Midori Inaba

Effective instruction method on self-awareness of risks for drivers

This study showed how hazardous scenes recorded by vehicle driving recorders are introduced to the driving lessons with the simulators. First, we investigated which trigger is useful for automatic extraction of dangerous interruption scenes from large amounts of recorded driving data. It was implicated that the relative speed to the leading car and the number of checks of the side mirror before the lane change were candidates of triggers. Secondly, an experiment was performed to examine what kind of presentation method of replayed scenes may have an effect on improving driverspsila realization of the risk in their driving through the lessons. Three perspectives in replaying the scenes were compared: a birdpsilas-eye view, a sideways view, and a looking-from-behind view. Young and elderly drivers participated in the experiment. As a result, the birdpsilas-eye image of driverpsilas own driving data lengthened the distance to the oncoming car on the right lane in lane changes for the young drivers. In contrast, the replay of their driving from the looking-from-behind perspective made the elderly drivers keep the distance to the car behind. As for presenting the replayed scenes of interruption in the driving lessons, it was suggested that the birdpsilas-eye image of driverpsilas own driving data may be most effective for inhibiting risky interruptions while the effect might be limited for the elderly drivers.

A study on human error in a blowout accident in well operation

This paper analyzes human errors, which caused blow out accident in China in 2003 by incorporating organizational conditions. Empirical studies show that organizational factors play an important role in creating contexts for human errors. The analyzing procedure outlined in the paper is a combination of three techniques, m-SHELL, FTA and 4E-4M, used for performing HRA in the context of PSA. It includes a process of quantifying the criticality of the organizational influence factors. Finally, with these criticality indexes, the most vulnerable parts in the well drilling system are indicated, and possible and practicable countermeasures are suggested.

EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION METHOD ON SELF-AWARENESS OF RISKS FOR ELDERLY DRIVERS

Abstract This study investigated the use of a driving simulator as effective method of driver instruction for the elderly, with particular emphasis on assisting participants to become aware of their driving problems by themselves. Five types of instruction method were compared, including the use of a rear-end accident scenario, the replay of a participants driving from 2- or 3-dimensional birds-eye view, as well as oral explanation. The results indicated that driving instruction using the collision scenario had the greatest effect on maintaining a safe distance from the preceding vehicle for the elderly drivers, while the 2D birds-eye replay was most affected for younger drivers. The most effective method of instruction may depend on age.