Moving Between Automated and Manual Driving: Mental Workload and Performance Implications

Automated driving has been predicted to take-over from manual vehicle control in the near future. The driver’s role may then change from active operator to passive observer. Such technology offers the tantalising promise of improving driving safety. However, many studies have presented findings suggesting potentially adverse effects from automated driving systems, e.g., reduced situation awareness. Mental workload is also a key issue of concern for researchers in this area. Excessive mental workload has repeatedly been shown to be associated with degraded driving performance. Previously, most traffic psychology studies on mental workload have focused the manual driving task. However, a shift to (and from) highly automated driving will impose differing cognitive demands on the driver. For example, mental workload levels are likely to shift from underload to overload and visa-versa. Rapid resumption of manual control from a highly automated observation role seems inevitable on the basis of equipment failure or adverse conditions. Consequently, how driving performance will be effected; how it will effect driver mental workload; and how to protect road users from such system failures, are the interesting questions of concern. The aims of this experimental study are to determine the effects of control state changes (automated to manual, and manual to automated) on driver mental workload and driving performance. Participants will perform several counterbalanced driving transition scenarios (shifting between manual driving, highly automated driving and fully automated driving) in driving simulator. Dependent variables will include subjective mental workload measures, eye tracking, driving performance measures and performance on a secondary loading task. The results of this study are anticipated to provide insight into the human-machine interaction system with respect to mental workload and driving performance. Findings will contribute to our understanding of the implications of control state changes in automated driving scenarios. For example, shifting into or out of, automated driving modes. More generally, we anticipate findings could support vehicle designers by improving their understanding of the limitations of automated driving systems with respect to driver mental workload

A randomised control crossover trial of a theory based intervention to improve sun-safe and healthy behaviours in construction workers:Study protocol

Abstract Background Exposure to sunlight can have both positive and negative health impacts. Excessive exposure to ultra-violet (UV) radiation from the sun can cause skin cancer, however insufficient exposure to sunlight has a detrimental effect on production of Vitamin D. In the construction industry there are onsite proactive behaviours for safety, but sun-safety remains a low priority. There is limited research on understanding the barriers to adopting sun-safe behaviours and the association this may have with Vitamin D production. This paper reports a protocol for an intervention study, using text messaging in combination with a supportive smartphone App. The intervention aims to both reduce UV exposure during months with higher UV levels and promote appropriate dietary changes to boost Vitamin D levels during months with low UV levels. Method/design Approximately 60 construction workers will be recruited across the United Kingdom. A randomised control crossover trial (RCCT) will be used to test the intervention, with randomisation at site level – i.e. participants will receive both the control (no text messages or supportive App support) and intervention (daily text messages and supportive App). Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) the intervention focuses on supporting sun-safety and healthy dietary decisions in relation to Vitamin D intake. The intervention emphasises cultivating the perception of normative support in the workplace, increasing awareness of control and self-efficacy in taking sun-protective behaviours, making healthier eating choices to boost Vitamin D, and tackling stigmas attached to image and group norms. Each study epoch will last 21 days with intervention text messages delivered on workdays only. The supportive App will provide supplementary information about sun protective behaviours and healthy dietary choices. The primary outcome measure is 25-hydroxy-Vitamin D [25(OH)D] level (obtained using blood spot sampling), which will be taken pre and post control and intervention periods. Secondary outcome measures are two-fold, (1) using the TPB to detect changes in behaviour, and (2) quantifying UV exposure during the UK peak radiation season (April–September) using body-mounted UV sensors. Discussion This study will provide important information about the effectiveness of a technology-based intervention to promote sun-safety and healthy behaviours in outdoor construction workers. Trial registration ISRCTN15888934 retrospectively registered 15.01.2018

The Essential Elements of a Risk Governance Framework for Current and Future Nanotechnologies

Societies worldwide are investing considerable resources into the safe development and use of nanomaterials. Although each of these protective efforts is crucial for governing the risks of nanomaterials, they are insufficient in isolation. What is missing is a more integrative governance approach that goes beyond legislation. Development of this approach must b

The impact of immediate breast reconstruction on the time to delivery of adjuvant therapy: the iBRA-2 study

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is routinely offered to improve quality-of-life for women requiring mastectomy, but there are concerns that more complex surgery may delay adjuvant oncological treatments and compromise long-term outcomes. High-quality evidence is lacking. The iBRA-2 study aimed to investigate the impact of IBR on time to adjuvant therapy. Methods: Consecutive women undergoing mastectomy ± IBR for breast cancer July–December, 2016 were included. Patient demographics, operative, oncological and complication data were collected. Time from last definitive cancer surgery to first adjuvant treatment for patients undergoing mastectomy ± IBR were compared and risk factors associated with delays explored. Results: A total of 2540 patients were recruited from 76 centres; 1008 (39.7%) underwent IBR (implant-only [n = 675, 26.6%]; pedicled flaps [n = 105,4.1%] and free-flaps [n = 228, 8.9%]). Complications requiring re-admission or re-operation were significantly more common in patients undergoing IBR than those receiving mastectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required by 1235 (48.6%) patients. No clinically significant differences were seen in time to adjuvant therapy between patient groups but major complications irrespective of surgery received were significantly associated with treatment delays. Conclusions: IBR does not result in clinically significant delays to adjuvant therapy, but post-operative complications are associated with treatment delays. Strategies to minimise complications, including careful patient selection, are required to improve outcomes for patients

Driver situation awareness - investigating the effect of passenger experience

Passengers have the opportunity to influence the driver’s situation awareness and promote safer performance. This paper reports an investigation into the influence of passengers on driver situation awareness. 40 two-person teams performed an interactive verbal task, while one team member also undertook a simulated driving task. Half of the drivers were paired with driving-experienced passengers; the others took part with driving-novice passengers. Dependent variables were Verbal Response Time (conversation modulation) and Situation Awareness. Results indicated that driving-novice passengers engaged in relatively more conversation than the driving-experienced passengers. Significant differences were found for total Situational Awareness between driving-experienced and driving-novice groups. Further analysis suggested that both experienced drivers and passengers had significantly better Situational Awareness of perceptual factors than driving-novices. Further, Verbal Response Times were found to be significantly predictive of Situational Awareness. Findings provide some support for the notion that passengers may have a positive effect on driver’s attention in spite of their verbal interactions