The effectiveness of reducing illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits for driving: evidence for lowering the limit to .05 BAC

PURPOSE: This scientific review provides a summary of the evidence regarding the benefits of reducing the illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving and providing a case for enacting a .05 BAC limit. RESULTS: Fourteen independent studies in the United States indicate that lowering the illegal BAC limit from .10 to .08 has resulted in 5-16% reductions in alcohol-related crashes, fatalities, or injuries. However, the illegal limit is .05 BAC in numerous countries around the world. Several studies indicate that lowering the illegal per se limit from .08 to .05 BAC also reduces alcohol-related fatalities. Laboratory studies indicate that impairment in critical driving functions begins at low BACs and that most subjects are significantly impaired at .05 BAC. The relative risk of being involved in a fatal crash as a driver is 4 to 10 times greater for drivers with BACs between .05 and .07 compared to drivers with .00 BACs. SUMMARY: There is strong evidence in the literature that lowering the BAC limit from .10 to .08 is effective, that lowering the BAC limit from .08 to .05 is effective, and that lowering the BAC limit for youth to .02 or lower is effective. These law changes serve as a general deterrent to drinking and driving and ultimately save lives. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This critical review supports the adoption of lower illegal BAC limits for driving.     

Comparing safety climate factors as predictors of work-related driving behavior

INTRODUCTION: Research suggests safety climate (SC) is a strong predictor of safety-related outcomes in organizations. This study explores the relationship between six SC dimensions and four aspects of work-related driving. METHOD: The SC factors measured were "communication and procedures," "work pressures," "relationships," "safety rules," "driver training," and "management commitment." The aspects of self-reported occupational driving measured were traffic violations, driver error, driving while distracted, and pre-trip vehicle maintenance. RESULTS: Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the SC factors accounted for significant amounts of variance in all four aspects of work-related driving, over and above the control factors of age, sex, and work-related driving exposure. However, further investigation indicated certain SC factors (particularly safety rules, communication, and management commitment) were more strongly related to specific aspects of work-related driving behavior than others. Together, the SC factors were better able to predict self-reported distraction from the road than the other aspects of driving behavior measured. Implications for occupational safety, particularly for the management of work-related drivers are discussed.     

Multi-scales Analysis of Driving Forces on Land Use/Cover Change in China： Taking Farmland Returning to Forest or Grassland as a Case

Increasing populations are causing an increase in food demands, and the area of cultivated land expands every year. Inappropriate land transition from ecology to production results in the constant decline of the ecological security level and influences the regional sustainable development. Adjusting unreasonable land use mode and reconstructing natural land cover are important ways to maintain and improve the ecological environment. Also reclaiming farmland as areas for forests and grasslands （FRFG） is another way. Successful implementation of FRFG in China is the result of comprehensive effect of the multi-scales driving forces. This paper analyses the driving forces of FRFG in China on a national （country） -regional （province） - local （county） - household （farmer） level scale, and the results are： driving forces at the national scale include ecological and food security and the western development of China; at the regional scale, ecological and economic benefits become the main factors to influence the dimension of FRFG under the same policy. The driving forces can be divided into 6 types： industrial structure adjustment, water source protection, flood prevention, the Three-Gorge Project protection, reduction of the amount of sediment flowing into the Yellow River and wind erosion desertification prevention. The driving forces at the local scale can be divided into 12 types with developing leading industries, increasing farmers＇ income and improving agricultural production conditions as the main types; at the household scale, the national policy meeting farmers＇ demands and the optimization of individual interests are all driving forces.     

Motivational factors underlying the intention to drink and drive in young male drivers

Problem: Anyone drinking and driving has a high risk of being involved in an accident. Young male drivers, however, run the highest risk at the same levels of blood alcohol as other candidates, as they have more accidents than any other group. A better understanding of their motivations toward drinking and driving is needed to help create effective prevention. Method: In the present study, 115 male drivers aged 18–24 completed a questionnaire—based on Ajzen's theory of planned behavior—designed to study the motivational factors leading to drinking and driving. Results: Young males' intention to drink and drive is predicted by their attitudes, their perceived behavioral control (PBC), and, to a lesser degree, subjective norms. Impact on Industry: The results showing slightly positive PBC over driving after drinking suggest that work aimed at reducing this perception to a more realistic level is a potential prevention avenue.     

山东省农业多功能的时空演化特征与驱动机制分析

农业供给侧改革与乡村振兴背景下,深入挖掘各地区农业多种功能,统筹不同农业功能特征地域的协调发展,成为促进农业增收、实现农业可持续发展、保障食物安全的关键。农业多功能的演变受到区域农业资源禀赋与社会经济发展水平和阶段的复杂影响。以山东省为例,选取2004年、2011年、2017年三个时间截面,构建农业多功能评价指标体系,运用空间错位指数、回归分析等方法对县域农业多功能的时空演变规律与驱动机制进行分析。研究发现：（1）2004—2017年,山东省农业的农产品供给功能和经济发展功能分别呈先升后降和先降后升的增长态势,社会保障功能和生态服务功能分别呈持续下降和先降后升的下降趋势。（2）研究期内,农产品供给功能与生态服务功能对农业资源禀赋依赖较强,分别呈现出沿平原—丘陵—山地递减与递增的空间格局;经济发展功能与社会保障功能受社会经济发展水平和阶段影响较大,时空差异明显。（3）各驱动因子对于同一功能中不同要素的作用方向与强度存在差异,引发农业各功能结构的变化。基于功能视角提出山东省农业转型发展的路径选择与分区优化策略。     

元谋干热河谷民营水土保持发展的驱动力研究

民营水土保持是当今水土保持生态建设中出现的一种新模式。以元谋干热河谷区为研究范围，通过对农户调查资料的分析，确定民营水土保持发展的驱动力因子为农户经济发展水平、农户兼业经济行为、农户家庭劳动力状况、农户经营规模、政府行为5大类，并对5大指标进行细化、量化，运用相关分析、因子分析等定量统计分析方法对元谋干热河谷区的民营水土保持发展的驱动力因子进行定量分析，结果表明，经济因子是影响民营水土保持发展的第一因子。     

真空热试验红外加热笼运动驱动系统设计

目的解决在航天器真空热试验中,单纯依靠红外加热笼自身设计,无法兼顾高、低温工况外的热流模拟需求问题。方法设计一套运动驱动系统,并应用于型号试验,通过调整红外加热笼的相对位置,调节不同工况下外热流模拟能力。结果该系统满足空间环境模拟器机械和电接口要求,克服了真空热试验环境高真空、超低温等因素的影响,实现了红外加热笼的平稳可靠移动,使其最大、最小辐射热流密度等指标得到显著提升。结论真空热试验中,通过运动驱动系统适时调整红外加热笼的相对位置,可以使其更好地适应不同工况需求,并提高外热流模拟整体能力。     

轻型车NH_3排放实验研究

用傅里叶变换紫外光谱法对4辆不同里程、不同排量、不同排放标准的轻型车NH_3排放进行测量,试验车辆包括2辆双燃料出租车。实验结果表明:里程数越高的车辆,在同一个测试循环中产生的NH_3排放越多;在高速工况下,车辆产生的NH_3要高于在低速工况时;在循环中车辆加速过程产生的NH_3浓度较高;对于天然气燃料车辆,市区运转工况下基本上没有NH_3排放,在城郊运转工况下产生的NH_3要多于用汽油燃料时。     

Driving exposure by driver age in Michigan

Background

This study compared driving exposure between two high-crash-risk groups (16–17 and 18-24-year-olds), with a low-crash-risk group (35-64-year-olds). In addition, patterns of association between driving exposure measures and demographic and driving behavior variables were examined.

Methods

Respondent's total miles, minutes, and trips driven were calculated within a 48-hour period, using state-wide survey data collected in 2004 and 2005.

Results

The youngest drivers drove fewer miles and minutes, but a comparable number of trips as the two older groups. Employment and high vehicle access were associated with greater driving exposure for 16-17-year-olds and 18-24-year-olds. Employment, high household income, large household size, and low vehicle access were associated with greater driving exposure for 35-64-year-olds. More driving was done alone than with passengers present and during the day than at night across all ages. There was a positive association between two driving exposure measures (miles and minutes driven) and demographic and driving behavior variables, which did not extend to trips driven.

Discussion

Driving exposure is directly related to stage of life. The entire sample of 16-17-year-old respondents were in high school, which directly influenced their driving times, destinations, and purpose. Those aged 18–24 years displayed driving behavior patterns that were closer to the older drivers, while retaining some differences. The oldest drivers were likely to be shouldering the greatest household responsibilities, and their greater driving exposure may reflect this reality.

Impact on industry

These findings provide new information about driving exposure for two high-risk and one low-risk group of drivers. They also raise concern over potential workplace safety issues related to teens’ higher driving exposure, and concomitant crash risk, related to being employed. Future research should examine this issue more carefully so that evidence based recommendations can be made to enhance the safety of teens who are employed, especially those who are employed as drivers.     

县级土地利用动态变化及驱动力分析——以郑州市中牟县为例

以郑州市中牟县为例,利用土地详查和统计数据等资料,建立土地利用动态变化模型,分析了中牟县1996-2008年土地利用数量、速度、程度、区域差异等变化,揭示中牟县土地利用变化特征.同时,采用主成分分析法得出城镇化进程和收入水平提高是影响中牟县土地利用变化的主要驱动因素.