CHILDREN'S ESTIMATES OF VEHICLE APPROACH TIMES

Perceptual capabilities of four age groups of Australian school children (5-6, 7-8, 9-10, and 18-25 years) were studied to determine subjects' estimate of the time at which vehicles approached. There were 10 males and 10 females in each group, totaling 80 subjects. The stimulus material involved 24 movie clips filmed from the side of the roadway for an approaching Toyota Corona. Approach speeds were 7.65, 10.15, 12.55, and 15.35 m/sec. Twelve clips showed the vehicle for a distance of 40-meter movement (constant distance condition), while 12 clips showed the vehicle for a time of 4.2 seconds (constant time condition). In subjects' estimates of the time at which the vehicle would have passed them, it was found that all age groups underestimated the time to arrival; underestimation decreased with increasing age. The ability of subjects to scale time was strongly age-dependent. The exponent in a Stevens power law relationship increased with age, as did explained variance. The vehicle's real passing time was underestimate more by females than by males. Data suggest that children reach adult performance at about 12 years of age.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1329271
• Corporate Authors:

  Human Factors Society

  Johns Hopkins University Press
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21218
• Authors:
  • Hoffmann, E R
  • PAYNE, A
  • Prescott, S
• Publication Date: 1980-4

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 235-240
• Serial:
  • Human Factors
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Sage Publications, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0018-7208
  • EISSN: 1547-8181
  • Serial URL: http://hfs.sagepub.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Approach; Children; Estimates; Speed
• Old TRIS Terms: Approach speed; Vehicle approach
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00387454
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 501
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 30 1984 12:00AM