Transferability of driver speed and lateral deviation measurable performance from semi-dynamic driving simulator to real traffic conditions

Abstract

Purpose This manuscript presents the experimental plan and results of driver trials conducted with a semi-dynamic driving simulator and an equipped research vehicle in real traffic conditions. Methods 12 trainees, 12 novice (driving license less than 1.5 years; 25,000 totally run km by average) and 12 experienced drivers (driving license more than 12 years; 320,000 totally run km and 28583 km only the last year by average) participated in the trials, conducting the same driving sessions in the simulator and on-the-road, consisting of a free driving and a following vehicle scenario in the context of highways, rural and urban roads. Their maximum speed, difference of their average speed from each speed limit and their average lateral deviation in driving simulator and onthe-road were compared. A novel research framework was established for the results analysis dealing with the existence of numerical proximity between the driving simulator and the on-the-road measurements (in the sense of absolute validity), the degree of this proximity and the possibility and the type of the correction that could be applied leading to an acceptable absolute validity.Results Derived results have shown that several degrees of numerical proximity apply for different combinations of driver behaviour metrics, driver cohorts, driving tasks and road contexts, whereas the type of the driver behaviour metric seems to be the most determining factor for absolute validity existence. Conclusions Tangible findings consist of transfer algorithms that serve as the basis for redefining warning and intervention thresholds of ADAS but also driver training and assessment schemes based on driving simulators.

How eye movement and driving performance vary before, during, and after entering a long expressway tunnel: considering the differences of novice and experienced drivers under daytime and nighttime conditions

“…The lateral deviation indicator represents a driver’s ability to maintain a central, steady and safe lane position while driving (Gemou 2013 ). Root-mean-squared error of the lateral distance between a vehicle’s center and the lane center (m) is captured and used to determine a vehicle’s average lateral deviation while entering a tunnel.…”

Physiological indices and driving performance of drivers at tunnel entrances and exits: A simulated driving study

“…The main task of vehicle control is the LP control [ 37 ]. The measurement of a vehicle’s LP is a good method to evaluate the driving performance [ 38 , 39 ]. Impacted by the tunnel sidewall, lane keeping is particularly important in tunnels [ 40 ].…”

Behavioural validity of driving simulators for prototype HMI evaluation

“…When it comes to evaluating performance in different tasks, it has been argued that behavioural validity is more important than physical, as it is the one that describes the correspondence between what is observed in the simulator and what is observed in the real‐world setting [14, 18].…”

“…Relative validity has been advocated as sufficient to address many research questions, as most driving studies examine the effect of different conditions on specific driving parameters [16, 17, 22]. If, however, the study aims at directly comparing absolute numerical values of the examined parameter across different conditions, then absolute validity would be the desired level [18].…”