title: Effects of higher-order driving skill training on young, inexperienced drivers’ on-road driving performance

authors: Isler, Robert B.

subjects: higher-order driving skill training

abstract: The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of training in higher-order driving skills (e.g., perceptual, motivational, insight) and vehicle handling skill training in relation to on-road driving performance, hazard perception, attitudes to risky driving and driver confidence levels in young, inexperienced drivers. Thirty-six young drivers (23 males and 13 females, average age 16.3 years), mostly on a restricted NZ driver licence, participated in a Driver Training Research camp. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three equally sized groups according to the type of driving skill training (5 days) they received: higher-order, vehicle handling or control (no training). Professional driver assessors conducted a comprehensive driving assessment before (Baseline) and after the training (Post Training). At both time points, participants also carried out a computerised hazard perception task, and completed self-report questionnaires to assess attitudes to risky driving and driver confidence. In terms of on road driving, the participants who received higher-order driving skill training showed a statistically significant improvement in relation to visual search and the composite driving measure. This was accompanied by an improvement in hazard perception, safer attitudes to close following and to dangerous overtaking and a decrease in driving related confidence. The participants who received vehicle handling skill training showed significant improvements in relation to their on-road direction control, speed choice and the composite driving score. However, this group showed no improvement in hazard perception, attitudes to risky driving or driver confidence. The findings will be discussed in the context of driver training as a viable crash prevention intervention in regard to young, inexperienced drivers.

text: Effects of higher-order driving skill training on young, inexperienced drivers’ on-road driving performance The aim of the current study was to compare the effects of training in higher-order driving skills (e.g., perceptual, motivational, insight) and vehicle handling skill training in relation to on-road driving performance, hazard perception, attitudes to risky driving and driver confidence levels in young, inexperienced drivers. Thirty-six young drivers (23 males and 13 females, average age 16.3 years), mostly on a restricted NZ driver licence, participated in a Driver Training Research camp. Participants were randomly allocated to one of three equally sized groups according to the type of driving skill training (5 days) they received: higher-order, vehicle handling or control (no training). Professional driver assessors conducted a comprehensive driving assessment before (Baseline) and after the training (Post Training). At both time points, participants also carried out a computerised hazard perception task, and completed self-report questionnaires to assess attitudes to risky driving and driver confidence. In terms of on road driving, the participants who received higher-order driving skill training showed a statistically significant improvement in relation to visual search and the composite driving measure. This was accompanied by an improvement in hazard perception, safer attitudes to close following and to dangerous overtaking and a decrease in driving related confidence. The participants who received vehicle handling skill training showed significant improvements in relation to their on-road direction control, speed choice and the composite driving score. However, this group showed no improvement in hazard perception, attitudes to risky driving or driver confidence. The findings will be discussed in the context of driver training as a viable crash prevention intervention in regard to young, inexperienced drivers.

year: 2011

title: Alcohol outlet density is related to police events and motor vehicle accidents in Manukau City, New Zealand

authors: Cameron, Michael Patrick

subjects: alcohol outlet density

abstract: Objectives: To explore the cross-sectional association between alcohol outlet density and police events in Manukau City, New Zealand.
Methods: Using data for the Census Area Unit (suburb) level, per-capita measures of alcohol outlet density for January 2009 were calculated for off-licence outlets, clubs and bars, and restaurants and cafés. Data on police events and motor vehicle accidents were obtained for the period 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009, and also converted into per capita measures. A spatial seemingly unrelated regression model was developed, which simultaneously assessed the relationship between densities and all nine categories of police events, and motor vehicle accidents, while controlling for relevant covariates.
Results: All three outlet density measures were significantly associated with a range of police events, but only off-licence density was significantly associated with motor vehicle accidents. An additional off-licence outlet in a given area was associated with 85.4 additional police events and 10.3 additional motor vehicle accidents; an additional club or bar was associated with 34.7 additional police events and 0.5 additional motor vehicle accidents; and an additional restaurant or cafe was associated with 13.2 additional police events and 2.1 additional motor vehicle accidents.
Conclusions: The results do not imply causality. However, they are broadly consistent with availability theory, and imply that local alcohol policy should account for the effects of additional outlets when new licences are granted. While the methodological approach described here is easily transferable to investigate the relationships elsewhere, we suggest some areas for improvement of future studies

text: Alcohol outlet density is related to police events and motor vehicle accidents in Manukau City, New Zealand Objectives: To explore the cross-sectional association between alcohol outlet density and police events in Manukau City, New Zealand.
Methods: Using data for the Census Area Unit (suburb) level, per-capita measures of alcohol outlet density for January 2009 were calculated for off-licence outlets, clubs and bars, and restaurants and cafés. Data on police events and motor vehicle accidents were obtained for the period 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009, and also converted into per capita measures. A spatial seemingly unrelated regression model was developed, which simultaneously assessed the relationship between densities and all nine categories of police events, and motor vehicle accidents, while controlling for relevant covariates.
Results: All three outlet density measures were significantly associated with a range of police events, but only off-licence density was significantly associated with motor vehicle accidents. An additional off-licence outlet in a given area was associated with 85.4 additional police events and 10.3 additional motor vehicle accidents; an additional club or bar was associated with 34.7 additional police events and 0.5 additional motor vehicle accidents; and an additional restaurant or cafe was associated with 13.2 additional police events and 2.1 additional motor vehicle accidents.
Conclusions: The results do not imply causality. However, they are broadly consistent with availability theory, and imply that local alcohol policy should account for the effects of additional outlets when new licences are granted. While the methodological approach described here is easily transferable to investigate the relationships elsewhere, we suggest some areas for improvement of future studies

year: 2012

title: Impact of tephra fall and environmental change: a 1000 year record from Matakana Island, Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand.

authors: Giles, Teresa M.

abstract: Palynological evidence was used to determine the development of vegetation communities on Matakana Island, North Island, New Zealand, over the last 1000 radiocarbon years. The pollen record indicates that changes occurred in the vegetation immediately following fallout deposition of the Kaharoa Tephra approximately 100 km from source at c. 665 years BP. Such changes may be a direct response to the impact of tephra fall, although the possibility of anthropogenic disturbance cannot be discounted. As a result of the eruption some taxa (Leucopogon fasciculatus and Tupeia antarctica) became at least temporarily extinct from the area. Two phases of anthropogenic influence on the environment are recorded in the pollen record: Polynesian, followed by European inhabitation of the island, giving a detailed history of human influence in the area for the millennium.

text: Impact of tephra fall and environmental change: a 1000 year record from Matakana Island, Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand. Palynological evidence was used to determine the development of vegetation communities on Matakana Island, North Island, New Zealand, over the last 1000 radiocarbon years. The pollen record indicates that changes occurred in the vegetation immediately following fallout deposition of the Kaharoa Tephra approximately 100 km from source at c. 665 years BP. Such changes may be a direct response to the impact of tephra fall, although the possibility of anthropogenic disturbance cannot be discounted. As a result of the eruption some taxa (Leucopogon fasciculatus and Tupeia antarctica) became at least temporarily extinct from the area. Two phases of anthropogenic influence on the environment are recorded in the pollen record: Polynesian, followed by European inhabitation of the island, giving a detailed history of human influence in the area for the millennium.

year: 1999-01-01