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:
  • 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

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00392445
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
  • Files: ITRD, TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 29 1985 12:00AM