TITLE: Effect of alprazolam (0.5 mg) on driving performance
of anxiety patients and healthy controls
AUTHOR: Katerina Touliou, Dr. Evangelos Bekiaris, Dr. Maria Panou
JOURNAL: International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety (T2013), 20th, 2013, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
ABSTRACT:In the present study the major objective was to investigate the effect of alprazolam in treated
and untreated anxiety patients compared to a
healthy control group after oral alprazolam
administration (0.5 mg) (acute phase) in a simulated environment. Primary variables were the
vehicle variables (driving performance measures). The secondary objective was to compare
multiple cognitive and subjective measures
collected for each participant
in order to establish
the whole range of driving impairment.(Full text here)
MY TAKE:This study demonstrates that a common medication used for anxiety reduces driving performance.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Parents Need to Talk to Their Children about School Bus Safety at the Start of the School Year
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration,
from 2004 through 2013, 1,344 people died in school
transportation-related crashes—an average of 134 fatalities per year.
“As families begin to prepare for children returning to school, it's important for parents and children to go over school bus safety tips together," says Dawne Gardner, injury prevention coordinator, Comprehensive Children’s Injury Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. "This will help ensure a safe, enjoyable start to the school year for everyone.”
According to Gardner, many injuries happen when children are boarding or exiting the bus. “A blind spot extends about ten feet in front of the bus, obstructing the driver’s view,” she says. “Often times, children are not aware of this blind spot and might mistakenly believe that if they can see the bus, the bus driver can see them,” she explains.
Gardner offers the following suggestions to parents on how they can ensure their child is safe before, during and after their school bus ride.
While Waiting for the Bus
• Children should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is expected to arrive. Early arrival helps children avoid running across the street to catch the bus or running after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.
• Parents should encourage their child to avoid horseplay while waiting for the bus to keep children and/or their belongings out of the road and away from traffic.
• Teach kids to stand at least three giant steps back from the curb as the bus approaches and to never move towards the bus until it has stopped and the driver opens the door.
• Children should avoid the school bus “danger zone” by staying 10 feet away from the front or back end of the bus so that the driver can see them.
During the Bus Ride
• If a child drops something, they should tell the bus driver and make sure the bus driver is able to see them before they pick it up.
• Children should always use the hand rail when entering the bus.
• Check that drawstrings, backpack straps, scarves and loose clothing cannot get caught on the bus handrail, door or the seats.
• Parents should teach children to never push or shove other students.
• All children can help prevent falls on the bus by keeping the aisles clear of backpacks or books that can trip someone or block the way to the emergency exit.
• Children should remain seated, facing forward at all times during the bus ride.
• Shouting should be avoided to avoid unnecessarily distracting the bus driver.
• Parents should discuss the importance of never throwing any objects into, out of, or inside the bus.
After the Bus Ride
• Children should never leave their seat until the bus makes a complete stop.
• Remind kids to use handrails when exiting the bus.
• If your child needs to cross the street after exiting the bus, he or she should take five giant steps in front of the bus, make eye contact with the bus driver and cross when the driver indicates it’s safe.
• The child should not talk to strangers when walking to and from bus stop.
• Teach kids to look left, right and left again before crossing the street.
About Cincinnati Children’s
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center ranks third in the nation among all Honor Roll hospitals in U.S. News and World Report’s 2015 Best Children’s Hospitals. It is also ranked in the top 10 for all 10 pediatric specialties, including a #1 ranking in pulmonology and #2 in cancer and in nephrology. Cincinnati Children’s, a non-profit organization, is one of the top three recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health, and a research and teaching affiliate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine. The medical center is internationally recognized for improving child health and transforming delivery of care through fully integrated, globally recognized research, education and innovation. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org. Connect on the Cincinnati Children’s blog, via Facebook and on Twitter.
“As families begin to prepare for children returning to school, it's important for parents and children to go over school bus safety tips together," says Dawne Gardner, injury prevention coordinator, Comprehensive Children’s Injury Center, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. "This will help ensure a safe, enjoyable start to the school year for everyone.”
According to Gardner, many injuries happen when children are boarding or exiting the bus. “A blind spot extends about ten feet in front of the bus, obstructing the driver’s view,” she says. “Often times, children are not aware of this blind spot and might mistakenly believe that if they can see the bus, the bus driver can see them,” she explains.
Gardner offers the following suggestions to parents on how they can ensure their child is safe before, during and after their school bus ride.
While Waiting for the Bus
• Children should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is expected to arrive. Early arrival helps children avoid running across the street to catch the bus or running after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.
• Parents should encourage their child to avoid horseplay while waiting for the bus to keep children and/or their belongings out of the road and away from traffic.
• Teach kids to stand at least three giant steps back from the curb as the bus approaches and to never move towards the bus until it has stopped and the driver opens the door.
• Children should avoid the school bus “danger zone” by staying 10 feet away from the front or back end of the bus so that the driver can see them.
During the Bus Ride
• If a child drops something, they should tell the bus driver and make sure the bus driver is able to see them before they pick it up.
• Children should always use the hand rail when entering the bus.
• Check that drawstrings, backpack straps, scarves and loose clothing cannot get caught on the bus handrail, door or the seats.
• Parents should teach children to never push or shove other students.
• All children can help prevent falls on the bus by keeping the aisles clear of backpacks or books that can trip someone or block the way to the emergency exit.
• Children should remain seated, facing forward at all times during the bus ride.
• Shouting should be avoided to avoid unnecessarily distracting the bus driver.
• Parents should discuss the importance of never throwing any objects into, out of, or inside the bus.
After the Bus Ride
• Children should never leave their seat until the bus makes a complete stop.
• Remind kids to use handrails when exiting the bus.
• If your child needs to cross the street after exiting the bus, he or she should take five giant steps in front of the bus, make eye contact with the bus driver and cross when the driver indicates it’s safe.
• The child should not talk to strangers when walking to and from bus stop.
• Teach kids to look left, right and left again before crossing the street.
About Cincinnati Children’s
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center ranks third in the nation among all Honor Roll hospitals in U.S. News and World Report’s 2015 Best Children’s Hospitals. It is also ranked in the top 10 for all 10 pediatric specialties, including a #1 ranking in pulmonology and #2 in cancer and in nephrology. Cincinnati Children’s, a non-profit organization, is one of the top three recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health, and a research and teaching affiliate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine. The medical center is internationally recognized for improving child health and transforming delivery of care through fully integrated, globally recognized research, education and innovation. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org. Connect on the Cincinnati Children’s blog, via Facebook and on Twitter.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
In the news
Jogger Finds Apology Note After Being Cut Off by Driver "Wracked With Guilt"
"Colwell said that as soon as she saw the note, she knew it was intended for her."
Texting Driver Who Slammed Cyclist: I, Like, 'Just Don't Care'
"I just don’t care because I’ve already been through a lot of bullshit and my car is, like, pretty expensive and now I have to fix it"
"Colwell said that as soon as she saw the note, she knew it was intended for her."
Texting Driver Who Slammed Cyclist: I, Like, 'Just Don't Care'
"I just don’t care because I’ve already been through a lot of bullshit and my car is, like, pretty expensive and now I have to fix it"
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Driving Ambivalence
A new phrase that is going around is "driving ambivalence"--that is, younger people either not getting a driving license or not owning a car.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Friday, September 6, 2013
Driving Anxiety in the News
Chesapeake Bay Bridge: Saving drivers too scared to cross: "For those in the state of Maryland, that journey may involve driving
across the long and notoriously nerve-racking Chesapeake Bay Bridge,
ranked as one of the scariest in the world to cross. The trip is too much for some motorists, who pay someone else to drive them and their cars across the water."
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