FASTER DRIVING MEANS SLOWER RESPONSES
Research at the University of Munich suggests that driver reaction time to another vehicle's changing speed is much longer when travelling at speed when compared to a stationary situation. The effect persists when experimental subjects only think they are moving as demonstrated in the laboratory when a target was seen against a background of an outward-streaming pattern. Tests on an unopened motorway showed that reaction times to changes in motion of a leading car were almost two seconds for a gap of 40 metres at a speed of 70 km/h. Drivers' reaction times were increased by at least 0.3 seconds and at least another 0.25 seconds was needed if the driver was not looking at the potential target. Brake lights are noticed much more quickly than a change in speed; it is suggested that extra brake lights at the eye level of the following driver could further shorten response time. (TRRL)
-
Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/02624079
-
Corporate Authors:
IPC Magazine Limited
King's Reach Tower, Stamford Street
London SE1 9LS, England - Publication Date: 1984-8
Media Info
- Pagination: p. 20
-
Serial:
- NEW SCIENTIST
- Issue Number: 1418
- Publisher: REED BUSINESS INFORMATION LTD
- ISSN: 0262-4079
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Brake lamps; Decision making; Drivers; Driving; Freeways; Motor reactions; Perception; Reaction time; Speed; Tests; Vehicle spacing
- Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction; Modifications
- Old TRIS Terms: Braking lights
- ITRD Terms: 1351: Brake light; 2248: Decision process; 1772: Driver; 1855: Driving (veh); 9048: Modification; 2752: Motorway; 2229: Perception; 2247: Reaction (human); 5408: Speed; 6255: Test; 694: Vehicle spacing
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00392445
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
- Files: ITRD, TRIS
- Created Date: Mar 29 1985 12:00AM