Impact on Car Driving Performance of a Following Distance Warning System: Findings from the Australian Transport Accident Commission SafeCar Project

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) SafeCar study evaluated the impact of three Intelligent Transport System technologies, alone and in combination, on driver performance: following distance warning; intelligent speed adaptation; and a seatbelt reminder. Each test vehicle or "SafeCar" was also equipped with daytime running lights and a reverse collision warning system. Twenty-three fleet car drivers each drove a SafeCar for 16,500 kilometers. This article focuses on the impact on driving performance, mental workload and driver acceptability of the following distance warning system. The results revealed that the following distance warning system had a positive effect on drivers' following behavior, with use of the system significantly increasing mean time gap between the SafeCars and lead vehicles in several speed zones and reducing time gap variability in one speed zone. The system was rated as acceptable by the drivers and did not increase subjective mental workload. However, most drivers did report an increase in frustration when using the system, brought about by the occasional issuing of nuisance warnings.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/15472450
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Taylor and Francis
• Authors:
  • Young, Kristie L
  • Regan, Michael A
  • Triggs, Thomas J
  • Tomasevic, Nebojsa
  • Stephan, Karen
  • Mitsopoulos, Eve
• Publication Date: 2007-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 121-131
• Serial:
  • Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Taylor & Francis
  • ISSN: 1547-2450
  • EISSN: 1547-2442
  • Serial URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/gits20

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceptance; Automobile driving; Automobiles; Behavior; Driver information systems; Drivers; Following distance; Intelligent transportation systems; Warning signals; Workload
• Identifier Terms: SafeCar
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01055251
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 15 2007 11:52PM