A neuroscientific evaluation of driver rehabilitation:Functional neuroimaging demonstrates the effectiveness of empathy induction in altering brain responses during social information processing

An alarming number of traffic-related deaths occur each year on European roads alone. Figures reveal that the vast majority of road-traffic accidents are caused by drivers themselves, and so further improvements in road safety require developments in driver training and rehabilitation. This study evaluated a novel approach to driver rehabilitation-specifically, empathy induction as a means of changing attitudes towards risky driving. To assess the effectiveness of this method, the present study employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare brain function before and after a short program of empathy induction in 27 drivers whose licenses had been revoked after serious traffic offences (rehabilitated drivers [RDs]). In an extension of our previous research, we first assessed whether neural responses to empathy-eliciting social stimuli changed in these RDs. In order to isolate the neurophysiological effects of empathy induction from any other potential influences, we compared these RDs to a sample of 27 age-, handedness- and driving experience-matched control drivers (CDs) who had no exposure to the program. We then performed dual-fMRI "hyperscanning" to evaluate whether empathy induction changed brain responses during real-world social interactions among drivers; namely, during co-operative and/or competitive exchanges. Our data reveal that RDs exhibited weaker brain responses to socio-emotional stimuli compared with CDs prior to the program, but this difference was reversed after empathy induction. Moreover, we observed differences between pre- and post-program assessments in patterns of brain responses in RDs elicited during competitive social exchanges, which we interpret to reflect a change in their proclivity to react to the perceived wrong-doing of other road users. Together, these findings suggest that empathy induction is an effective form of driver rehabilitation, and the utility of neuroscientific techniques for evaluating and improving rehabilitation programs

First aid training in driving schools - uselessness or relevant measure with considerable potential?

Despite various traffic safety measures traffic accidents still happen. In the Czech Republic, 57 serious accidents happen every day. In situation of accident, immediate help of the bystanders can save lives and reduce damage. Providers of the first aid can also significantly shorten the time before the professional medical assistance arrives by performing the correct procedure of calling emergency line. Czech Red Cross estimates that approximately 10% of the traffic accidents victims should be saved if the bystanders were more able or willing to give them a first aid. In the Czech Republic the system of dispatcher-assisted resuscitation is very well elaborated. After calling the emergency numbers operators are ready to provide the help and advice. Therefore there are no high requirements to the medical knowledge of the first aid providers. That is why the mandatory first aid courses in driving school are only four hours long, what is from expert point of view very unsufficient. Therefore aim of this research was to carry out screening study of effectiveness of the first aid courses in driving schools. In frame of this study was done questionnaire survey among trainees in driving schools focused on willingness and ability to provide first aid and subjective evaluation of these competences. We used adapted Adelborg's first aid questionnaire (Sp?rgeskema om f?rdselsrelateret f?rstehj?lp og genoplivning). The questionnaire was consisted of four parts. The first part affects the socio-demographic data, the second part affects the subjective evaluation of their own competencies, the third part focuses on the evaluation of the course itself and the fourth part takes the form of a test of actual knowledge of first aid. In the fourth part were respondents asked four most important questions in line with the European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation and with International first aid and resuscitation guidelines of International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. 1) What is the phone number emergency line; 2) How should you act when you arrive at the place of fresh traffic accident where has not been given any help yet? 3) How will you know that a person has internal bleeding in a car accident? 4) How will you know that a person has a spinal injury in a car accident? Answers were given into context with other parts of questionnaire. There were 370 respondents mostly at the age of eighteen and nineteen who were applying for "B" driving license in four regions from thirteen in the Czech Republic. Survey shows alarming results. Promising number of willing respondents - 92% of young drivers intend to provide first aid in traffic accidents - gives in the light of other responses reason for serious concern. Despite high willingness only 58% of respondents feel competent to provide first aid, fair idea of how to act have 23% of respondents and the most common life-threatening states in a car accident is able to identify only few individuals. Such bad results are probably due to the unsufficient first aid courses in driving schools, which are focused mainly on theory and are lacking of practical training. Therefore there is strong need for change in system of first aid courses in driving schools towards more relevant forms of training