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At least 397 records · Page 22Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Physical activity in an Old Order Amish community.

UNLABELLED: One method to assess the impact of modern technology on physical activity is to examine a group whose lifestyle has not changed markedly in the last 150 yr. The Old Order Amish refrain from driving automobiles, using electrical appliances, and employing other modern conveniences. Labor-intensive farming is still the preferred occupation. PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to characterize the physical activity (PA) levels in an Old Order Amish farming community and to examine measures of adiposity in this group. METHODS: Ninety-eight Amish adults (18-75 yr of age) in southern Ontario were studied. Anthropometric variables included height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and percent body fat (% BF). Participants were asked to wear an electronic pedometer for 7 d and to fill out a log sheet on which they recorded steps per day and physical activities. After 1 wk, they returned the pedometers and log sheets and filled out the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. RESULTS: The average number of steps per day was 18,425 for men versus 14,196 for women (P < 0.05). Men reported 10.0 h.wk-1 of vigorous PA, 42.8 h.wk-1 of moderate PA, and 12.0 h.wk-1 of walking. Women reported 3.4 h.wk-1 of vigorous PA, 39.2 h.wk-1 of moderate PA, and 5.7 h.wk-1 of walking. Men had higher levels of energy expenditure than women (P < 0.001). A total of 25% of the men and 27% of the women were overweight (BMI > or = 25), and 0% of the men and 9% of the women were obese (BMI > or = 30). CONCLUSIONS: The Amish we studied had very high levels of physical activity, which may contribute to their low prevalence of obesity. This group probably represents an upper extreme for "lifestyle PA" in North America today.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Effect of aftermarket automobile window tinting films on driver vision.

This study was conducted to determine the level of automobile window tint that causes a significant reduction of vision for automobile drivers. Contrast sensitivity was measured on 20 participants, of whom 10 were age 20 to 29 years and 10 were age 60 to 69 years, through a stock automobile window (control) and two windows darkened with plastic film. For the younger drivers, a car window with 37% transmittance did not significantly reduce contrast sensitivity, but a darker tint of 18% transmittance reduced contrast sensitivity at higher spatial frequencies. For the older drivers, a tint of 37% transmittance significantly reduced mid-to- high spatial frequency contrast sensitivity. The typical state standard (no tint with less than 35% transmittance) would thus seem to be appropriate for younger drivers; however, further examination of the standard may be necessary in regard to older drivers. Actual or potential applications of this research include guidelines and regulations regarding tinting of automobile windows.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Vehicle and driver attributes affecting distance from the steering wheel in motor vehicles.

The current study was designed to confirm that female drivers sit closer to the steering wheel than do male drivers and to investigate whether this expected difference in sitting position is attributable to differences in the physical dimensions of men and women. Driver body dimensions and multiple measures of sitting distance from the steering wheel were collected from a sample of 150 men and 150 women. The results confirmed that on average, women sit closer to the steering wheel than men do and that this difference is accounted for by variations in body dimensions, especially height. This result suggests that driver height may provide a good surrogate for sitting distance from the steering wheel when investigating the role of driver position in real-world crash outcomes. The potential applications of this research include change to vehicle design that allows independent adjustment of the relative distance among the driver's seat, the steering wheel, and the floor pedals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Design and evaluation of a prototype rear obstacle detection and driver warning system.

This study, concerned with the development of driver interface criteria for a rear obstacle detection system, assessed the appropriateness of alternative warning timing algorithms and evaluated various interface approaches for presenting warning information to drivers. Interface testing used a minivan and a passenger sedan equipped with a prototype rear obstacle detection system. Two different warning timing algorithms and four different interface conditions were examined. The appropriateness of the warning timing algorithms was tested using an alerted backing procedure wherein drivers backed to known obstacles and braked in response to the warning. A surprise event scenario was also included in order to examine driver reaction to the warning under unexpected conditions. Alerted backing results suggest that although both timing algorithms led to few target strikes, one algorithm led to more acceptable ratings, fewer target strikes and close calls, and less urgent braking. None of the interface warning conditions reliably induced avoidance braking under the surprise event condition. Actual or potential applications of this work include the appropriate design of effective backing warning systems.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1998

Factors associated with restraint use of children in fatal crashes.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to characterize the restraint use of children in fatal crashes and to determine factors that were related to child restraint use. METHODS: Crashes in which a vehicle occupant died were selected from the 1994 Fatal Analysis Reporting System data. Restraint use of children (0-9 years) in these crashes was characterized and examined in relation to vehicle and driver characteristics. RESULTS: Restraint use declined with increasing age of children and increasing number of occupants. Restraint use was also lower in older vehicles, in pickups and large vans, between 3 AM and 6 AM, and in rural areas. Driver characteristics associated with lower restraint use of child passengers included unrestrained drivers, younger drivers, and alcohol use at the time of crash. Driver restraint use was the strongest predictor of child restraint use. Differences in restraint use by age of the child, number of occupants, time, urban/rural area, and driver restraint use persisted in a logistic model. CONCLUSION: Restraint use in crashes is substantially lower than that in observational studies, suggesting that these studies are not reflective of high-risk conditions for crashes in which children are involved. Child occupant protection counseling must stress restraint use under all conditions of travel. Local, state, and national efforts must be aimed at increasing family occupant protection for the entire family.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1988

Seating position in cars and fatality risk.

Fatality risk in passenger cars according to seating position (front versus rear; left versus center or right) was examined using Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS) data for 1975 through 1985. Comparing the fatality risk of unrestrained occupants matched in sex and age (within three years) revealed effects attributable to seating position, and not to occupant characteristics correlated with use of different seats. Fatality risk to drivers was the same as fatality risk to right front passengers to within 1 per cent; this was so for crashes in all directions and for frontal crashes. Fatality risk in rear seats was (26 +/- 2) per cent lower than in front seats, and lower in center compared to outboard seats by (22 +/- 4) per cent for front seats and (15 +/- 4) per cent for rear seats. The center rear seat was associated with the lowest fatality risk.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1993

Automobile driver fatalities in frontal impacts: air bags compared with manual belts.

OBJECTIVES: The effectiveness of air bags was estimated in this study by comparing driver fatalities in frontal crashes with driver fatalities in nonfrontal crashes, for cars with air bags and manual belts and cars with manual belts only. METHODS: Fatal Accident Reporting System data for drivers fatally injured during 1985 to 1991 in 1985 to 1991 model year cars that were equipped with air bags in or before model year 1991 were analyzed. RESULTS: Driver fatalities in frontal crashes in air bag cars were 28% lower than those in comparable cars with manual belts only. This percentage was used for estimating the overall fatality reduction in air bag cars. The reduction was greater in large cars (50%) than in midsize cars (19%) or in small cars (14%). Air bags reduced driver fatalities in frontal crashes involving ejection by about 9%. Fatalities in frontal crashes among drivers who were reportedly using manual belts at the time of the crash were reduced by about 15%. The comparable reduction among drivers who were reportedly not using manual belts was 31%. CONCLUSION: It was estimated that air bags reduced the total number of all driver fatalities by about 19%.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2000

Injury mortality in East Germany.

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the effects of social changes in East Germany since 1989 on patterns of injury mortality. METHODS: Death certificate data regarding injuries from 1980 through 1995 and police data regarding traffic injuries in East Germany from 1980 through 1998 were compared with similar data from West Germany. RESULTS: The number of motor vehicle-related injuries and deaths in East Germany increased dramatically between 1989 and 1991, whereas those in West Germany declined slightly. The increased mortality in the more rural East has especially involved young men driving automobiles on rural roads and has persisted since reunification of East and West Germany. Falls, other accidents, and suicides have shown no such effect. Homicide among East German men has increased but remains uncommon. CONCLUSIONS: Recent social changes in East Germany, including increased access to motor vehicles and decreased restrictions on personal freedom, have been associated with increased motor vehicle crashes and mortality, especially among young men and on rural roads.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1988

Can caffeine antagonize alcohol-induced performance decrements in humans?

Design aspects and results of experiments that investigated the effects of caffeine on alcohol-induced performance decrements in humans are discussed. Simple conclusions concerning those outcomes are unwarranted because they seem to depend on the tasks used and the dosages of both drugs, with both antagonism and potentiation of alcohol-induced effects having been reported. Results indicate that legally intoxicated individuals cannot antagonize alcohol-induced, driving-related decrements with caffeine prior to driving an automobile, thought to be the major behavior for which caffeine is used in attempts to antagonize alcohol-induced decrements. We offer suggestions for research concerning subjects' habitual use or nonuse of caffeine and typical alcohol consumption levels, the interval between alcohol and caffeine ingestion, and the effects of caffeine and alcohol alone on performance tasks. We also suggest that statistical analyses should allow for a differentiation of results in which caffeine partially offsets an alcohol-induced decrement from more positive results in which caffeine returns functioning to its normal level.

Automobile Driving↗
PubMed2004

Effects of inferred social status and a beginning driver's sticker upon aggression of drivers in Japan.

The present study examined how inferred social status and a beginning driver's sticker influenced aggressive drivers' behavior on the road in Japan. A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design was constructed to examine the effects of social status of an experimental car (high or low), with a beginning driver's sticker or no beginning driver's sticker, and a male or female driver. Analysis showed that horn-honking latency in the sticker condition was longer than that in the no-sticker condition in the low status car. In the high status car, the horn was sounded sooner in the condition with a beginning driver's sticker. A beginning driver's sticker promoted aggressive behavior oward a high status person, whereas it inhibited aggressive behavior toward low status individuals. Thus, response to a beginning driver's sticker appears to vary according to inferred social status.

Adult↗