a baseline level simulated driving task followed by an experimental driving task, involving one of 4 treatments: (1) a dose of alcohol designed to elicit 0.080% breath alcohol concentration (BrAC; AB), (2) an alcohol placebo beverage (PB), (3) FVG (estimated % blood alcohol concentration [BAC] 0.070–0.100+), and (4) placebo goggles (PGs). The driving tasks included 3 separate scenarios lasting ～5 min each; these were a simple driving scenario, a complex driving scenario, and a hazard perception driving scenario. Selected lateral control parameters (standard deviation of lane position [SDLP]; total number of lane crossings [LCs]) and longitudinal control parameters (average speed; standard deviation of speed [SDSP]; distance headway; minimum distance headway) were monitored during the simple and complex driving scenarios. Latency to 2 different stimuli (choice reaction time [CRT]) was tested in the hazard perception driving scenario. Subjective ratings of mood and attitudes toward driving were also provided during each of the trials.

Results: Neither placebo treatment influenced simulated driving performance. Mean BrAC was 0.060 ± 0.010% at the time of driving on the AB trial. Lateral control: In the simple driving scenario, SDLP and LC were not affected under any of the experimental treatments. However, in the complex driving scenario, significantly greater SDLP was observed on both the FVG and AB trials compared to their respective baseline drives. LC increased significantly from baseline on the AB trial only. Longitudinal control: Speed was not affected by any of the experimental treatments; however, SDSP increased significantly from baseline on the FVG trial. A significant reduction in distance headway and minimum distance headway was detected on the FVG trial compared to baseline. Hazard perception: Neither AB nor FVG trials were influential on CRT. Subjective mood ratings were significantly altered on the AB and FVG trials compared to baseline and placebo conditions. Participants reported reduced willingness and ability to drive under the active treatments (AB and FVG) than the placebo treatments (PB and PG).

Conclusions: FVGs may have some utility in replicating alcohol-related impairment on specific driving performance measurements. Hence, the equipment may offer an alternative approach to researching the impact of alcohol intoxication on simulated driving performance among populations where the provision of alcohol would otherwise be unethical (e.g., prelicensed drivers).     

Transport company safety climate—The impact on truck driver behavior and crash involvement

Objective: The present study investigated the relationships between safety climate and driving behavior and crash involvement.

Methods: A total of 339 company-employed truck drivers completed a questionnaire that measured their perceptions of safety climate, crash record, speed choice, and aberrant driving behaviors (errors, lapses, and violations).

Results: Although there was no direct relationship between the drivers' perceptions of safety climate and crash involvement, safety climate was a significant predictor of engagement in risky driving behaviors, which were in turn predictive of crash involvement.

Conclusions: This research shows that safety climate may offer an important starting point for interventions aimed at reducing risky driving behavior and thus fewer vehicle collisions.     

Sensitivity evaluation of the visual,tactile, and auditory detection response task method while driving

Objectives: In this article, we evaluate the sensitivity to cognitive load of 3 versions of the Detection Response Task method (DRT), proposed in ISO Draft Standard DIS-17488.

Methods: We present a user study with 30 participants in which we compared the sensitivity to cognitive load of visual, audio, and tactile DRT in a simulated driving environment. The amount of cognitive load was manipulated with secondary n-back tasks at 2 levels of difficulty (0-back and 1-back). We also explored whether the DRT method is least sensitive to cognitive load when the stimuli and secondary task are of the same modality. For this purpose, we used 3 forms to present the n-back task stimuli: visual, audio, and tactile. Responses to the task were always vocal. The experiment was based on a between-subject design (the DRT modalities) with 2 levels of within-subject design study (modalities and difficulty of the secondary n-back tasks). The participants' primary task in the study was to drive safely, and a second priority was to answer to DRT stimuli and perform secondary tasks.

Results: The results indicate that all 3 versions of the DRT tested were sensitive to detecting the difference in cognitive load between the reference driving period and driving and engaging in the secondary tasks. Only the visual DRT discriminated between the 0-back and 1-back conditions on mean response time. Contrary to expectations, no interaction was observed between DRT modality and the stimuli modality used for presentation of the secondary tasks.

Conclusions: None of the 3 methods of presenting DRT stimuli showed a consistent advantage in sensitivity in differentiating multiple levels of cognitive load if all response times, hit rates, and secondary task performance are considered. If only response time is considered, the visual presentation of the DRT stimulus used in this study showed some advantages. In interpreting these data, it should be noted that the methods of DRT stimulus presentation varied somewhat from the currently proposed draft ISO standard and it is possible that the relative salience level of the visual DRT stimulus influenced the findings. It is further suggested that more than 2 levels of difficulty of the n-back task should be considered for further investigation of the relative sensitivity of different DRT stimuli modalities. Parameters that indicate change in cognitive load (response time, hit rate, task performance) should be analyzed together in assessing the overall impact on the driver and not individually, in order to obtain a fuller insight of the assessed cognitive load.     

Representativity and univocity of traffic signs and their effect on trajectory movement in a driving simulation task: Warning signs

Objective: The effect of traffic signs on the behavior of drivers is not completely understood. Knowing about how humans process the meaning of signs (not just by learning but instinctively) will improve reaction time and decision making when traveling. The economic, social, and psychological consequences of car accidents are well known.

Methods: This study sounds out which traffic signs are more ergonomic for participants, from a cognitive point of view, and determines, at the same time, their effect in participants' movement trajectories in a driving simulation task.

Results: Results point out that the signs least representative of their meaning produce a greater deviation from the center of the road than the most representative ones.

Conclusions: This study encourages both an in-depth analysis of the effect on movement of roadside signs and the study of how this effect can be modified by the context in which these signs are presented (with the aim to move the research closer to and analyze the data in real contexts). The goal is to achieve clarity of meaning and lack of counterproductive effects on the trajectory of representative signs (those that provoke fewer mistakes in the decision task).     

Are you okay to drive? Commuting behavior and blood alcohol concentrations among restaurant diners

Objective: Drink driving is widely recognized as a major road safety problem. In Australia, health promotion messages encourage monitoring the number of standard drinks consumed prior to driving. This pilot research aimed to investigate commuting behavior and blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of diners, including intended drivers, at Sunshine Coast restaurants.

Methods: Five hundred and forty-four diners (n = 260 males) consented to participate in a brief interview and to use a breathalyzer device to measure their BAC.

Results: Forty percent of participants advised they don't drink and drive (34% of males, 45% of females; 67.25% of <17–20 years, 30.5% of 50–59 years), and of the remaining participants, 75% advised they count the number of their drinks (69% of males, 84% of females; 32% of <17–20 years, 82% of 50–59 years), while 10% of participants monitored their BAC by how they were feeling (12% of males, 6% of females). Thirty-seven percent of participants said it was easy/very easy to estimate their BAC (41% of males; 33% of females; 21% of <17–20 years, 43% of 50–59 years). The actual BAC was less than expected for 56% of participants, with one-third underestimating BAC and some intended drivers having an actual BAC in excess of the 0.05 limit.

Conclusions: Given the proportion of diners who reported they count the number of drinks, or use feelings as a way to gauge BAC, coupled with the considerable proportion who underestimated their BAC, a safer public health message is to avoid driving if you intend to drink. In addition, targeted intervention for experienced drivers (and, arguably, drinkers) appears warranted, as every participant aged less than 21 years who stated he or she would drive home indeed had a zero BAC. Interestingly every female driver who stated she would be driving home also had a legal BAC, suggesting gender-specific intervention.     

辽宁省生活垃圾处理现状及处理模式探讨

随着城市化进程加快,生活垃圾产生量逐年增加,生活垃圾处理问题已成为社会关注的焦点。在总结辽宁省生活垃圾处理现状的基础上,对辽宁生活垃圾处理模式的选择和发展进行了探讨。     

贵州近50年来的径流过程时空演变特征及驱动因素诊断

本文以贵州10个径流站覆盖近50年的实测月径流资料(1956~2000)及19个气象站同期实测资料为基础,结合Mann-Kendall趋势分析和流量历时曲线FDCs等方法,分析了时间变异点(1986年)前后贵州8大主要流域的径流过程的年度和季节变化、洪枯水变化规律及其演变的空间特征。结果表明:(1)从时间规律上看,贵州主要江河近50年间径流变化大部分测站呈现小幅增加趋势,个别下游水文站径流呈明显增加趋势;(2)1987~2000年期间贵州的汛期径流和1956~1986年期间相比更加集中了;(3)贵州大多数水文站月径流洪水指标(Q5)在1986年后有不同幅度增加,而枯水指标(Q95)1986年后涨跌互现。与之对应的洪水指数(Q5/Q50)及枯水指数(Q95/Q50)也存在类似规律;(4)从空间规律上看,贵州西北部地区和东南部地区径流减少,其它地方(主要集中在乌江上游)增加。贵州1986年前后近50年时期内的降水及蒸发的空间规律与其径流变化空间规律是基本吻合的,说明贵州过去近50年来的径流过程变化主要是由气候变化引起的。本文的研究结果对保证并促进贵州地区区域水资源、生态与环境和谐健康的可持续发展具有非常重要的战略意义和科学价值。     

宏观市场环境对BOT模式投资污水处理行业的影响研究

污水处理BOT投资模式是一种国际流行的公共基础设施建设融资方式。鉴于国内污水处理市场化程度较低、污水处理率及处理效率不高等压力,政府正通过调整行业政策,不断鼓励社会资本以BOT模式进入污水处理行业。污水处理市场前景与商机方面,中国污水处理市场发展空间巨大。市场环境方面,宏观经济发展速度对污水处理行业发展的影响不大;中国各项产业政策均有利于污水处理市场化发展;而且行业综合风险较低。投资收益方面,市政公用设施的性质特点,决定了污水处理行业投资收益率不高但长期稳定。总结来看,宏观市场环境将越来越有利于以BOT模式投资污水处理市场,BOT模式投资是可行的。     

微电解-Fenton法处理拉米夫定废水试验研究

分别采用微电解-Fenton氧化串联工艺和H2O2强化微电解工艺预处理难降解拉米夫定工业废水,通过对有机物、色度去除率的优选和反应过程中Fe2＋浓度变化的分析,确定了最佳工艺及工艺运行方式。结果表明,微电解-Fenton氧化串联工艺宜采用微电解阶段后调节pH值的运行方式,与不调节pH值的运行方式相比,CODCr去除率提高了6.85%;H2O2强化微电解工艺,反应100min时,CODCr去除率为71.71%,色度去除率为98.15%,与微电解-Fenton氧化串联工艺相比反应时间短,投加药剂费用少,不需另设专门Fenton反应设备。通过废水处理前后的UV/Vis吸收光谱图比较,表明2种工艺对拉米夫定废水具有较理想的处理效果但最终降解产物不同。     

地面爆燃式电打火装置在火炬上的应用

介绍了地面爆燃式电打火装置的结构及安装要点,实践表明该装置点火效率高、故障率低、便于检修,非常适合石油化工行业的火炬打火系统。