Predicting Drowsy Driver Break Taking During Long Drives.

Objective: The current study investigated the factors that predict drowsy drivers' decisions regarding whether to take breaks versus continue driving during long simulator drives.

Background: Driver drowsiness contributes to substantial numbers of motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and deaths. Previous research has shown that taking a nap and consuming caffeine can temporarily mitigate drowsiness and enable continued safe driving.

Driver Expectations of a Partial Driving Automation System in Relation to Branding and Training.

Objective: The current study examined whether differences in the branding and description or mode of training materials influence drivers' understanding and expectations of a partial driving automation system.

Background: How technology is described might influence consumers' understanding and expectations, even if all information is accurate.

Method: Ninety drivers received training about a real partial driving automation system with a fictitious name.

Passenger Presence and the Relative Risk of Teen Driver Death.

Purpose: This study examines the relative risk of death among crash-involved teenage drivers in relation to the number and ages of passengers present.

Methods: We performed cross-sectional analysis of police-reported crashes in the United States in years 2016-2019 to estimate rate ratios for death among drivers aged 16-17 years by passenger composition (no passengers, one teen, ≥two teens, teens and adults aged 20-34 years, adults aged 20-34 years only, ≥one adult aged 35-64 years). Models were adjusted for confounding and effect modification related to driver, crash, and environmental factors.

Fatal hit-and-run crashes: Factors associated with leaving the scene.

Introduction: Hit-and-run crashes are a criminal offense that leave the victim without prompt medical care or the ability to receive financial compensation.

Method: The purpose of the current study was to quantify the factors associated with the probability that a driver leaves the scene of a fatal crash, using multiple imputation to incorporate information from drivers who were never apprehended and thus whose characteristics were unknown.

Results: The results of this study show that in addition to driver, vehicle, and environmental factors having significant impacts on the likelihood of a driver fleeing the scene, economic and demographic factors are important as well.

Estimating Cannabis Involvement in Fatal Crashes in Washington State Before and After the Legalization of Recreational Cannabis Consumption Using Multiple Imputation of Missing Values.

The government of Washington state legalized recreational cannabis consumption in December 2012. We used data on all drivers involved in fatal crashes in Washington in the years 2008-2019 (n = 8,282) to estimate prevalence in fatal crashes of drivers with ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC; the main psychoactive compound in cannabis) in their blood before and after legalization. However, nearly half of the drivers were not tested for drugs; we therefore used multiple imputation to estimate THC presence and concentration among them.

The effect of extending graduated driver licensing to older novice drivers in Indiana.

Introduction: Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems have been shown to reduce rates of crashes, injuries, and deaths of young novice drivers. However, approximately one in three new drivers in the United States obtain their first driver's license at age 18 or older, and thus are exempt from most or all provisions of GDL in most states.

Method: In July 2015, the state of Indiana updated its GDL program, extending its restrictions on driving at night and on carrying passengers during the first 6 months of independent driving, previously only applicable to new drivers younger than 18, to all newly-licensed drivers younger than 21 years of age.

High burdens of Ixodes scapularis larval ticks on white-tailed deer may limit Lyme disease risk in a low biodiversity setting.

An inverse relationship between biodiversity and human health has been termed the 'dilution effect' paradigm. In the case of tick-borne infections such as Lyme disease, the key assumption is that Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato abundance is increased by the loss of less competent (dilution) hosts as biodiversity declines. White-tailed deer play a dual role in the pathogen cycle, as key reproductive hosts for adult ticks and incompetent hosts for the pathogen.

Do the benefits outweigh the costs? Societal benefit-cost analysis of three large truck safety technologies.

Although research has found advanced safety technologies to be effective at preventing large truck crashes, limited empirical data exists regarding their cost effectiveness to the U.S. society.

Acute sleep deprivation and culpable motor vehicle crash involvement.

Study Objectives: To quantify the relationship between acute sleep deprivation and culpable involvement in motor vehicle crashes.

Methods: Participants were 6845 drivers involved in a representative sample of crashes investigated by the US Department of Transportation in years 2005-2007. A modified case-control study design was used to compare self-reported hours of sleep in the 24 hr before crashing between drivers deemed culpable versus nonculpable.

Comparison of older and younger novice driver crash rates: Informing the need for extended Graduated Driver Licensing restrictions.

Background: Few previous studies have directly compared crash rates of older and younger novice drivers. To inform discussion about whether Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) policies that are applied in the US for younger novice drivers should be applied to older novice drivers, we conducted a longitudinal study to examine overall, nighttime, and multiple passenger crash rates over the initial four years of licensure differ for novice drivers licensed at different ages.

Methods: Using data from the New Jersey Traffic Safety Outcomes (NJ-TSO) data warehouse, we selected all NJ drivers who obtained their initial intermediate driver's license from 2006 through 2014 and had at least one month of follow-up from the date of licensure to study end or death (n=1,034,835).

The relationship between age and driving attitudes and behaviors among older Americans.

Background: Due to a decreasing birth rate and longer life expectancy, the proportion of Americans over the age of 65 is expected to rise in coming years. Drivers over 65 drive two billion miles yearly, a number that will increase. For that reason, it is imperative to understand their attitudes and perceptions.

Sleep-deprived motor vehicle operators are unfit to drive: a multidisciplinary expert consensus statement on drowsy driving.

Objectives: This article presents the consensus findings of the National Sleep Foundation Drowsy Driving Consensus Working Group, which was an expert panel assembled to establish a consensus statement regarding sleep-related driving impairment.

Methods: The National Sleep Foundation assembled a expert panel comprised of experts from the sleep community and experts appointed by stakeholder organizations. A systematic literature review identified 346 studies that were abstracted and provided to the panelists for review.

Driver licensing and reasons for delaying licensure among young adults ages 18-20, United States, 2012.

Background: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens and young adults in the United States. Graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems were designed to protect young novice drivers by limiting their exposure to specific risks while they gain experience driving. In the United States, most states' GDL systems only apply to new drivers younger than 18.

Driver license renewal policies and fatal crash involvement rates of older drivers, United States, 1986-2011.

Background: Older drivers experience elevated risk of motor vehicle crash involvement, injury, and death. Several states attempt to address these risks through driver license renewal policies; however, little is known about their effects.

Methods: Data from 46 U.

Characteristics of teens-with-teens fatal crashes in the United States, 2005-2010.

Background: More than 40% of fatal crashes of 16- and 17-year-old drivers occur when transporting teenagers. Characteristics of this predominant crash type and prevention possibilities are described, based on data from fatal crashes in the United States during 2005-2010.

Results: Fifty-seven percent of 16- and 17-year old drivers in fatal crashes had at least one passenger.

Teen driver risk in relation to age and number of passengers, United States, 2007-2010.

Objective: To provide updated estimates of the relationship between the number and ages of passengers present in a vehicle and the crash risk per mile driven of 16- and 17-year-old drivers.

Methods: Data on crashes that occurred in years 2007-2010 and data on the number of miles driven in years 2008-2009 were examined. Rates of crash involvement and driver death per mile driven were estimated for 16- and 17-year-old drivers with no passengers; with 1, 2, and 3 or more passengers younger than age 21 (and no older passengers); and with at least 1 passenger aged 35 or older.

Graduated driver licensing research, 2010-present.

This is the latest in a series of reviews of research on graduated driver licensing (GDL) published in the Journal of Safety Research, covering the period January 1, 2010-June 1, 2012 and works in progress. The intent is to keep researchers and policy makers current regarding the existing state of knowledge about GDL, and to identify information gaps and areas where clarification of research findings are needed. The recent research indicates that we continue to learn about ways to extend GDL benefits, but there remain important questions in need of further inquiry.

Impact speed and a pedestrian's risk of severe injury or death.

This study estimates the risk of severe injury or death for pedestrians struck by vehicles using data from a study of crashes that occurred in the United States in years 1994-1998 and involved a pedestrian struck by a forward-moving car, light truck, van, or sport utility vehicle. The data were weighted to correct for oversampling of pedestrians who were severely injured or killed. Logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounding related to pedestrian and vehicle characteristics.

Prevalence of motor vehicle crashes involving drowsy drivers, United States, 1999-2008.

The proportion of motor vehicle crashes that involve a drowsy driver likely is greater than existing crash databases reflect, due to the possibility that some drivers whose pre-crash state of attention was unknown may have been drowsy. This study estimated the proportion of crashes that involved a drowsy driver in a representative sample of 47,597 crashes in the United States from 1999 through 2008 that involved a passenger vehicle that was towed from the scene. Multiple imputation was used to address missing data on driver drowsiness.

Evaluation of New Jersey's graduated driver licensing program.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate New Jersey's unique combination of a higher licensing age and a strong GDL system applicable to all novice drivers.

Methods: Population-based crash rates for drivers of ages potentially affected by GDL were compared, pre- and post-GDL implementation, with those of adults ages 25-59, using data on fatal crashes and on all police-reported crashes.

Results: After GDL implementation, there were statistically significant reductions in the crash rates of 17-year-olds, based on all reported crashes (16%), injury crashes (14%), and fatal crashes (25%), relative to those of drivers ages 25-59.

Risks older drivers pose to themselves and to other road users.

Problem: Studies have shown that older drivers have high death rates and lower rates of involvement in crashes that kill others; but most studies have not considered drivers' responsibility for their crashes, and many have considered only one particular measure of risk.

Method: This study examines risks that drivers of various ages pose to themselves and to others on per-driver, per-trip, and per-mile bases, taking responsibility for crashes into account, using United States fatal crash data from 1999 through 2003 and travel estimates from 2001.

Results: Relative to other age groups, drivers aged 85 and older face the highest risk of their own death, whereas teens pose the greatest risk to passengers, occupants of other vehicles, and non-motorists.