Comparison of Driver Braking Responses in a High Fidelity Driving Simulator and on a Test Track

摘要

The purpose of this study was to compare the braking responses of drivers in the Iowa Driving Simulator (IDS) to the braking responses of drivers in a similar study conducted on a test track. The test track study from the Collision Avoidance Metrics Program (CAMP) examined the braking profile of drivers in last-minute braking situations in which drivers were instructed to brake either 'normally' or 'hard.' Comparing these data to braking data collected with a very similar protocol in the simulator showed that the two data sets do not match exactly. The most prominent differences between the simulator and the test track were that drivers in the simulator were less affected by the braking instructions, decelerated more abruptly, and maintained a larger safety margin. Possible reasons for these differences include limited visual and vestibular cues in the simulator, and a combination of extended practice and a somewhat artificial lead vehicle on the test track. These results show that the specific characteristics of every experimental venue must be carefully considered when evaluating driver performance. Differences between venues and experimental protocols affect driver behavior; it is thus critical to assess whether these differences are large enough to be relevant for the design issues being considered.