The Influence of the Built Environment on the Driving Behaviors and Mental Health of Older Adults.

Due to increases in life expectancy, the aging of the baby boom generation, and a decline in birth rates, the US population is aging rapidly. In the future, older people will not only comprise a larger proportion of the general population, but also the driving population. This issue is characterized by a conflict between roadway safety for those who can no longer safely drive, and loss of independence when driving reduction and cessation become necessary. Previous research on driving decision making among older adults has largely focused on individual- and interpersonal-level factors. This study examined the influence of the physical transportation environment on driving reduction and cessation, after controlling for the effects of other predictors. Differences by gender and race were also assessed, as was the influence of the transportation environment on depressive symptoms. Longitudinal survival analysis techniques and generalized estimating equations were used to analyze seven waves of data spanning a 12-year period from 1998 through 2010. Results showed that after controlling for the effects of demographics, health, and social support, there was a significant influence of the transportation environment on both driving reduction and driving cessation. As roadway density and congestion increased, the odds of driving reduction and cessation also increased. Men were more affected than women by the transportation environment, and Whites and Hispanics were more affected than African Americans and those of Other race. Driving reduction, driving cessation, and the transportation environment also significantly predicted the rate of depressive symptoms over time. Depressive symptoms were positively associated with driving limitations, while a more congested environment predicted fewer depressive symptoms. Other predictors of driving reduction and cessation included relationship status, household size, and having a friend who lives nearby. Results suggest that policy changes and modifications to the physical environment should be made to improve older drivers' ability to remain engaged in life. Creating mixed-use livable communities with goods and services in close proximity are warranted to mitigate some of the mobility challenges of older adulthood. Older individuals should also consider and plan for how their transportation environment will affect their desire to age in place.PhDHealth Behavior and Health EducationUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/113589/1/jviv_1.pd

An evaluation of the 2007 “Click It or Ticket" safety belt mobilization in Florida

bibliographic referencesA direct observation study was conducted in Spring 2007 to evaluate the statewide “Click It or Ticket” (CIOT) safety belt mobilization in Florida. The study consisted of two survey waves: a baseline wave completed before CIOT activities began, and a follow-up survey completed immediately following the termination of the activities. Both survey waves were conducted statewide on front-outboard motor vehicle occupants traveling in four vehicle types (cars, vans, SUVs, and pickup trucks). Belt use was estimated for all vehicle types combined (the statewide safety belt use rate) for each survey wave. Additional analyses were conducted to determine belt use rates by several occupant and environmental characteristics. Statewide safety belt use was 74.1 percent prior to the mobilization campaign, and 74.2 percent during the follow-up survey wave. These rates were not significantly different from one another. The study results suggest that the CIOT efforts implemented in Florida during 2007 did not have their intended effect.Tallahassee Community College/Florida Department of Transportationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55475/1/99841.pd

Direct observation of safety belt use in Michigan: December 2002

Notes: "February 2003."Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-37)Notes: Final report. Oct. 2001-Nov. 2004 [sic]Full Text: Occupant ProtectionMichigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, Lansinghttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/1482/2/71544a26.0001.001.pd

Safety belt use in Wayne County communities: fall 2001

Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-36)Notes: Final report. Oct. 1, 2000-Nov. 30, 2001Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, LansingNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/1363/2/95195.0001.001.pd

Photoionization Dynamics of the Tetraoxo Complexes OsO4 and RuO4

The photoionization dynamics of OsO4 and RuO4, chosen as model systems of small-size mononuclear heavy-metal complexes, has been theoretically studied by the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Accurate experimental measurements of photoionization dynamics as a benchmarking test for the theory are reported for the photoelectron asymmetry parameters of outer valence ionizations of OsO4, measured in the 17-90 eV photon energy range. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the available experimental data. The observed dynamical behavior of partial cross sections and asymmetry parameters has been related to both the coupling to the continuum of discrete excited states, giving strong modulations in the photon energy dependency, and the atomic composition of the initial ionized states, which determines the rate of decay of ionization probability for increasing excitation energies. Overall, an extensive analysis of the photoionization dynamics for valence and core orbitals is presented, showing good agreement with all the available experimental data. This provides confidence for the validity of the TDDFT approach in describing photoionization of heavy transition element compounds, with the perspective of being used for larger systems. Further experimental work is suggested for RuO4 to gather evidence of the sensitivity of the theoretical method to the nature of the metal atom

Energy security and shifting modes of governance

The concept of energy security fits uneasily into contemporary security debates. It is neither a clearly traditional nor a fully ‘non-traditional’ security issue. There are also limits to the social constructedness of the concept. This article argues that, while it is important to identify the differing securitizations of energy, these must be contextualized within the material realities and the differing historical modes of governance of the political economy of resources. This is essential for understanding the differing meanings accorded to energy security, the shifting modes through which energy is governed, and the extent to which energy security concerns drive international politics. In this context, contemporary concerns over energy security have both material and ideological dimensions: anxiety over the dual shift of power from West to East and from resource-importing to resource-exporting countries; and concern over the normative weakening of the neo-liberal mode of energy governance

A study of nighttime seat belt use in Indiana

A direct observation study of nighttime seat belt use was conducted in Indiana surrounding the Click It or Ticket (May Mobilization) activities. Two nighttime full statewide surveys were conducted, one in April and the other in June 2006. For this study, the hours between 9:30 p.m. to 5:45 a.m. were defined as nighttime. This time included all hours of darkness between the end of twilight in the evening to the beginning of twilight in the morning during June 2006 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Observations were conducted at roadway intersections, freeway entrance and exit ramps, and road segments using specialized night vision equipment. The nighttime survey waves were designed to coincide with daytime waves already planned for Indiana by the Center for the Advancement of Transportation Safety, and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. The first objective of the study was to determine if there was a differential change in daytime versus nighttime seat belt use surrounding the mobilization activities. A secondary objective was to compare daytime to nighttime seat belt use to see if there was lower seat belt use at night, as has been found by others. The comparisons across the mobilization period revealed a statistically significant increase during the day (79.7% and 84.3%, respectively), and a statistically significant decrease at night (79.0% and 74.0%, respectively). These results suggest that the daytime mobilization activities had a positive effect on daytime belt use, but no effect on nighttime belt use. There is no obvious reason for the belt use decrease observed at night during this period. Comparisons were also made between daytime and nighttime belt use within each time period (pre- and post-mobilization). No differences were observed during the pre-mobilization wave, while a statistically significant difference was observed during the post wave. This difference is jointly attributed to the differential effect of the mobilization activities on daytime and nighttime belt use across the mobilization period, and the decrease observed within the nighttime waves. Finally, many of the common daytime trends in belt use (i.e., lower belt use for males than females) were also found at night, with the exception of the effect of age (typically younger motorists buckle up less often) and seating position (typically drivers display higher belt use).National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55275/1/99814.pd

Safety belt use in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, Lansinghttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/1340/2/94184.0001.001.pd