Analysis of the influence of fatigue on passenger transport drivers’ performance capacity

The article deals with the influence of professional drivers’ fatigue on the occurrence of traffic events. The study of various scientific works on the causes of traffic events related to human psychophysiological qualities has revealed that all of these works highlight the complex work process of a driver as an operator of a certain mechanism. It is governed by the regulatory documents reviewed in this article. Driver's fatigue is a quite frequent accident-causing human factor. Building upon the results of the study on human idiosyncrasies, the authors suggest a methodology for professional selection of drivers. This methodology is based on practical data, i.e. on a comprehensive analysis of performance peculiarities of professional drivers employed at Joint-Stock Company ‘Vilnius Public Transport’ (in Lithuanian – UAB ‘Vilniaus viešasis transportas’). Application of the suggested methodology enables to reduce the number of road accidents caused by city passenger transport drivers by up to 40÷50%. The article proposes a methodology for compilation of professional selection criteria for passenger transport drivers, also applicable to drivers working in other transportation areas, as well as to employees of field investigation services and other persons who constantly face nervous and emotional stress and experience a lack of information and time

Prediction of Road Accident Risk for Vehicle Fleet Based on Statistically Processed Tire Wear Model

The goal of the paper is to investigate the impact of tire tread depth on road accident risk and to develop an accident rate prediction model. The state of 4288 vehicle tires using tread depth gauge was inspected and processed statistically. The tread depth of the most worn tire from each vehicle was registered for further analysis. Based on the collected data, a statistical tire tread depth model for an insurance company vehicle fleet had been developed. The conformity of the gamma distribution to the data was verified upon applying the Pearson compatibility criterion. The paper provides the histograms of the frequencies of tire tread depths and the theoretical curves of the distribution density. The probability of the accident risk depending on the tire tread depth (adaptive risk index) was calculated applying the formed distributions and risk index dependence on the tire tread depth for the inspected vehicle fleet. According to the developed prediction model, an upgrade of the regulation for the minimum allowed tire tread depth by 2 mm (up to 3.6 mm) could reduce road accident risk (caused by poor adhesion to road surface) to 19.3% for the chosen vehicle fleet. Such models are useful for road safety experts, insurance companies and accident cost evaluation specialists by predicting expenses related to insurance events

Analysis of calculation methods used for accuracy evaluation of the results of road accident examination

For examination of road accidents often calculations are being performed according to mathematical equations having many variables, real values of which are of stochastic nature and they depend on many accident factors. Therefore it is important to know limits of determination of final values of every being analysed parameter of car movement and their probabilistic characteristics. This paper presents some cases of simulation of some road situations by mathematical methods of calculations, which now are widely used for evaluation of accuracy of values of the calculated parameter (in this paper ‐ the braking distance). Also here is presented some analysis of these methods. The paper presents the following cases of car braking: braking with making attempts to prevent a collision with another car, braking through impact‐to‐pedestrian prevention and conventional (rectilinear) car braking. The main attention in the analysis of the mentioned road situations is paid to veracity of the car braking distance, i.e. to limits of variation of values of this parameter and also to influence of accidental factors on the final result which is being looked for. Some conclusions on the expediency of application of the described methods of calculations to analysis of road accidents are present. First published online: 27 Oct 201

The methodology for calculation of road accident costs

The presented methodology for accounting the costs caused by road accidents is based on the fact that a person who died or was injured in a traffic accident will not contribute to the economic wealfare of the country anymore or his/her contribution will reduce. Broken vehicles, damaged cargoes or defected road constructions cause huge losses to the state. A financial assessment of material losses caused by road accidents enables providing a feasibility report in respect of efficiency of newly introduced traffic safety measures. The aim of the presented methodology is an establishment of the road accident costs that would conform to the todays economic level of Lithuania. The developed methodology for accounting road accident costs will enable more precise assessment of a necessity, perspectives and priorities of investment projects in the transport system as well as an accomplishment of funding allocation tasks

THE MEDIATING ROLE OF PERSONALITY IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REACTION TIME AND TRAFFIC PERCEPTION IN YOUNG ADULTS

The objective of this research was to examine how personality acts as a mediator in the relationship between reaction time and traffic perception in young adults. Given the increase in the number of road accidents among this age group in the European Union, it is essential to understand the psychological determinants of risky driving behavior. A sample of 60 participants from Poland, Slovakia, and Lithuania was assessed using the Vienna Test System to measure personality, reaction time, time-movement anticipation, and traffic perceptions. The results indicate gender differences in self-control personality factor and motor reaction time, as well as a positive correlation between the sense of responsibility and time-movement anticipation. The proposed model was confirmed, demonstrating that mental stability mediates the relationship between reaction time and traffic perceptions. A driver with high mental stability can react faster to stimuli while accurately perceiving objects in road traffic. This study has implications for road safety policies and practices. Incorporating personality assessments into driver training programs can help develop interventions that target specific personality traits. Furthermore, interventions aimed at enhancing mental stability may help reduce the likelihood of accidents among young drivers. However, this study’s limitations, such as the small sample size and narrow age range, should be considered in future research with other age groups and additional variables that directly impact traffic safety

Influence of Semi-Active Suspension Characteristics on the Driving Comfort

The article analyzes the influence of modern-day vehicle suspension characteristics on the passenger’s comfort sensation. The cars with air suspension were selected for the experiments and the suspension was equipped with mode selection options – “Comfort” and “Sport” . A sinusoidal manoeuvre was ensured with a steering wheel rotation robot. The experimental tests were carried out by changing car suspension modes and wheel sizes. The experiments and data processing were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the ISO 2631–1 international standard. In the experimental test, the longitudinal and lateral acceleration projections captured by the sensor and roll rate of the vehicle were set to provide the most comfortable adjustment of the car suspension mode. After filtering the measured vertical acceleration values, the comfort sensation was expressed as the root mean square (RMS) of vibration acceleration value. After evaluating the passenger’s sense of comfort, a summary of the effect of the car suspension-driving mode was provided

Automobilių dinamika

Knygoje aprašyti pagrindiniai automobilių dinamikos dėsniai, pa- teikiamos automobilių judėjimo charakteristikos ir jų priklausomybės nuo įvairių parametrų, jų nustatymo priemonės ir metodai. Leidinys skirtas sausumos transporto inžinerijos studijų programos automobilių transporto inžinerijos specializacijos studentams, studijuo- jantiems transporto priemonių dinamiką. Mokomoji knyga tinka ir kitų sausumos transporto inžinerijos stu- dijų programos specializacijų studentams bei specialistams, besidomin- tiems transporto priemonių dinamika. Leidinį rekomendavo Vgtu Transporto inžinerijos fakulteto studijų komiteta

The effect of information systems on psychophysiological characteristics of traffic participants

A survey of the literature on the effect of cellphones on traffic participants is presented in the paper. In the experimental part, psychophysiological tests based on the use of special technical devices for measuring the time of a complex reaction of the drivers are described. The aims of the tests, technical-psychophysiological conditions, methods of calculating the results obtained, their evaluation and interpreting, as well as statistical characteristics of the tests, are presented. Based on the experimental results obtained, time dependencies of traffic participants’ complex reaction are determined. Article in Lithuanian. Informacinių sistemų įtaka eismo dalyvių  psichofiziologinėms savybėms Santrauka. Straipsnyje pateikiama mobiliojo telefono naudojimo poveikio eismo dalyviams literatūros analizė. Eksperimentinėje dalyje pateikiami eismo dalyvių psichofiziologiniai tyrimai naudojant specialią techninę aparatūrą, kuria matuojamas vairuotojų sudėtingos reakcijos laikas. Straipsnyje  aprašomi testų tyrimo tikslai, techninės-psichofiziologinės sąlygos, rezultatų skaičiavimo būdai, įvertinimas ir interpretacija, statistinės testų ypatybės. Remiantis gautais eksperimentiniais rezultatais sudaromos eismo dalyvių sudėtingos reakcijos laiko priklausomybės. Reikšminiai žodžiai: psichofiziologija, eismo dalyvis, sudėtinga reakcija, informacinė sistema

Semi-active suspension influence on comfort sensation of a vehicle occupant

This article presents an analysis of a modern-day vehicle semi-active suspension performance impact on comfort properties of its occupant. Vehicles chosen for the investigation had two different suspension-driving options, characterized as Comfort and Sport modes. These options change such vehicle parameters as suspension stiffness, algorithm of gearbox operation, and sensitivity of the steering system. Altering these two modes while driving at different speeds and on different road surfaces, vertical accelerations, affecting the occupant seat, were measured. Experiments and data processing were carried out according to ISO 2631-1 standard. After filtering the aforementioned vertical accelerations, the occupant comfort sensation was expressed as the vibration dose value (VDV) and the root mean square (RMS) of vibration acceleration value. Once the fast Fourier transform (FFT) was applied and vertical accelerations were converted to the frequency domain, spectral analysis of accumulated measurements was performed. After evaluating the comfort of an occupant, a summary of the vehicle suspension-driving mode influence is presented