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Designing motor vehicle safety systems requires knowledge of whole body kinematics during dynamic loading for occupants of varying size and age, often obtained from sled tests with postmortem human subjects and human volunteers. Recently, we reported pediatric and adult responses in low-speed (<4 g) automotive-like impacts, noting reductions in maximum excursion with increasing age. Since the time-based trajectory shape is also relevant for restraint design, this study quantified the time-series trajectories using basis splines and developed a statistical model for predicting trajectories as a function of body dimension or age. Previously collected trajectories of the head, spine, and pelvis were modeled using cubic basis splines with eight control points. A principal component analysis was conducted on the control points and related to erect seated height using a linear regression model. The resulting statistical model quantified how trajectories became shorter and flatter with increasing body size, corresponding to the validation data-set. Trajectories were then predicted for erect seated heights corresponding to pediatric and adult anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs), thus generating performance criteria for the ATDs based on human response. This statistical model can be used to predict trajectories for a subject of specified anthropometry and utilized in subject-specific computational models of occupant response. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background Driver error and inadequate skill are common critical reasons for novice teen driver crashes, yet few validated, standardised assessments of teen driving skills exist. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the construct and criterion validity of a newly developed Simulated Driving Assessment (SDA) for novice teen drivers. Methods The SDA’s 35 min simulated drive incorporates 22 variations of the most common teen driver crash configurations. Driving performance was compared for 21 inexperienced teens (age 16 - 17 years, provisional license ≤ 90 days) and 17 experienced adults (age 25 - 50 years, license ≥ 5 years, drove ≥ 100 miles per week, no collisions or moving violations ≤ 3 years). SDA driving performance (Error Score) was based on driving safety measures derived from simulator and eye-tracking data. Negative driving outcomes included simulated collisions or run-off-the-road incidents. A professional driving evaluator/instructor (DEI Score) reviewed videos of SDA performance. Results The SDA demonstrated construct validity: (1) teens had a higher Error Score than adults (30 vs 13, p=0.02); (2) For each additional error committed, the RR of a participant ' s propensity for a simulated negative driving outcome increased by 8% (95% CI 1.05 to 1.10, p<0.01). The SDA-demonstrated criterion validity: Error Score was correlated with DEI Score (r= − 0.66, p<0.001). Conclusions This study supports the concept of validated simulated driving tests like the SDA to assess novice driver skill in complex and hazardous driving scenarios. The SDA, as a standard protocol to evaluate teen driver performance, has the potential to facilitate screening and assessment of teen driving readiness and could be used to guide targeted skill training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Risky driving behaviors contribute to adolescent injury, disability, and death, yet little is known about how mental health factors are associated with adolescent driving behaviors. Objectives: The purpose of the research was to determine the association of risky driving behaviors andmental health symptoms in novice adolescent drivers. Methods:We recruited a convenience sample (n = 60) of adolescents to complete an assessment of driving performance errors in a high-fidelity simulator (Simulated Driving Assessment [SDA] Error Score) and a self-report measure of risky driving (Behavior of Young Novice Drivers Survey [BYNDS]). Participants also completed amental health assessment of self-reported symptoms of depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; inattention and hyperactivity--impulsivity), conduct disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder (Conners-3 self-report and parent report). We evaluated the cross-sectional relationships between SDA Error Score, BYNDS, and mental health survey data with descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and linear regression. Results: In linear regression models, higher self-reported inattentive ADHD T-scores were associated with higher SDA Error Score (model adjusted R² = .20). Higher self-reported T-scores of hyperactive--impulsive ADHD and conduct disorder were associated with higher BYNDS total scores (model adjusted R² = .32). Parent report measures were not associated with adolescent BYNDS total score or SDA Error Score. Discussion: These data highlight the association of risky driving with adolescent symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and conduct disorder. The early stage of independent driving is an important time for addressing the relationship between driving performance and mental health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]