96 research outputs found

    The most difficult at-fault fatal crashes to avoid with current active safety technology

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    Objective We studied which current fatal at-fault crashes would occur despite the most advanced current active safety devices (up to SAE level 2 of driving automation) and how frequent these crashes would be. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional study of passenger cars that were first registered during the period 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2017 in Finland. To gain the true exposure for these cars, we accessed the national Vehicular and Driver Data Register to obtain the mileage information and the registration count for the study period of 2010-17. Similarly, we accessed the registry of Finnish road accident investigation teams and included all fatal at-fault crashes among the cars in our study for the same period. We used a real world reference technology for each active safety system in our analysis and chose one car brand as an example. This gave us exact system specifications and enabled testing the operation of the systems on the road. We performed field tests to gain further information on the precise operation of the safety systems in different operating conditions. Finally, we gathered all information on the studied active safety systems and analyzed the investigated at-fault fatal crashes case-by-case using our four level method. Results Cars in our study were the primary party in 113 investigated fatal accidents during the years 2010-17. In 87 of the accidents, the leading cause of death was the injuries due to the crash, and these cases were classified as “unavoidable” (n = 58, 67 %), “avoidable” (n = 26, 30 %) or unsolved (n = 3, 3 %). Of the 58 “unavoidable” crashes 21 (36 %) were suicides, 21 (36%) involved active driver input which would have prevented the safety system operation, 15 (17 %) featured circumstances beyond the safety system performance and in one loss-of-control crash the driver had disabled the relevant safety system (electronic stability control). The registration years of the cars in our study (2010-17) totaled 3,772,864 and during this period, the cars travelled 75.9 billion kilometers. The crash incidence of the “unavoidable” at-fault fatal crashes was 0.76-0.80 fatal crashes per billion kilometers and 15-16 fatal crashes per million registration years. Conclusions We calculated a crash incidence for the “unavoidable” crashes which was 20–27% smaller than the observed crash rate of ESC-fitted passenger cars in our previous study. We concluded that suicides, active driver input until the crash, and challenging weather and road conditions are the most difficult factors for current active safety systems. Our analysis did not account for issues such as system usability or driver acceptance and therefore our results should be regarded as something that is currently theoretically achievable. However, the observed incidence is a good reference for automated driving development and the crash rate of automated cars.Peer reviewe

    A Prospective 30-Year Follow-Up of ADHD Associated With Perinatal Risks

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    OBJECTIVE: Longitudinal follow-up of ADHD suggests a poorer outcome in those affected. Studies extending to 30 years however are rare. We investigated the adult outcome of ADHD associated with perinatal risks (PRs), treated non-pharmacologically. METHOD: A study group of 122 participants (86 men, 36 women) with PR-associated ADHD was followed-up from birth and compared with a control group also prospectively studied. RESULTS: The study group showed more cognitive, motor perception, and learning impairments as well as psychiatric problems at ages 5, 9, and 16. At age 30, the study group reported less education, more involuntary job dismissals and more alcohol abuse. Self-reported ADHD symptoms were still prevalent in adulthood. CONCLUSION: ADHD symptoms persist and impair the long-term educational, occupational, and psychiatric outcome. ADHD in participants with PR appears to follow a course seen in studies of unselected ADHD.Peer reviewe

    The role of vision-related problems in fatal road accidents in Finland

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    Purpose To evaluate the significance of vision-related problems in fatal motor vehicle accidents (FMVAs) based on a systematic investigation process by multidisciplinary road accident investigation teams (RAITs). Methods Retrospective registry-based study of all FMVAs during the years 2012-2016 in Finland in which driver causing the accident had a valid Finnish driving licence and the operated motor vehicle required having a driving licence. Results There were a total of 968 FMVAs. In only 1.3% of all the accidents, a vision-related problem was considered to have contributed to the FMVA, while an observational failure of 23.6% was the leading cause of all the FMVAs. Conclusions Eye-originating vision problems are rarely a causative risk for FMVAs in Finland. Making current visual standards more stringent would unlikely to be effective in FMVA prevention.Peer reviewe

    Sleep versus non-sleep-related fatal road accidents

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    Objective: To study different factors that are associated with fatal sleepiness-related motor vehicle accidents (FSMVA) and in other types of fatal motor vehicle accidents (FMVA) in Finland. Methods: All FMVA that were caused by falling asleep at the wheel (FSMVA) during the years 2005-2014 were investigated using OTI (Finnish Crash Data Institute) data. The control group consisted of 136 drivers who died in other types of FMVA in 2013. A total of 258 accidents were investigated. Results: The mean age of the 122 drivers in the FSMVA group was 44 (standard deviation 19) years; there were 100 men (82%) and 22 women. The mean age of the 136 control drivers was 45 (standard deviation 19) years; there were 116 men (85%) and 20 women. Short sleep time ( Conclusion: Short sleep is a major cause of fatal sleepiness-related motor vehicle accidents. Driver health factors such as sleep apnea or acute/chronic diseases as well as use of sedative medications and drugs are known risk factors for FSMVA, but these factors are associated also with other types of accidents. Healthy individuals are at risk for falling asleep while driving if they are sleep deprived. All drivers should be aware of the importance of adequate sleep. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

    Suicide by crashing into a heavy vehicle: Focus on professional drivers using in-depth crash data

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    Objective: Road traffic suicides typically involve a passenger car driver crashing his or her vehicle into a heavy vehicle, because death is almost certain due to the large mass difference between these vehicles. For the same reason, heavy-vehicle drivers typically suffer minor injuries, if any, and have thus received little attention in the research literature. In this study, we focused on heavy-vehicle drivers who were involved as the second party in road suicides in Finland. Methods: We analyzed 138 road suicides (2011-2016) involving a passenger car crashing into a heavy vehicle. We used in-depth road crash investigation data from the Finnish Crash Data Institute. Results: The results showed that all but 2 crashes were head-on collisions. Almost 30% of truck drivers were injured, but only a few suffered serious injuries. More than a quarter reported sick leave following their crash. Injury insurance compensation to heavy-vehicle drivers was just above euro9,000 on average. Material damage to heavy vehicles was significant, with average insurance compensation paid being euro70,500. Three out of 4 truck drivers reported that drivers committing suicide acted abruptly and left them little opportunity for preventive action. Conclusions: Suicides by crashing into heavy vehicles can have an impact on drivers' well-being; however, it is difficult to see how heavy-vehicle drivers could avoid a suicide attempt involving their vehicle.Peer reviewe
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