Modernization of the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire

IntroductionThe current study builds on previous versions of the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) by incorporating a larger sample of driving behaviors targeting inattention, distraction, aggressive driving, and health related to aging. The goals of this study were to determine if the resulting factor structure was consistent with a more contemporary view of unsafe driving behaviors, and to determine whether scores on the factors could predict self-reported collisions and police citations.MethodsThe instrument was given to a sample of 3295 drivers ranging in age from 19 to 80+ years old. It was divided in two sections, the first to provide demographic information and driving history data and the second containing 105 driver behavior questions.ResultsAn exploratory factor analysis resulted in a 65-item scale organized in four factors. The factors were labeled tentatively as Inattention Errors, Age-Related Problems, Distraction and Hurry, and Aggressive Violations. Regression analyses showed that the factors were predictors of self-reported, at-fault collisions and police citations.Practical implicationsThe factor scores found in this research are consistent with a useful theoretical framework for understanding unsafe driver actions, and demonstrate some potential to identify several individual difference variables that predict self-reported collisions and citations.     

Elderly drivers and their accidents: the Aging Driver Questionnaire

The Manchester Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) was included as part of a questionnaire survey of 1989 drivers aged 50 or over. Previous research has differentiated three main types of aberrant driver behavior: errors, lapses and violations. Each of these has different psychological origins, and different implications for road safety interventions [Reason et al., 1990. Ergonomics 33, 1315–1312]. It has also been shown that, using a full age-range sample of drivers, reported violations were statistically associated with accident involvement, whereas errors and lapses were not [Parker et al., 1995a. Ergonomics 38, 1036–1048; Parker et al., 1995b. Accident Analysis and Prevention 27, 571–581]. Although factor analysis of the DBQ responses of this sample produced five factors, the original three-way distinction was preserved. However the pattern of relationships between factor scores and accident involvement was different. Relatively high scores on the error factor and the lapse factor were predictive of involvement in an active accident, while passive accident involvement was associated with high scores on the lapse factor.     

Self-reports of aberrant behaviour on the roads: errors and violations in a sample of Greek drivers

Recent studies have shown that unsafe driver acts can be classified into two distinct categories (i.e.. errors and violations) entailing different measures for reducing road traffic accidents. A survey of over 1,400 drivers in Greece is reported in which a variety of aberrant driving behaviours have been identified. The present study has confirmed the results of earlier studies in the driving populations of Britain. Australia and Sweden that errors and violations are the major determinants in the factor structure of aberrant behaviours. Three types of violations were identified including, highway code-, aggressive- and parking-violations (or situational violations). Mistakes and lapses were two major forms of errors. The factor analysis identified another two classes of behaviour that could not be accounted for very well by the error-violation distinction. One class of behaviours referred to a state of low preparedness and negligence while the other class referred to communication errors and 'social disregard' for the other road users. Each class of behaviour was found to have different demographic correlates. Finally, accident liability was predicted by self-reported tendency to commit highway-code violations, but not by tendency to make errors due to failures of judgement (i.e.. mistakes) or lapses. Aggressive violations were significantly related to involvement in speeding convictions and law-breaking whilst highway-code violations were related to speeding convictions only.     

Age,gender, mileage and the DBQ: The validity of the Driver Behavior Questionnaire in different driver groups

The Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) is one of the most widely used instruments for measuring self-reported driving behaviors. Despite the popularity of the DBQ, the applicability of the DBQ in different driver groups has remained mostly unexamined. The present study measured aberrant driving behavior using the original DBQ (Reason, J.T., Manstead, A., Stradling, S.G., Baxter, J., Campbell, K., 1990. Errors and violations on the road – a real distinction. Ergonomics, 33 (10/11), 1315–1332) to test the factorial validity and reliability of the instrument across different subgroups of Danish drivers. The survey was conducted among 11,004 Danish driving license holders of whom 2250 male and 2190 female drivers completed the questionnaire containing background variables and the DBQ. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed that the original three-factor solution, a four-factor solution and a two-factor solution had acceptable fit when using the whole sample. However, fit indices of these solutions varied across subgroups. The presents study illustrates that both the original DBQ and a Danish four-factor DBQ structure is relatively stable across subgroups, indicating factorial validity and reliability of the DBQ. However, as the Danish DBQ structure has an overall better fit, the present study highlights the importance of performing an explorative analysis when applying the DBQ in order to assess the problem areas within a driving population.     

Measurement invariance of the Driver Behavior Questionnaire across samples of young drivers from Finland and Ireland

This article investigates the factor structure of the 27-item Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) in two samples of young drivers (18–25 years of age); one from Finland and the other from Ireland. We compare the two-, three-, and four-factor solutions using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and show that the four-factor model (with the latent variables rule violations, aggressive violations, slips and lapses) fits the data from the two countries best. Next, we compare the fit of this model across samples by the means of a measurement invariance analysis in the CFA framework. The analysis shows that the four-factor model fails to fit both samples equally well. This is mainly because the socially-oriented latent variables (rule violations and aggressive violations) are different in nature in the two samples. The cognitively-oriented latent variables (slips and lapses) are, however, similar across countries and the mean values of slips can be compared using latent variable models. However, the common practice of calculating sum scores to represent the four latent DBQ variables and comparing them across subgroups of respondents is unfounded, at least when comparing young respondents from Finland and Ireland.     

Validation of the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire in a representative sample of drivers in Australia

The Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ) is a widely used measure of driving behaviours that may increase a driver's risk of crash involvement. However, there are several different versions of the DBQ varying in terms of number of items and factor structure. The aim of the current research was to assess the construct validity of the popular 28-item four-factor DBQ solution in a representative sample of drivers in Australia. A further aim was to test the factorial invariance of the measure across gender, age and also between fleet and non-fleet drivers using multigroup confirmatory factor analyses. Data on a range of attitudes towards road safety were collected using an online survey. A stratified sampling procedure was undertaken to ensure the age, gender and location distributions of participants were representative of the Australian population. A total of 2771 responses were obtained from fully licensed motor vehicle drivers (male: 46%). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 28-item four-factor DBQ in the Australian sample. The DBQ was also found to be gender-invariant and strong partial measurement invariance was found for drivers aged from 26 to 64, but not for younger (17–25) or older (65–75) drivers. Modifications to the DBQ suggest how the DBQ can be improved for use in these two age groups.     

Driver behavior in car-to-pedestrian incidents: An application of the Driving Reliability and Error Analysis Method (DREAM)

To develop relevant road safety countermeasures, it is necessary to first obtain an in-depth understanding of how and why safety-critical situations such as incidents, near-crashes, and crashes occur. Video-recordings from naturalistic driving studies provide detailed information on events and circumstances prior to such situations that is difficult to obtain from traditional crash investigations, at least when it comes to the observable driver behavior. This study analyzed causation in 90 video-recordings of car-to-pedestrian incidents captured by onboard cameras in a naturalistic driving study in Japan. The Driving Reliability and Error Analysis Method (DREAM) was modified and used to identify contributing factors and causation patterns in these incidents. Two main causation patterns were found. In intersections, drivers failed to recognize the presence of the conflict pedestrian due to visual obstructions and/or because their attention was allocated towards something other than the conflict pedestrian. In incidents away from intersections, this pattern reoccurred along with another pattern showing that pedestrians often behaved in unexpected ways. These patterns indicate that an interactive advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) able to redirect the driver's attention could have averted many of the intersection incidents, while autonomous systems may be needed away from intersections. Cooperative ADAS may be needed to address issues raised by visual obstructions.     

Young novice drivers and the risky behaviours of parents and friends during the Provisional (intermediate) licence phase: A brief report

Purpose

While there is research indicating that many factors influence the young novice driver's increased risk of road crash injury during the earliest stages of their independent driving, there is a need to further understand the relationship between the perceived risky driving behaviour of parents and friends and the risky behaviour of drivers with a Provisional (intermediate) licence.

Method

As part of a larger research project, 378 drivers aged 17–25 years (M = 18.22, SD = 1.59, 113 males) with a Provisional licence completed an online survey exploring the perceived riskiness of their parents’ and friends’ driving, and the extent to which they pattern (i.e. base) their driving behaviour on the driving of their parents and friends.

Results

Young drivers who reported patterning their driving on their friends, and who reported they perceived their friends to be risky drivers, reported more risky driving. The risky driving behaviour of young male drivers was associated with the perceived riskiness of their fathers’ driving, whilst for female drivers the perceived riskiness of their mothers’ driving approached significance.

Conclusions

The development and application of countermeasures targeting the risky behaviour of same-sex parents appears warranted by the robust research findings. In addition, countermeasures need to encourage young people in general to be non-risky drivers; targeting the negative influence of risky peer groups specifically. Social norms interventions may minimise the influence of potentially-overestimated riskiness.     

A single-item assessment for remaining mental resources: development and validation of the Gas Tank Questionnaire (GTQ)

Measuring workload accurately is critical for human factors research and applications. However, if the instruments we use to measure workload are burdensome for participants to complete, we may find ourselves in the ironic position of increasing workload simply by measuring it. We present a pair of studies that suggest the NASA-TLX, a widely-used workload metric, increases workload for participants who complete it, and consequently may hurt performance and upwardly bias the estimates it produces. We found that repeated administration of the NASA-TLX increased workload by 18%, and more than doubled the performance decrement on a simple vigilance task. Single-item measures may be a simple way to avoid burdening participants unnecessarily while still obtaining valuable insight into participant cognitive state. In line with the attentional resource theory, we validate a measure that asks participants to ‘think about [their] brain as an engine,’ and to indicate inside a rectangle ‘how much gas [they] have left right now.’ The Gas Tank Questionnaire performs well when compared against other subjective measures and when validated against physiological measures. Just as human factors professionals are careful to design systems to minimise unnecessary cognitive load, researchers should take similar care when selecting measures for studies.     

Development and evaluation of a Driving Observation Schedule (DOS) to study everyday driving performance of older drivers

This paper describes the development and evaluation of an on-road procedure, the Driving Observation Schedule (DOS), for monitoring individual driving behavior. DOS was developed for use in the Candrive/Ozcandrive five-year prospective study of older drivers. Key features included observations in drivers’ own vehicles, in familiar environments chosen by the driver, with start/end points at their own homes. Participants were 33 drivers aged 75+ years, who drove their selected route with observations recorded during intersection negotiation, lane-changing, merging, low speed maneuvers and maneuver-free driving. Driving behaviors were scored by a specialist occupational therapy driving assessor and another trained observer. Drivers also completed a post-drive survey about the acceptability of DOS. Vehicle position, speed, distance and specific roadways traveled were recorded by an in-vehicle device installed in the participant's vehicle; this device was also used to monitor participants’ driving over several months, allowing comparison of DOS trips with their everyday driving. Inter-rater reliability and DOS feasibility, acceptability and ecological validity are reported here. On average, drivers completed the DOS trip in 30.48 min (SD = 7.99). Inter-rater reliability measures indicated strong agreement between the trained and the expert observers: intra-class correlations (ICC) = 0.905, CI 95% 0.747–0.965, p < 0.0001; Pearson product correlation, r (18) = .83, p < 0.05. Standard error of the measurement (SEM), method error (ME) and coefficient of variation (CV) measures were consistently small (3.0, 2.9 & 3.3%, respectively). Most participants reported being ‘completely at ease’ (82%) with the driving task and ‘highly familiar with the route’ (97%). Vehicle data showed that DOS trips were similar to participants’ everyday driving trips in roads used, roadway speed limits, drivers’ average speed and speed limit compliance. In summary, preliminary findings suggest that DOS can be scored reliably, is of feasible duration, is acceptable to drivers and representative of everyday driving. Pending further research with a larger sample and other observers, DOS holds promise as a means of quantifying and monitoring changes in older drivers’ performance in environments typical of their everyday driving.     

A Dilatometry Study of the Austenitization and Cooling Behavior of Ductile Iron Meant for the Production of Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI)

An understanding of the kinetics of transformation during austenitization, cooling, and austempering of ductile iron is critical to achieving the desired microstructures and ultimately mechanical properties in austempered ductile iron (ADI). To this end, dilatometry experiments have been carried out to study the austenitization and cooling behavior of an unalloyed ductile iron. When a typical austenitization temperature of 900°C is used, unlike in steels, there is an initial expansion of the specimen, which levels off as the soaking time is increased. This occurs despite the fact that the temperature remains constant. This phenomenon, hitherto unreported, highlights the subtle differences between the austenitization of ductile irons and steels. The initial expansion is attributed to the increase in austenite lattice parameter, arising from the diffusion of carbon from the graphite nodules. The levelling off signals the saturation of austenite with carbon and can therefore be used as an indicator of the appropriate austenitization time. Studies of the cooling behavior of unalloyed ductile iron have also shown that the dilatometer can be used as a tool for determining the minimum cooling rates, which guarantee the formation of ausferrite during austempering. When ductile iron is appropriately heat-treated based on results from dilatometry studies, the mechanical properties obtained are typically superior and consistent.     

On a strategy for the reduction of the lack of knowledge (LOK) in model validation

Today, the quantification of the quality of a dynamic structural model remains a major issue, and the number of methods being devised in order to validate a model by comparison with an experimental reference keeps increasing. This paper presents a theory based on the concept of lack of knowledge, which consists in globalizing the various sources of errors on the substructure level by means of a scalar internal variable, called the LOK variable, defined over an interval whose upper and lower bounds follow probabilistic laws. These intervals, which are defined for each substructure, are then propagated rigorously throughout the mechanical model in order to determine intervals with stochastic bounds within which lies a given quantity of interest defined over the whole structure. Then, a general strategy for the reduction of the lack of knowledge is discussed and applied to academic examples as well as industrial cases.     

质量改进团队跨界行为与绩效关系：团队效能感的中介作用

本研究旨在探究团队效能感对质量改进团队跨界行为与绩效关系的中介作用,采用团队跨界行为、团队效能感和质量绩效问卷调查了161个质量改进团队。结果表明,联络行为、管控行为和侦测行为对质量绩效有显著影响,并且联络行为和管控行为通过团队效能感影响质量绩效。质量改进团队跨界行为不仅对质量绩效有直接影响,而且通过团队效能感产生间接作用。     

A novel electromagnetic design and a new manufacturing process for the cavity BPM (Beam Position Monitor)

The Cavity Beam Position Monitor (BPM) is a beam diagnostic instrument which, in a seeded Free Electron Laser (FEL), allows the measurement of the electron beam position in a non-destructive way and with sub-micron resolution. It is composed by two resonant cavities called reference and position cavity, respectively. The measurement exploits the dipole mode that arises when the electron bunch passes off axis. In this paper we describe the Cavity BPM that has been designed and realized in the context of the FERMI@Elettra project [1]. New strategies have been adopted for the microwave design, for both the reference and the position cavities. Both cavities have been simulated by means of Ansoft HFSS [2] and CST Particle Studio [3], and have been realized using high precision lathe and wire-EDM (Electro-Discharge) machine, with a new technique that avoids the use of the sinker-EDM machine. Tuners have been used to accurately adjust the working frequencies for both cavities. The RF parameters have been estimated, and the modifications of the resonant frequencies produced by brazing and tuning have been evaluated. Finally, the Cavity BPM has been installed and tested in the presence of the electron beam.     

锂二次电池新型正极材料BiO0.1F2.8的制备及性能研究

通过液相反应合成了BiO0.1F2.8且在合成过程中加入活性炭,制备了BiO0.1F2.8/C.用X射线衍射(XRD),扫描电镜(SEM),充放电测试等对两种材料的结构和电化学性能进行了研究.XRD和SEM测试结果表明,合成的BiO0.1F2.8和BiO0.1F2.8/C均为简单六方晶型,属P63/mmc空间群,并且两种材料的颗粒分布均匀、结晶规则,呈棱柱形结晶,加入活性炭能使BiO0.1F2.8颗粒尺寸减小.将两种材料作为正极,与金属锂组装成锂二次电池,在1～4.5V电压范围内,以不同放电倍率充放电测试,发现BiO0.1F2.8/C电化学性能有明显的改善,在0.05C放电时其质量比能量高达613Wh/kg.     

Sequential eluent injection technique as a new approach for the on-line enrichment and speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) species on a single column with FAAS detection

This paper introduces a sequential eluent injection (SEI) technique combined with an on-line preconcentration/separation system for a fast and sensitive FAAS determination of trace amounts of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) species. The method is based on the simultaneous retention of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on a single mini-column packed with a chloromethylated polystyrene functionalized with N,N-bis(naphthylideneimino)diethylenetriamine (PS-NAPdien) at pH 6.7. The retained chromium species was eluted by sequential injection of HCl for desorption of Cr(III), and NH₃ and NH₄NO₃ buffer solutions for desorption of Cr(VI). All the chemical and flow injection variables were optimized for the quantitative preconcentration and speciation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI). Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graph obtained is linear over the concentration range of 2.0-60.0 μg L⁻¹ for Cr(III), and 8.0-180.0 μg L⁻¹ for Cr(VI). The preconcentration factors for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were 70 and 30, respectively. The 3σ detection limits were 0.6 μg L⁻¹ and 2.5 μg L⁻¹ for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively. The relative standard deviations were 2.55% and 0.8%, respectively, for 6 replicate determinations of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) at the 40.0 μg L⁻¹ level. The proposed method was applied for determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in different water samples with satisfactory results.     

Synthesis and characterization of nano-pore thallium (III) ion-imprinted polymer as a new sorbent for separation and preconcentration of thallium

Thallium (III) ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) particles were synthesized by preparing the ternary complex of thallium (III) ions with 5,7-dichloroquinoline-8-ol (DCQ) and 4-vinylpyridine (VP). Thermal copolymerization with methyl methacrylate (functional monomer, MMA) and ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate (cross-linking monomer, EGDMA) was then performed in the presence of acetonitrile (porogen) and 2,2- azobisisobutyronitrile(initiator, AIBN). The imprinted ion was removed from polymer by stirring of the above particles with 5M HNO(3) to obtain the leached IIP particles. Moreover, control polymer (CP) particles were similarly prepared without the thallium (III) ions. The unleached and leached IIP particles were characterized by surface area analysis (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The preconcentration of thallium (III) from aqueous solution was studied during rebinding with the leached IIP particles as a function of pH, the weight of the polymer material, the uptake and desorption times, the aqueous phase and the desorption volumes. Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) was employed for determination of thallium in aqueous solution. The limit of detection for the method was 0.02 ng mL(-1), while the relative standard deviation for five replicates was 2.6%.     

The double porogen approach as a new technique for the fabrication of interconnected poly(L-lactic acid) and starch based biodegradable scaffolds

One of the most widely used fabrication methods of three dimensional porous scaffolds involves compression moulding of a polymer salt mixture, followed by salt leaching. However, the scaffolds prepared by this technique have typically limited interconnectivity. In this study, besides salt particles, an additional polymeric porogen, poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, was added to poly(L-lactic acid), PLLA, to enhance the interconnectivity of the scaffolds. Compression moulded specimens were quenched and put into water, where PEO crystallized and phase separated. Following the leaching of PEO fraction, the permeability and interconnectivity among the macropores formed by salt leaching could be observed. The porosities obtained in the prepared scaffolds were between 76 to 86%. Moreover, the highest porosity of 86% was obtained with minimum fraction of total porogen. The water absorption of the porous scaffolds prepared with PEO could vary between 280 to 450% while water uptake of pure PLLA scaffolds was about 93%. The increase of interconnectivity induced by compounding PLLA with PEO could also be obtained in porous PLLA/starch blends and PLLA/hydroxyapatite composites demonstrating the versatility and wide applicability of this preparation protocol. The simplicity of this organic solvent free preparation procedure of three-dimensional porous scaffolds with high interconnectivity and high surface area to volume ratio holds a promise for several tissue engineering applications.     

Validity of a new fracture mechanics technique for the determination of the threshold stress intensity factor for stress corrosion cracking (KIscc) and crack growth rate of engineering materials

A novel fracture mechanics technique has been employed for the determination of crack growth rate and threshold stress intensity factor for stress corrosion cracking (K_Iscc) using small circumferential notch tensile (CNT) specimens. The technique was applied successfully for testing SCC susceptibility of heat treated 4340 steel in sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions at room temperature. Crack growth rates have been determined at different stress intensity factors (K_I), and the K_Iscc has been determined to be 15 MPa m^1/2. The obtained K_Iscc value using CNT specimen was found to be very close to K_Iscc values obtained by others using standard specimens.     

Ultra dispersed particles of Fe(III) compounds in the strongly basic crosslinked ionic polymer-precursors for new sorbents and catalysts

The Mössbauer spectroscopy and SEM investigation shows that crosslinked ionic polymers containing strongly basic functional groups adsorb Fe(III)-containing cations from sulphate solution through the formation in the polymer phase of high dispersed particles of jarosite mineral type compounds. Using different procedures the particles sizes and morphology, their repartition on the surface and in the volume of the polymer granule, the composition of the “polymer-inorganic compound” structural units were modified that is important for sorbents and catalysts obtaining. On heating in water medium in a boiling water bath, a part of the jarosite type compounds in the polymer phase is converted into ultra fine β-FeOOH particles in superparamagnetic state and the rest, in relatively massive and magnetically ordered β-FeOOH particles. The higher is the content of the Fe(III) in the polymer phase, the shorter is the duration of heating in water for the appearance of relatively massive particles of β-FeOOH. The particles of the jarosite type compounds and of the β-FeOOH are formed both on the surface and in the volume of the polymer granule. Upon heating in water, a part of the Fe(III)-containing particles have migrated from the volume of the polymer granule to the surface. Thermogravimetric investigation (in an N₂ atmosphere) shows that on heating of the Fe(III)-containing polymer sample up to 900 °C, complicated processes take place.