Comparative Assessment of Drivers Characteristics at Baghdad Urban and Suburban Area

Saad Issa Sarsam

Abstract


Abstract
The importance of road safety demands that the components of safe driving be understood. Variability among people, in terms of gender, age, socio-economic levels, education, health, driving experience, and tradition could have major impacts on the field of vision and the perception reaction time, which seem to be good measures of safe driving. In Baghdad, public efforts have managed to stabilize or decrease accident rates; however, because of the growing number of vehicles and other road users, the absolute number of dead and injured individuals fluctuates with still unaccepted results. In this work, a study of drivers’ characteristics and behavior as an important element in the highway system in Baghdad was conducted. A questionnaire was designed to tap the following areas: driver education, experience, exposure (km driven and time), and accident experience. The drivers of suburban areas have been selected at Al Haswa, (45 km south of Baghdad) and Abu-Graib (20 km west of Baghdad). On the other hand, the drivers of the urban area were figured at the main public transportation terminals. A total of 100 driver from suburban area and 200 drivers from urban area have been selected, questioned, and subjected to field of vision (visual acuity and angle of peripheral vision) test. A portable apparatus for the measurement of perception reaction time was specially designed, manufactured at local market, and implemented for the response time test. Such driver’s population was carefully selected for representing male and female, different age groups ranging from 17 to 65, different education levels, and different clothing tradition regarding wearing of the head cover. The driver’s population was divided into two groups regarding the user or nonuser of spectacles while driving. The test results were analyzed, compared, and related to driver performance and accident background. It was concluded that the present licensing procedures are not sufficiently reliable to be used as a basis for approving or denying the right to drive, visual field test may be incorporated in the procedures. The traffic education level and the understanding of traffic signs were variable among urban and suburban drivers, and their age groups.

Keywords: characteristics, clothing tradition, cone of vision, driver, response time

Full Text:

PDF

References


Blanco M. Relationship between Driver Characteristics, Nighttime Driving Risk Perception, and Visual Performance under Adverse and Clear Weather Conditions and Different Vision Enhancement Systems, PhD. Dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, April 24, Blacksburg, Virginia, 2002.

Langford J. Older Drivers and the Greying of Australasia, Technical Report, Monash University Accident Research Centre, 2002.

Langford J. Road Safety Implications of Further Training for Young Drivers, Technical Report, Monash University Accident Research Centre, 2006.

Tsimhoni O., Kandt A., Flannagan M. Driver Perception of Potential Pedestrian Conflict, Technical Report UMTRI-2008-46, The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, October, 2008.

Sarsam S. Evaluation of driver’s characteristics in Mosul, University of Sharjah, J Pure Appl Sci. 2006; 3(1): 33–48p.

Sarsam S. Assessing Driver Characteristics at Baghdad CBD, Proceeding 6th Traffic Safety Conference. Jordan 2012 TSCJ2012, Amman, November 18–20, 2012.

Levonian E., Centers R. Personality and Biographical Variables in Relation to Driving Item Response. HRR No. 79, 1965. 26–34p.

King G.F., Lunenfeld H. Development of Information Requirement and Transmission Techniques for Highway Users. NCHRP Report 123, 1971.

Lonero L.P., Clinton K., Wilde G. The Roles of Legislation, Education, and Reinforcement in Changing Road User Behavior. PDE Publication, released on the internet, 2004.

Janssen W., Horst R.V., Brink T.V. Road user characteristics and their relation to behavior and safety, Proceedings; Road Safety on Three Continents. Pretoria, September 20–22, 2000.

Kanluger N.A., Smith G.L. Driver Eye Movement Patterns Under Conditions of Prolonged Driving and Sleep Deprivation. HRR No. 336, 1970, 92–106p.

Richards O.W. Vision at Levels of Night Road Illumination: Literature 1967–1969. HHR No. 336, 1970, 63–75p.

Rockwell T.H., Overby C., Mourant R. Drivers Eye Movement: An Apparatus and Calibration. HRR No. 247, 1968, 29–41p.

Gunasekaran K., Thirumurthy A.M., Vasuderan J., et al. Bus drivers and accidents – a case study in Tamil Nadu, IRC Indian Highways 2003; 31(11): 27–39p.

NCHRP. Highway Capacity Manual. USA: National Cooperative Highway Research Program; 2000.

SUDAS. Design Manual Chapter 13 – Signalization. Statewide Urban Design and Specifications, 13D – Signal Display, 2008.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.37628/jtets.v1i1.45

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.