Investigation of Driver Reactions to Tread Separation Scenarios in the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS)

Abstract

The authors acknowledge the technical contributions of W. Riley Garrott, Michael Goodman, and Yiannis Papelis. The authors also acknowledge James MacIsaac, Andrew Snyder, and James Hague for their assistance with recording of detread audio cues, as well as Kristen Huener for her support of report preparation.

Effect of a Side Collision-Avoidance Signal on Simulated Driving with a Navigation System

“…The subjects, all licensed drivers, were interviewed briefly before being allowed to operate the driving simulator, following a procedure adapted from Ranney et al (2002). Three potential subjects were turned away due to a prior accident, diabetes, and a possible pregnancy.…”

Using self-reported data to assess the validity of driving simulation data

“…On-road behavior evaluations also lack the replicability, control, efficiency, safety, and ease of use associated with simulated driving experiments, in turn making inferences about the impact of experimental manipulations on driving behavior more difficult (Godley, Triggs, & Fildes, 2002). Even the most advanced simulators, however, lack the same physiological stimulation experienced while driving a real vehicle, often resulting in some degree of simulator sickness among some research participants (Ranney et al, 2002). Although critics rightly argue that people may react differently in driving simulators since there is no risk of collision or physical harm, laboratory environments provide the best alternative for addressing questions that are too dangerous or expensive to answer in on-road evaluations (Alm & Nilsson, 1995;Hahn & Tetlock, 1999;Hoffman, Lee, Brown, & McGehee, 2002).…”

An Analysis of Driver Reactions to Tire Failures Simulated with the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS)

“…The NADS study entitled "Investigation of Driver Reactions to Tread Separation Scenarios in the National Advanced Driving Simulator (NADS)" evaluated the hypothesis that a correlation exists between the linear range understeer gradient and the likelihood of control loss by drivers exposed to a simulated rear tire tread belt detachment event (Ranney, 2003). In this study, 108 drivers participated in two driving simulations at approximately 75 mph; the first being an "unexpected" tread separation event and the second an "expected" tread separation event.…”