Comparing Truck Driving Performance in a Simulator and Instrumented Vehicle

Abstract

Instrumented vehicles record driver behavior and performance as it occurs in the real world. Driving simulators also capture performance, but in conditions meant to approximate the real world. It is unclear the extent to which simulators elicit performance that is comparable to the real world. This study compared driving performance measures that were collected behind the wheel (BTW) of a truck in the real world and from a truck-driving simulator. Both the road and simulator trucks were instrumented with the same data collection equipment and recorded the same driving performance measures. Comparison of overall scores on the road and range tests by test method (BTW and simulator) found test scores differed as a function of test method for drivers trained in a real truck, and in range tests for drivers trained in the simulator. Non-parametric tests indicated the mean rate of lane departures was significantly different between BTW and simulator road tests (p = 0.01); the lane departure rate per minute was 250% greater in the simulator than on the actual road (0.48 vs. 0.19, respectively). Significant differences in scores and measures between BTW and simulator testing indicates that simulation may not be an appropriate platform for testing on-road performance.