Left-Turn Driving Behavior Based On Situational Anger: Day Or Night

Anger is a key factor affecting drivers' subjective judgment and driving skills. The influence of anger on driving behavior has been widely studied, but there is a lack of comparative research under different lighting conditions. Through driving simulation experiment, this paper studies the influence of anger on left-turn driving behavior under two light conditions of day and night. In the experiment, 32 licensed participants were divided into two groups, one in emotional neutrality and the other in anger. Among them, the emotional state of anger is induced by a traffic related video. The results showed that compared with daytime participants, participants at night had higher anger intensity, shorter gap acceptance and post encroachment time (PET) when left-turn driving. In addition, compared with emotion neutral participants, angry participants tended to accept shorter gap acceptance and post encroachment time (PET) when turning left. This indicates that participants failed to respond correctly to left-turn driving behavior in a state of anger. However, the response of gender differences to situational driving anger was not affected by light conditions. The anger intensity of male participants during the day and night was higher than that of female participants, and the gap acceptance and post encroachment time (PET) during left-turn were shorter than that of female participants. This shows that male participants are more likely to produce high-intensity anger and are more likely to make dangerous driving decisions in a state of anger. This paper puts forward some suggestions on the identification of anger and the prevention of angry driving.

Drivers’ Risk Perception and Risky Driving Behavior under Low Illumination Conditions: Modified Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) and Driver Skill Inventory (DSI)

Most road crashes are caused by human factors. Risky behaviors and lack of driving skills are two human factors that contribute to crashes. Considering the existing evidence, risky driving behaviors and driving skills have been regarded as potential decisive factors explaining and preventing crashes. Nighttime accidents are relatively frequent and serious compared with daytime accidents. Therefore, it is important to focus on driving behaviors and skills to reduce traffic accidents and enhance safe driving in low illumination conditions. In this paper, we examined the relation between drivers’ risk perception and propensity for risky driving behavior and conducted a comparative analysis of the associations between risk perception, propensity for risky driving behavior, and other factors in the presence and absence of streetlights. Participants in Hefei city, China, were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, the Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ), and the Driver Skill Inventory (DSI). Multiple linear regression analyses identified some predictors of driver behavior. The results indicated that both the DBQ and DSI are valuable instruments in traffic safety analysis in low illumination conditions and indicated that errors, lapses, and risk perception were significantly different between with and without streetlight conditions. Pearson’s correlation test found that elderly and experienced drivers had a lower likelihood of risky driving behaviors when driving in low illumination conditions, and crash involvement was positively related to risky driving behaviors. Regarding the relationship between study variables and driving skills, the research suggested that age, driving experience, and annual distance were positively associated with driving skills, while myopia, penalty points, and driving self-assessment were negatively related to driving skills. Furthermore, the differences across age groups in errors, lapses, violations, and risk perception in the presence of streetlights were remarkable, and the driving performance of drivers aged 45–55 years was superior to that of drivers in other age groups. Finally, multiple linear regression analyses showed that education background and crash involvement had a positive influence on error, whereas risk perception had a negative effect on errors; crash involvement had a positive influence, while risk perception had a negative effect on lapse; driving experience and crash involvement had a positive influence on violation; and age had a negative influence on it.

A GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS IN TRAFFIC: ATTITUDES OF MALE BUS DRIVERS TOWARDS TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Traffic accidents are among the leading causes of injury-related fatalities among the world. Considering driver-oriented studies, there are limited number of research in the literature about the general causes of traffic accidents involving professional drivers. In the current study, professional drivers' attitudes towards traffic accidents and the causes of accidents were examined. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 bus drivers. The findings were categorized under seven themes: Evaluations of Accidents, Gender Differences, Positive Attitudes towards Colleagues, Violations, Age, Organizational Factors, External Factors. The results of the study indicate that the bus drivers, who are a subgrop of professional drivers, evaluate themselves more positively regarding their driving skills and see the responsible person as the opposite party in traffic accidents. In addition, if the other party involved in the accident was a female driver, even they attribute the responsibility to female drivers, they generally tried to be more tolerant. The results were discussed based on individual, organizational, national and socio-political levels. In order to see that there are many factors that play a role in traffic accidents, it has been a strong study that contributes to the field. In line with these findings, developing trainings for professional drivers about traffic accidents and factors that may cause traffic accidents might make people more conscious. Keywords Traffic accidents, professional drivers, bus drivers, violation, attitude

Instructor’s Rating of Driver’s Performance during an Anti-Lock Braking Exercise on a Closed-Road Course

Rear-end crashes are a common crash scenario, which contribute to many traffic related injuries and fatalities. A performance driving center offers adult car control classes focused on defensive driving skills, which include both classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction on a closed-road course. One focus of the class is activation of the anti-lock braking system (ABS), which was designed to help drivers during emergency braking situations. In the classroom, participants learn what ABS is as well as how and when it functions. On the closed-road course, participants learn how to activate ABS and how the system feels when it is activated. The goal of this study was to understand how knowledge of and experience with ABS prior to the class relates to a driver’s ability to activate ABS. The participants’ ability to activate ABS was evaluated by the driving instructor using a behaviorally anchored rating scale. Participants completed a survey before and after the class to gain knowledge of and experience with ABS. The results of the study showed that participants who previously knew what ABS felt like or had prior practice/training activating ABS performed significantly better activating ABS than those who simply knew what ABS means or had previously experienced ABS activation during their first of multiple attempts.

Representing Route Familiarity Using the Abstraction Hierarchy Framework

Familiarity with a route is influenced by levels of dynamic and static knowledge about the route and the route network such as type of roads, infrastructure, traffic conditions, purpose of travel, weather, departure time, etc. To better understand and develop route choice models that can incorporate more meaningful representations of route familiarity, OBDII devices were installed in the vehicles of 32 drivers, 65 years and older, for a period of three months. Personalized web-based trip diaries were used to provide older drivers with post-trip feedback reports about their risky driving behaviors, and collect feedback about their route familiarity, preferences, and reasons for choosing the route driven vs. an alternate low-risk route. Feedback responses were analyzed and mapped onto an abstraction hierarchy framework, which showed that among older drivers, route familiarity depends not only on higher abstraction levels such as trip goals, purpose, and driving strategies, but also on the lower levels of demand on driving skills, and characteristics of road type. Additionally, gender differences were identified at the lower levels of the familiarity abstraction model, especially for driving challenges and the driving environment. Results from the analyses helped highlight the multi-faceted nature of route familiarity, which can be used to build the necessary levels of granularity for modelling and interpretation of spatial and contextual route choice recommendation systems for specific population groups such as older drivers.

Automated Driving License Evaluation

The paper is regarding the automating of driver’s license testing system and updating the results to the person through website and conjointly through registered email. Usually, while driving test the person who requested for license have to be compelled to show his driving skills ahead of the authorities. The person need to operate the vehicle according to several rules. If he fails, he/she are knocked out and have to appear for the driving test next time. The Officials observe mistakes of the applicant physically. The proposed solution for the automation of existing manual test method permits the elimination of intervention of humans and improves the accuracy of driving test thereby going paperless, with Driving Skill Evaluation System. In the proposed system, we have a tendency of taking data from sensor as inputs from hardware simulator and stores into the database. In this system, the person participating in the test are obsereved by sensors. Therefore weather the person is qualified or not is informed to the applicant as well as the authorities. Gradual increase in number of road hazards are due to less practice in driving and illegal driving license given to the unskilled drivers by taking bribe. To beat this drawback, automated driving license test will be advantageous. This solution is introduced for ensuring the quality in approving in license to enhance safety.

Cannabis Use and Car Crashes: A Review

In this review, state-of-the-art evidence on the relationship between cannabis use, traffic crash risks, and driving safety were analyzed. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and other relevant papers published within the last decade were systematically searched and synthesized. Findings show that meta-analyses and culpability studies consistently indicate a slightly but significantly increased risk of crashes after acute cannabis use. These risks vary across included study type, crash severity, and method of substance application and measurement. Some studies show a significant correlation between high THC blood concentrations and car crash risk. Most studies do not support this relationship at lower THC concentrations. However, no scientifically supported clear cut-off concentration can be derived from these results. Further research is needed to determine dose-response effects on driving skills combined with measures of neuropsychological functioning related to driving skills and crash risk.