Mental workload when driving in a simulator: Effects of age and driving complexity

Driving errors for older drivers may result from a higher momentary mental workload resulting from complex driving situations, such as intersections. The present study examined if the mental workload of young and older active drivers vary with the difficulty of the driving context. We adopted the probe reaction time (RT) technique to measure the workload while driving in a simulator. The technique provided clear instructions about the primary (driving) and secondary (RT) tasks. To avoid structural interference, the secondary task consisted of responding as rapidly as possible with a vocal response ("top") to an auditory stimulus. Participants drove through a continuous 26.4-km scenario including rural and urban sections and probes (stimuli) were given in a baseline static condition and in three different driving contexts embedded into the overall driving scenario. Specifically, stimuli were given randomly when (a) driving on straight roads at a constant speed, (b) approaching intersections for which the driver had to stop the car, and (c) when overtaking a slower vehicle. Unless a driving error was made, drivers did not need any emergency responses. Reaction time was defined as the temporal interval between the auditory stimulus and the onset of the corresponding verbal response detected from the analog signal of a piezo-electric microphone fixed on a headset (ms accuracy). Baseline RTs were similar for both groups. Both groups showed longer RTs when driving and RTs increased as the complexity of the driving contexts increased (driving straights, intersections, overtaking maneuvers). Compared to younger drivers, however, older drivers showed longer RTs for all driving contexts and the most complex driving context (overtaking maneuvers) yielded a disproportionate increase. In conclusion, driving leads to a greater mental workload for the older drivers than for the younger drivers and this effect was exacerbated by the more complex driving context (overtaking maneuvers).

• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V5S-4W4RTT5-1/2/6e6efbabe7fa7defeac8a22c16ca85a4
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier
• Authors:
  • Cantin, Vincent
  • Lavalliere, Martin
  • Simoneau, Martin
  • Teasdale, Normand
• Publication Date: 2009-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 763-771
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 41
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Aged drivers; Driving; Driving simulators; Intersections; Passing; Reaction time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Mental workload
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01138158
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 12 2009 12:46PM