Anticipatory Heart Rate Responses of Motor Vehicle Drivers Riding as Passengers

摘要

The heart rate of drivers and non-drivers was recorded while they were being driven around a circuit on public roads for the experiment described in this research note. As the vehicle negotiated a 'hazard', the heart rate of the drivers increased markedly, while the heart rate of the non-drivers did not. A second study showed similar but smaller differences between experienced truck drivers being driven around a course by newly qualified drivers, and experienced drivers being driven by other experienced truck drivers. Those driven by the newly qualified driver had the higher response. A third-study showed an elevated response in a group of trainee truck drivers over a nine-day course of instruction. These findings are discussed within the wider context of shared driving on long journeys.