UMTRI research review 

About: UMTRI research review is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Truck & Automotive industry. It has an ISSN identifier of 0739-7100. Over the lifetime, 55 publications have been published receiving 710 citations.

Rollover of heavy commercial vehicles

Abstract: The state-of-the-art understanding of rollover of the commercial vehicle is reviewed. Accident statistics are presented which highlight the severity and lethal nature of rollover crashes. Physical and statistical evidence for the linkage between vehicle roll stability and the actual occurrence of rollover accidents is presented. The fundamentals of static roll stability are described in detail and then enhanced with discussion of dynamic considerations of the rollover process. The text concludes with a discussion of the evolving use of intelligent electronic systems and active vehicle control for reducing the occurrence of rollover. Appendices include a bibliography of the literature on heavy-vehicle rollover.

Crash protection for child passengers: a review of best practice

Abstract: Child restraint systems provide specialized protection for small occupants whose bodies are still immature and developing. There is a wide variety of systems from which to choose, and different types of restraints are appropriate for children of varying ages and sizes. Even with the most appropriate child restraint, the way in which it is installed and used can have an effect on its performance. This review describes the theory behind the design of occupant restraint systems and applies these principles to the special needs of children. A distinction is made between child restraints, which themselves provide the restraint structure, and positioning devices (such as boosters) which help the vehicle belt fit the child. Throughout each section, current concepts of best practice are provided, including the changes brought on by passenger airbags, and future directions are indicated.

The safety & mobility of older drivers: what we know & promising research issues

Abstract: This issue of UMTRI Research Review addresses the safety and mobility of older drivers. The report is presented in five sections. The first section, Introduction, summarizes the literature on older drivers and traffic safety. The next section, Mobility, Travel Patterns, and Well-Being of Older Drivers, focuses on issues surrounding the mobility needs and desires of older persons, current and projected travel patterns of this group, and how the use of personal vehicles affects the emotional and physical well-being of older persons. These issues impact not only safety, but also the design and marketing of vehicles appropriate for this booming market segment. The third section, Vision, Perception, and Attention of Older Drivers, summarizes major findings concerning age-related changes in anatomy, vision, perception, and attention, as well as the relationships of these changes to driving performance and driving accidents. A discussion of topics for future research in this area follows. Among these topics are automatic vs. controlled processing, divided attention: the role of the demand on motor coordination, divided attention: usefulness of nonvisual information channels, selective attention: ignoring irrelevant information, and the useful field of view (UFOV). The next section, Human Biomechanics and Aging in the Automotive Environment, provides a brief overview of current knowledge of biomechanical changes in the human body with age that may affect the ability of elderly persons to access and/or safely operate motor vehicles, and that may increase their susceptibility to, and recovery from, injuries in a crash. Biomechanical factors discussed include muscular strength, reflex and reaction times, manual dexterity, joint range of motion, and mechanical tissue properties. The final section, Alcohol, Aging, and Driving Performance, summarizes major past findings in this area and indicates two possible areas of future research: (1) Investigation of the factors associated with drinking and driving, particularly for the cohort of women currently age 20 to 40, and design of appropriate interventions to reduce the probability of drinking and driving behavior persisting into later years; and (2) Investigation of gender differences in driving-related performance as a function of alcohol.

Flying and driving after the september 11 attacks

Abstract: Fear of flying as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States prompted researchers to review the risks of flying and driving. Calculations utilized data compiled by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for a ten year period between 1992 and 2001. A review of the statistics shows that driving the length of a non-stop flight is 65 times as risky as flying the same distance.