Traffic injury prevention
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Traffic injury prevention · Jan 2019
Working conditions and sleepiness while driving among truck drivers.
Objective: The objective of this study is to identify the role of working conditions as predictors of sleepiness while driving among truck drivers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among truck drivers who transported grains to Paranaguá Port, Paraná, Brazil. The truck drivers were interviewed and completed a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic and behavioral variables, working conditions, consumption of illicit psychoactive substances, and sleep patterns. ⋯ After model adjustments, the following working conditions were associated with sleepiness while driving: Distance from the last shipment of more than 1,000 km (odds ratio [OR] = 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-2.23) and a formal labor contract with a productivity-based salary (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.86-3.78). Consumption of illicit psychoactive substances (OR = 1.99; 95% CI, 1.14-3.47) was also associated with sleepiness while driving. Conclusions: Distance traveled and a formal labor contract with productivity-based earnings were the working conditions associated with sleepiness while driving, regardless of other working or behavioral characteristics, age, consumption of illicit psychoactive substances, and sleep duration.
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Traffic injury prevention · Jan 2019
A multinomial logit analysis of factors associated with severity of motorcycle crashes in Ghana.
Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the factors affecting motorcycle crash severity in Ghana. Methods: A retrospective analysis of motorcycle crash data between 2011 and 2015 was conducted using a motorcycle crash data set extracted from the National Road Traffic Crash Database at the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) in Ghana. Injury severity was classified into 4 categories: Fatal, hospitalized, injured, and damage only. ⋯ The ability to understand the various factors that influence motorcycle crash severity is a step forward in providing an appropriate basis upon which informed motorcycle crash policies can be developed. Particular attention should be given to the provision of road signage at junctions and speed humps and controlling traffic during the weekend. In addition, road maintenance should be carried out periodically to address motorcycle safety in Ghana.
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Traffic injury prevention · Jan 2019
E-bikers' braking behavior: Results from a naturalistic cycling study.
Objective: The number of e-bike users has increased significantly over the past few years and with it the associated safety concerns. Because e-bikes are faster than conventional bicycles and more prone to be in conflict with road users, e-bikers may need to perform avoidance maneuvers more frequently. Braking is the most common avoidance maneuver but is also a complex and critical task in emergency situations, because cyclists must reduce speed quickly without losing balance. ⋯ Kinematic analysis revealed that, when larger decelerations were required, cyclists more frequently used combined braking instead of single braking. Conclusions: The results provide new insights into the behavior of cyclists on e-bikes and may provide support in the development of safety measures including guidelines and best practices for optimal brake use. The results may also inform the design of braking systems intended to reduce the complexity of the braking operation.
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Traffic injury prevention · Jan 2019
Factors associated with motorcycle traffic crash fatalities among active duty U.S. Army personnel.
Research on factors associated with motorcycle fatalities among active duty U.S. Army personnel is limited. This analysis describes motorcycle crash-related injuries from 1995 through 2014 and assesses the effect of alcohol use and helmet use on the risk of fatal injury among active duty U.S. Army motorcycle operators involved in a traffic crash, controlling for other factors shown to be potentially associated with fatality in this population. ⋯ Among U.S. Army motorcycle operators, alcohol use and not wearing a helmet increased the odds of fatality, given that a crash occurred, and additional modifiable risk factors were identified. Results will help inform U.S. Army motorcycle policies and training.
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Traffic injury prevention · Jan 2019
Effects of alcohol intoxication goggles (fatal vision goggles) with a concurrent cognitive task on simulated driving performance.
Objective: Fatal vision goggles (FVGs) are image-distorting equipment used to simulate alcohol impairment in driver education programs. Unlike alcohol, which disrupts cognitive processes, FVG only induces visual impairment. Performing concurrent cognitive tasks while wearing FVG may reduce the wearer's attentional resources and provide a better simulation of alcohol intoxication. ⋯ However, effects were isolated to specific performance outcomes and were dependent on complexity of the driving task. Addition of a secondary cognitive task exacerbates the effects of FVG on select driving outcomes (i.e. lane position, SDSP), influences the effect direction on other measures (i.e. distance headway), and has a detrimental effect on reaction time to stimuli embedded in the scenario, that is not observed with FVG alone. Future studies using FVG as a surrogate means to alcohol intoxication should consider these results, informing methodological decisions to reduce potential for confounding effects.