Explaining car drivers' intention to prevent road-traffic noise: An application of the Norm Activation Model

Strengthening car drivers’ intention to prevent road-traffic noise is a first step toward noise abatement through voluntary change of behavior. We analyzed predictors of this intention based on the norm activation model (i.e., personal norm, problem awareness, awareness of consequences, social norm, and value orientations). Moreover, we studied the effects of noise exposure, noise sensitivity, and noise annoyance on problem awareness. Data came from 1,002 car drivers who participated in a two-wave longitudinal survey over 4 months. Personal norm had a large prospective effect on intention, even when the previous level of intention was controlled for, and mediated the effect of all other variables on intention. Almost 60% of variance in personal norm was explained by problem awareness, social norm, and biospheric value orientation. The effects of noise sensitivity and noise exposure on problem awareness were small and mediated by noise annoyance. We propose four communication strategies for strengthening the intention to prevent road-traffic noise in car drivers.

Car Design and Road Crossing Behaviour

Humans possess a highly developed sensitivity for facial features. This sensitivity is also deployed to non-human beings and inanimate objects such as cars. In the present study we aimed to investigate whether car design has a bearing on the behaviour of pedestrians. Methods: An immersive virtual reality environment with a zebra crossing was used to determine a) whether the minimum accepted distance for crossing the street is bigger for cars with dominant appearance than for cars with friendly appearance (Block 1) and b) whether the speed of dominant cars are overestimated compared to friendly cars (Block 2). In Block 1, the participant's task was to cross the road in front of an approaching car at the latest moment. The point of time when entering and leaving the street was measured. In Block 2 they were asked to estimate the speed of each passing car. An independent sample rated dominant cars as being more dominant, angry and hostile than friendly cars. Results: None of the predictions regarding the car design was confirmed. Instead, there was an effect of starting position: From the centre island, participants entered the road significantly later (smaller accepted distance) and left the road later than when starting from the pavement. Consistently, the speed of the cars was estimated significantly lower when standing on the centre island compared to the pavement. When entering the visual size of the cars as factor (instead of dominance), we found that participants started to cross the road significantly later in front of small cars compared to big cars and that the speed of smaller cars was overestimated compared to big cars (size-speed bias). Conclusions: Car size and starting position, not car design seem to have an influence on road crossing behaviour.

When the prey gets too big: an uncommon road accident involving a motorcyclist, a car and a bird

We present the postmortem findings of a fatal road accident involving a motorcyclist, a car, and a common buzzard. Both the motorcyclist and the bird died on the scene of the accident and were examined by postmortem full-body CT and autopsy. In addition, a facial injury of the motorcyclist was compared with the dimensions of the buzzard’s beak and claws by 3D scan technologies. Blood splatters collected on the bird’s beak, feet, and tail were examined by DNA analysis. The overall findings suggested a collision of a common buzzard with a motorcyclist in full speed, causing the motorcyclist to lose control of his vehicle and crash with an approaching car on the oncoming lane.

Postmortem non-invasive virtual autopsy: death by hanging in a car.

A body was found behind a car with a noose tied around its neck, the other end of the rope tied to a tree. Apparently the man committed suicide by driving away with the noose tied around his neck and was dragged out of the car through the open hatchback. postmortem multislice-computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated that the cause of death was cerebral hypoxia due to classic strangulation by hanging, and not due to a brainstem lesion because of a hang-man fracture as would be expected in such a dynamic situation. Furthermore, the MRI displayed intramuscular haemorrhage, bleeding into the clavicular insertions of the sternocleidomastoid muscles and subcutaneous neck tissue. We conclude that MSCT and MRI are useful instruments with an increased value compared with 2D radiographs to augment the external findings of bodies when an autopsy is refused. But further postmortem research and comparing validation is needed.

Car, parce que, puisque’ revisited: Three empirical studies on French causal connectives

In French, a causal relation is often conveyed by the connectives car, parce que or puisque. Since the seminal work of the Lambda-l Group (1975), it has generally been assumed that parce que, used to relate semantic content, contrasts with car and puisque, both used to connect either speech act or epistemic content. However, this analysis leaves a number of questions unanswered. In this paper, I present a reanalysis of this trio, using empirical methods such as corpus analysis and constrained elicitation. Results indicate that car and parce que are interchangeable in many contexts, even if they are still prototypically used in their respective domain in writing. As for puisque, its distribution does not overlap with car, despite their similar domains of use. I argue that the specificity of puisque with respect to the other two connectives is to introduce a cause with an echoic meaning.

Using spatial linear models with SAR and CAR structure to examine Texas lung cancer incidence rates

Scholars have found that socioeconomic status was one of the key factors that influenced early-stage lung cancer incidence rates in a variety of regions. This thesis examined the association between median household income and lung cancer incidence rates in Texas counties. A total of 254 individual counties in Texas with corresponding lung cancer incidence rates from 2004 to 2008 and median household incomes in 2006 were collected from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance System. A simple linear model and spatial linear models with two structures, Simultaneous Autoregressive Structure (SAR) and Conditional Autoregressive Structure (CAR), were used to link median household income and lung cancer incidence rates in Texas. The residuals of the spatial linear models were analyzed with Moran's I and Geary's C statistics, and the statistical results were used to detect similar lung cancer incidence rate clusters and disease patterns in Texas.^

A Visual AGV-Urban Car using Fuzzy Control

The goal of the work described in this paper is to develop a visual line guided system for being used on-board an Autonomous Guided Vehicle (AGV) commercial car, controlling the steering and using just the visual information of a line painted below the car. In order to implement the control of the vehicle, a Fuzzy Logic controller has been implemented, that has to be robust against curvature changes and velocity changes. The only input information for the controller is the visual distance from the image center captured by a camera pointing downwards to the guiding line on the road, at a commercial frequency of 30Hz. The good performance of the controller has successfully been demonstrated in a real environment at urban velocities. The presented results demonstrate the capability of the Fuzzy controller to follow a circuit in urban environments without previous information about the path or any other information from additional sensors

Influence of driving style on fuel consumption and Emissions in diesel-powered passenger car

This paper presents the main results of a study on the influence of driving style on fuel consumption and pollutant emissions of diesel passenger car in urban traffic. Driving styles (eco, normal or aggressive) patterns were based on the “eco-driving” criteria. The methodology is based on on-board emission measurements in real urban traffic in the city of Madrid. Five diesel passenger cars, have been tested. Through a statistical analysis, a Dynamic Performance Index was defined for diesel passenger cars. Likewise, the CO, NOX and HC emissions were compared for each driving style for the tested vehicles. Eco-driving reduces by 14% fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, but aggressive driving increase consumption by 40%. Aggressive driving increases NOX emission by more than 40%. CO and HC, show different trends, but being increased in eco-driving style.

Proposal of a dynamic performance index to analyze driving pattern effect on car emissions

The contributions of driver behaviour as well as surrounding infrastructure are decisive on pollutant emissions from vehicles in real traffic situations. This article deals with the preliminary study of the interaction between the dynamic variables recorded in a vehicle (driving pattern) and pollutant emissions produced over a given urban route. It has been established a “dynamic performance index”-DPI, which is calculated from some driving pattern parameters, which in turn depends on traffic congestion level and route characteristics, in order to determine whether the driving has been aggressive, normal or calm. Two passenger cars instrumented with a portable activity measurement system -to record dynamic variables- and on-board emission measurement equipment have been used. This study has shown that smooth driving patterns can reduce up to 80% NOX emissions and up to 20% of fuel in the same route

Intensive use of aluminium in car body construction

The developments in materials over the last decade have been considerable within the automotive industry, being one of the leaders in innovative product applications. Sustainable product development of an automotive structure requires a balanced approach towards technological, economical and ecological aspects. The introduction of new materials and processes is dependent on satisfying different factors. Competitive and legislative pressures, creating the need for change, affect these factors considerably. The process, direction and speed of change are often reactive. Current paper shows the application of aluminium alloys, for the use in the bottom structure of a car to face the problem for the weight of the entire bottom structure under static load conditions, including stiffness, strength and buckling constraints. In addition to minimized mass and materials' price, the assessment of an environmental impact of materials-candidates during the entire life cycle of the structure is considered.

Car Carrier 5.800 TPM

Tipo de Buque: Car Carrier. Capacidad de carga: carga 1: 3000 coches sin trailers. Carga 2: Carga combinada para 1500 ml de trailers y coches en el resto de las cubiertas del buque no ocupadas por los trailers. Peso muerto 5800 TPM. Capacidad de conductores: 100 personas en camarotes dobles. Sociedad de clasificación: Det Norske Veritas. Reglamentos: Solas, Marpol, Convenio de líneas de carga. Velocidad: 19 nudos al 85% MCR en pruebas. Autonomía: 4500 millas al 80% MCR y 15% al margen de mar. Tripulación 25 personas.