Examining Driver Compliance with a Move-Over/Slow Down Law in Consideration of Vehicle Type and Messages Displayed on Upstream Dynamic Message Signs

Author(s):  
Nusayba Megat-Johari ◽  
Megat-Usamah Megat-Johari ◽  
Peter Savolainen ◽  
Timothy Gates ◽  
Eva Kassens-Noor

Move-over laws are intended to enhance the safety of road agency and law enforcement personnel who are working on or near the roadway. This study examined driver behavior through a series of field studies where these types of vehicles were located on the outside shoulder of a freeway with their lights activated. The study also evaluated the use of upstream dynamic message signs (DMS) to discern whether targeted safety messages had any impact on behavior under this scenario. Upstream and downstream speed and lane position data were collected from vehicles originally traveling in the rightmost lane upstream of the DMS and emergency/service vehicle at two locations in Michigan. Logistic regression models were estimated to assess driver compliance with the law while considering important contextual factors, such as the type of vehicle on the shoulder and the message displayed on the DMS. The results indicated that drivers were more likely to move over or reduce their speeds when a police car was located on the shoulder as compared to a transportation agency pickup truck. In general, the type of message displayed had minimal impact on driver behavior. The one exception showed that drivers were likely to drive at or below the speed limit when targeted move-over messages were shown as compared to standard travel time messages. For all message types, both speed and lane compliance improved if the roadside vehicle was a police car.

Author(s):  
Megat-Usamah Megat-Johari ◽  
Nusayba Megat-Johari ◽  
Peter T. Savolainen ◽  
Timothy J. Gates ◽  
Eva Kassens-Noor

Transportation agencies have increasingly been using dynamic message signs (DMS) to communicate safety messages in an effort to both increase awareness of important safety issues and to influence driver behavior. Despite their widespread use, evaluations as to potential impacts on driver behavior, and the resultant impacts on traffic crashes, have been very limited. This study addresses this gap in the extant literature and assesses the relationship between traffic crashes and the frequency with which various types of safety messages are displayed. Safety message data were collected from a total of 202 DMS on freeways across the state of Michigan between 2014 and 2018. These data were integrated with traffic volume, roadway geometry, and crash data for segments that were located downstream of each DMS. A series of random parameters negative binomial models were estimated to examine total, speeding-related, and nighttime crashes based on historical messaging data while controlling for other site-specific factors. The results did not show any significant differences with respect to total crashes. Marginal declines in nighttime crashes were observed at locations with more frequent messages related to impaired driving, though these differences were also not statistically significant. Finally, speeding-related crashes were significantly less frequent near DMS that showed higher numbers of messages related to speeding or tailgating. Important issues are highlighted with respect to methodological concerns that arise in the analysis of such data. Field research is warranted to investigate potential impacts on driving behavior at the level of individual drivers.


Urban Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Snehanshu Banerjee ◽  
Mansoureh Jeihani ◽  
Danny D. Brown ◽  
Samira Ahangari

This study investigates the potential effect(s) of different dynamic message signs (DMSs) on driver behavior using a full-scale high-fidelity driving simulator. Different DMSs are categorized by their content, structure, and type of messages. A random forest algorithm is used for three separate behavioral analyses—a route diversion analysis, a route choice analysis, and a compliance analysis—to identify the potential and relative influences of different DMSs on these aspects of driver behavior. A total of 390 simulation runs are conducted using a sample of 65 participants from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Results obtained suggest that DMSs displaying lane closure and delay information with advisory messages are most influential with regards to diversion, while color-coded DMSs and DMSs with avoid route advice are the top contributors potentially impacting route choice decisions and DMS compliance. In this first-of-a-kind study, based on the responses to the pre- and post-simulation surveys as well as results obtained from the analysis of driving-simulation-session data, the authors found that color-coded DMSs are more effective than alphanumeric DMSs, especially in scenarios that demand high compliance from drivers. The increased effectiveness may be attributed to reduced comprehension time and ease with which such DMSs are understood by a greater percentage of road users.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-330
Author(s):  
Dan Paul Stefanescu ◽  
Oana Roxana Chivu ◽  
Claudiu Babis ◽  
Augustin Semenescu ◽  
Valentin Petrescu ◽  
...  

As an attempt to define and characterize the elements required for the ERE systems optimal driving programs (objective of reaching future) in this paper are presented the results made the connection ENE-ECO in order to optimize the operating mode of the oil processing companies installations, depending on environmental and energy indicators. Strong companies in the field, studies (and even started applying) modern methods based on mathematical modeling and neural networks for the correlations between energy indicators and the environment on the one hand, and processing parameters on the other. In order to structure such an optimization methods, the paper presents a mathematical model and calculation program for determining energy and environmental indicators, depending on processing parameters, which become tools of own conception, applicable to any production installation. The study of these models, enable to identify the specific conditions, that must be satisfied for that economic processes to friendly coexist for long term with the environment, namely, to have an minimal impact, meaning that the resulting residues from the economic activity of the organization to be as less harmful as possible for the environment.


1989 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 241-244
Author(s):  
P. Lemoine

SummaryIt is difficult to undertake field studies with non marketed psychotropic drugs because of two apparently contradictory conditions : on the one hand, the methodology has to be rigorously controlled, and on the other hand, such studies have to be carried out in their future environment by general practitioners (GPs). Bearing in mind the lack of training and experience regarding this kind of approach, the author adopted a discussion group method according to the techniques developed by M. Balint. The study group comprised five GPs, a clinical pharmacology expert and a doctor from the pharmaceutical laboratory which had developed the test drug. These persons met on a monthly basis over a one year period. In the present paper, the author indicates the benefits of such a methodology, based on six years’ experience and several trials, with special emphasis placed on the pedagogical aspects.


Biochar ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngitheni Winnie-Kate Nyoka ◽  
Ozekeke Ogbeide ◽  
Patricks Voua Otomo

AbstractTerrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are increasingly threatened by pesticide pollution resulting from extensive use of pesticides, and due to the lack of regulatory measures in the developing world, there is a need for affordable means to lessen environmental effects. This study aimed to investigate the impact of biochar amendment on the toxicity of imidacloprid to life-cycle parameters and biomarker responses of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. E. fetida was exposed to 10% biochar-amended and non-amended OECD artificial soils spiked with 0, 0.75, 1.5, 2.25 and 3 mg imidacloprid/kg for 28 days. An LC50 of 2.7 mg/kg was only computed in the non-amended soil but not in the biochar-amended soil due to insignificant mortality. The EC50 calculated in the non-amended soil (0.92 mg/kg) for reproduction (fertility) was lower than the one computed in the biochar amended (0.98 mg/kg), indicating a decrease in toxicity in the biochar-amended substrate. Significant weight loss was observed at the two highest imidacloprid treatments in the non-amended soil and only at the highest treatment in the biochar-amended substrate, further highlighting the beneficial effects of biochar. Catalase activity decreased significantly at the two highest concentrations of non-amended soil. Yet, in the amended soil, the activity remained high, especially in the highest concentration, where it was significantly higher than the controls. This indicated more severe oxidative stress in the absence of biochar. In all non-amended treatments, there was a significant acetylcholinesterase inhibition, while lower inhibition percentages were observed in the biochar-amended soil. In most endpoints, the addition of biochar alleviated the toxic effects of imidacloprid, which shows that biochar has the potential to be useful in soil remediation. However, there is still a need for field studies to identify the most effective application rate of biochar for land application.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1513-1531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oriol Rodríguez ◽  
Joan Bech ◽  
Juan de Dios Soriano ◽  
Delia Gutiérrez ◽  
Salvador Castán

Abstract. Post-event damage assessments are of paramount importance to document the effects of high-impact weather-related events such as floods or strong wind events. Moreover, evaluating the damage and characterizing its extent and intensity can be essential for further analysis such as completing a diagnostic meteorological case study. This paper presents a methodology to perform field surveys of damage caused by strong winds of convective origin (i.e. tornado, downburst and straight-line winds). It is based on previous studies and also on 136 field studies performed by the authors in Spain between 2004 and 2018. The methodology includes the collection of pictures and records of damage to human-made structures and on vegetation during the in situ visit to the affected area, as well as of available automatic weather station data, witness reports and images of the phenomenon, such as funnel cloud pictures, taken by casual observers. To synthesize the gathered data, three final deliverables are proposed: (i) a standardized text report of the analysed event, (ii) a table consisting of detailed geolocated information about each damage point and other relevant data and (iii) a map or a KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file containing the previous information ready for graphical display and further analysis. This methodology has been applied by the authors in the past, sometimes only a few hours after the event occurrence and, on many occasions, when the type of convective phenomenon was uncertain. In those uncertain cases, the information resulting from this methodology contributed effectively to discern the phenomenon type thanks to the damage pattern analysis, particularly if no witness reports were available. The application of methodologies such as the one presented here is necessary in order to build homogeneous and robust databases of severe weather cases and high-impact weather events.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 358-367
Author(s):  
Nikolai V. Belenov

Introduction. The article presents the results of research of the geographical vocabulary of the Shilan dialect, one of the Erzya-Mordovian dialects of the Samara region, common among Erzya population of Shilan village in Krasnoyarsk region. The dialect belongs to rare Mordovian dialects of the Samara Volga region that were formed in the region since the middle of the XIX century, and therefore its research is of extra interest. Materials and Methods. The research methods are determined by the purpose and objectives of the study. The analysis of the geographical vocabulary of the Shilan dialect is carried out with the involvement of relevant items made in other Mordovian dialects of Samara region, adjacent territories of neighboring regions, as well as other territories of settlement of the Mordovians. Data on geographical vocabulary of the dialect introduced into research for the first time. The main source materials for the article is based on field studies in Silane village during the field seasons in 2017 and 2020, as well as in other Erzya-Mordovian and Moksha-Mordovian villages of Samara region and adjacent territories in 2015 – 2020. Results and Discussion. The study showed that the geographical vocabulary of the Shilan dialect of the Erzya-Mordovian language is significantly different from the corresponding lexical clusters in other dialects of the Mordovian region, which can be explained by natural geographical conditions surrounding Shilan village and the original composition of this lexical cluster of Erzya immigrants who founded this village. Conclusion. The analysis of the geographical vocabulary of the Shilan dialect allowed, on the one hand, to identify specific features of this cluster that distinguish it from the corresponding materials of other Mordovian dialects of the region, and, on the other hand, to identify common isoglosses between it and a number of the Erzya-Mordovian dialects of the Samara Volga region.


2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 1021-1027
Author(s):  
A Kh Ismagilov ◽  
A S Vanesyan ◽  
A R Khamitov

For breast reconstructive surgery oncological requirements are imposed, which include the principle of radicality, ablastics, antiblastics and minimal impact on the general and disease-free survival rate, as well as aesthetical requirements - excised breast volume replacement, recovery of tactile sensitivity and shape most closely resembling the natural one. The mastectomy technique determines the breast reconstruction aesthetic results. In 1991 skin-sparing mastectomy combined with the one-stage breast reconstruction, which allows to preserve the organ skin, was described by B.A. Toth and P. Lappert. In 1997, G. Carlson proposed the classification of incisions for skin-sparing mastectomy, which considers both aesthetic and oncological aspects of the surgery, thereby it is successfully used to the present day. In 2003, R.M. Simmons published his incision classification in skin-sparing mastectomy, which differs from the G. Carlson classification only by type III incision. Determinant factors for skin-sparing mastectomy type choice are the presence of scars from previous biopsies, tumor topographic and anatomical parameters and planned reconstruction method. Selection of the appropriate incision type for skin-sparing mastectomy depends on the location and the tumor invasion depth in the breast tissue, the distance of the tumor from the nipple-areola complex and aesthetically favorable zones, as well as biometric data (the areola diameter, breast hypertrophy and ptosis) and the patient desires. Thus skin-sparing mastectomy is aimed to the closest possible to the preoperative level result achievement.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Youp Lee ◽  
Gucheol Jung ◽  
Myoung-jin Jang ◽  
Myung-Whan Suh ◽  
Jun Lee ◽  
...  

Coffee is the one of the most common beverages worldwide and has received considerable attention for its beneficial health effects. However, the association of coffee with hearing and tinnitus has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of coffee with hearing and tinnitus based on a national population-based survey. We evaluated hearing and tinnitus data from the 2009–2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and their relationship with a coffee consumption survey. All patients underwent a medical interview, physical examination, hearing test, tinnitus questionnaire and nutrition examination. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between coffee and hearing loss or tinnitus. We evaluated 13,448 participants (≥19 years) participants. The frequency of coffee consumption had a statistically significant inverse correlation with bilateral hearing loss in the 40–64 years age group. Daily coffee consumers had 50–70% less hearing loss than rare coffee consumers, which tended to be a dose-dependent relationship. In addition, the frequency of coffee consumption had an inverse correlation with tinnitus in the 19–64 years age group but its association was related with hearing. Brewed coffee had more of an association than instant or canned coffee in the 40–64 years age group. These results suggest a protective effect of coffee on hearing loss and tinnitus.


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