Search

This paper aims to provide reliable indications of driver drowsiness based on the characteristics of driver-vehicle interaction. A test bed was built under a simulated driving environment, and a total of 12 subjects participated in two experiment sessions requiring different levels of sleep (partial sleep-deprivation versus no sleep-deprivation) before the experiment. The performance of the subjects was analyzed in a series of stimulus-response and routine driving tasks, which revealed the performance differences of drivers under different sleep-deprivation levels. The experiments further demonstrated that sleep deprivation had greater effect on rule-based than on skill-based cognitive functions: when drivers were sleep-deprived, their performance of responding to unexpected disturbances degraded, while they were robust enough to continue the routine driving tasks such as lane tracking, vehicle following, and lane changing. In addition, we presented both qualitative and quantitative guidelines for designing drowsy-driver detection systems in a probabilistic framework based on the paradigm of Bayesian networks. Temporal aspects of drowsiness and individual differences of subjects were addressed in the framework. Index Terms--Bayesian networks (BNs), camouflage, drowsy driving, sleep deprivation, stimulus-response tasks, tracking tasks.

The automobile is essential for many older adults to fulfill their daily needs, especially since many live where they lack access to public transit or other acceptable modes of transportation. Increased self-regulation is one way older drivers continue to drive safely and maintain mobility. This research considers whether self-regulation attitudes and patterns differ by gender. Results indicate that women and men report distinct patterns of self-regulation behaviors. Age, health status, and household status also interact with gender, influencing the extent of self-regulation. The results also show that women report lower levels of confidence in their driving skills than men, although the difference varies based on whether or not a woman lives alone. Implications of these results are considered for an aging population--particularly women--that over the coming decades will be more reliant on the automobile for transportation than ever before. KEYWORDS. Older drivers, gender differences, health, household structure

Buses, and more generally at-grade public transportation, remain the most important component of transit services in all urban areas but the steady increase in travel demand, especially in private automobiles, has resulted in a growing level of congestion, affecting both cars and public transportation. The innovative introduction of preferential treatment is surprisingly not generalized in spite of its benefits, raising the question of whether preferential treatment is transferable. By applying the agenda-building theory to the context of public transportation, the paper outlines how innovative policy making can be introduced and determines if the presence of a policy entrepreneur is a necessary and sufficient condition. Using 11 cities in Europe and America as case studies, essential elements have been identified for addressing public reaction, institutional fragmentation, and the stance of decision makers. It can be concluded that the rising concerns about transportation and the emergence of mixed decision-making models allow cities to implement preferential treatment without a policy entrepreneur. CE Database subject headings: Public transportation; Traffic management; Transportation planning; Decision making.

This article examines transportation policy and how it affects the rising population of the elderly. The author argues that current public transportation does not meet the needs of the older population, and driving often becomes hazardous for people over the age of seventy-five, therefore new policies must be implemented within the next ten years.

A policy consensus is needed to ensure safe driving standards for US seniors. Public opposition, along with the reluctance of legislators, has resulted in disjointed laws that are ineffective in keeping unsafe drivers off the roadways. Policies adopting consistent standards should include advanced testing techniques, improved driver training, and uniform licensing requirements.

Abstract Background It is now estimated that attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) afflicts at least 4% of adults in the United States and is associated with high levels of morbidity and functional impairment. One key area of dysfunction associated with ADHD is impaired motor vehicle operation. Our goal was to examine the association between ADHD and specific driving outcomes in a sample of adults using a driving simulator. Methods Subjects were 20 adults with full DSM-IV ADHD and 21 controls without ADHD of equal gender distribution. However, the mean age of subjects with ADHD was somewhat older. All analyses were adjusted for age and gender. All subjects participated in a driving simulation that lasted for one hour and consisted of a short training period, a high stimulus segment and a low stimulus segment with two distinct monotonous periods. Results In the second monotonous period within the low stimulus environment, ADHD subjects were significantly more likely than controls to collide with an obstacle suddenly appearing from the periphery, adjusting for age and gender. Conclusion Adults with ADHD were more likely than controls to collide with an obstacle during a driving simulation suggesting that deficits in directed attention may underlie driving impairments in this population.