Accident; analysis and prevention
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The current study aims to obtain knowledge about the nature of the processes involved in Hazard Perception, using measurement techniques to separate and independently quantify these suspected sub-processes: Sensation, Situation Awareness (recognition, location and projection) and decision-making. It applies Signal Detection Theory analysis to Hazard Perception and Prediction Tasks. To enable the calculation of Signal Detection Theory parameters, video-recorded hazardous vs. quasi-hazardous situations were presented to the participants. ⋯ On the other hand, although offenders do worse than non-offenders on the hazard identification question, they do just as well when their Situation Awareness is probed (in fact, they are as aware as non-offenders of what the obstacles on the road are, where they are and what will happen next). Nevertheless, when considering the answers participants provided about their degree of cautiousness, experienced drivers were more cautious than novice drivers, and non-offender drivers were more cautious than offender drivers. That is, a greater number of experienced and non-offender drivers chose the answer "I would make an evasive manoeuvre such as braking gradually".
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The severity of disability related to road traffic crashes has been little studied, despite the significant health and socio-economic impacts that determine victims' quality of life. ⋯ Road traffic crashes mainly cause mild disability. Moderate/severe disability is associated with lower work capacity, greater functional dependence, and increased need of aids, moving home and family support.
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In Europe, the number of road crashes is steadily decreasing every year. However, the incidence of bicycle crashes is not declining as fast as that of car crashes. In Sweden, cyclists are the most frequently injured road users. ⋯ The bicycle was equipped with a LIDAR and two cameras to assess how drivers approached and circumvented the bicycle. The collected data allowed us to identify four overtaking phases and quantify the corresponding driver comfort zones. The presence of an oncoming vehicle was the factor that most influenced the maneuver, whereas neither vehicle speed, lane width, shoulder width nor posted speed limit significantly affected the driver comfort zone or the overtaking dynamics.
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Aggressive driving, influenced by the proneness of driving aggression, angry state and provoking situation, is adversely affecting traffic safety especially in developing countries where pedestrians frequently cross an unmarked crosswalk. Exposure to aggressive stimuli causes driving anger and aggressive driving behaviors, but the exposure effect on higher and lower aggression drivers and their cumulative changes under successive exposures need more investigation. ⋯ Environmental design, law enforcement, and educational campaign may have practical value for reducing pedestrian and driver conflicts at unmarked roadways.
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Slowed eyelid closure coupled with increased duration and frequency of closure is associated with drowsiness. This study assessed the utility of two devices for automated measurement of slow eyelid closure in a standard poor performance condition (alcohol) and following 12-h sleep deprivation. Twenty-two healthy participants (mean age=20.8 (SD 1.9) years) with no history of sleep disorders participated in the study. ⋯ The duration of eyelid closure predicted frequent lapses following sleep deprivation (which were equivalent to the average lapses at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05% - area under curve for ROC curve 0.87, p<0.01). The duration of time with slow eyelid closure, assessed by the automated devices, increased following sleep deprivation and was associated with deterioration in psychomotor performance and subjective sleepiness. Comprehensive algorithms inclusive of ocular parameters may be a better indicator of performance impairment following sleep loss.