COMPUTER STUDY PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO DRIVING HAZARDS

A RECENTLY CONCLUDED COMPUTERIZED STUDY, CONDUCTED AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY'S TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC SAFETY CENTER, TESTED THE DRIVER REACTION TIME OF VOLUNTEERS DURING A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM FINANCED JOINTLY BY THE UNIVERSITY AND THE STATE'S TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC SAFETY CENTER. THE RESULTS, WHICH WERE CORRELATED ON AN IBM SYSTEM/360 MODEL 67 AT THE UNIVERSITY'S COMPUTER CENTER, DO NOT AGREE WITH POPULARLY HELD OPINIONS ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF PROLONGED PERIODS BEHIND THE WHEEL. THE STUDY REVEALED NO APPRECIABLE REDUCTION IN A SUBJECT'S ABILITY TO RESPOND TO EXTERNAL FACTORS AFTER BEING BEHIND THE WHEEL CONTINUOUSLY FOR UP TO NINE HOURS. THE REACTION TIME THROUGHOUT INDIVIDUAL TESTING PERIODS REMAINED VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED. DR. RICHARD OLSEN NOTED THAT THE MONOTONY OF DRIVING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME SOMETIMES LULLS PEOPLE INTO SOMETHING SIMILAR TO A MOMENTARY HYPNOTIC TRANCE. THE RESULT, IN SOME CASES, IS A FAILURE TO RESPOND TO A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. /BR/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1519687
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 41, No 5, P 15, 1 FIG
• Publication Date: 1971-5

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Better Roads
  • Publisher: James Informational Media, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0006-0208
  • Serial URL: http://www.betterroads.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Computers; Drivers; Driving; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Hazards; Reaction time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver reaction
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00223626
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 20 1971 12:00AM