AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF AUTOMOBILE DRIVER CHARACTERISTICS AND CAPABILITIES

An experimental program to obtain quantitative data on how drivers utilize the performance and handling properties of their vehicles has been performed. Over one hundred drivers participated in the experiment, which consisted of self-paced driving through a specially-constructed proving ground handling course several times. Continuous measurements of primary input variables (steering wheel motions and brake pedal activity) and the principal vehicle responses (speed and lateral and longitudinal accelerations) were made throughout each trial. Total time in the course and incidents of failure to maintain path were also measured. Driving techniques (e.g., hand position on the steering wheel, foot used for braking) of the subjects, who were selected to provide an appropriate representation of the driving population with respect to age, sex, and years of driving experience, were subjectively observed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with General Motors Proving Ground, Milford, Mich.
• Corporate Authors:

  Calspan Corporation

  4455 Genesee Street
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14225

  General Motors NAO Safety Center

  ,    
• Authors:
  • RICE, R S
  • Dell'Amico, F
• Publication Date: 1974-2

Media Info

• Pagination: 140 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobile drivers; Braking; Calibration; Driver performance; Drivers; Handling characteristics; Human characteristics; Human factors engineering; Human factors engineering; Maneuvering; Mechanical acceleration; Mechanical rings; Motor skills; Personnel performance; Steering; Training; Vehicle dynamics; Vehicle performance
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver characteristics; Handling
• Old TRIS Terms: Performance human; Proving ring; Vehicle responses
• Subject Areas: Design; Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00094894
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CALSPAN-ZS-5208-K-1 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 14 1976 12:00AM