Twelve Practical and Useful Questions about Driving Simulation

A number of practical questions or concerns are frequently expressed about driving simulators. For example, what can a driving simulator be used for? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a simulator? Probably the most important question though is whether driver behavior in a simulation mimics that which is exhibited while driving in the real world. These and other epistemological questions are discussed. The first driving simulator research appeared in 1934. Since then, driving simulators have evolved into a flexible means to measure a variety of variables while drivers drive in a wide range of traffic environments. Empirically, driving simulation allows researchers to exert control over confounding variables that are common in actual driving. Testing of drivers in crash-likely conditions is also possible, which for ethical reasons cannot be done in the real world. Uses of driving simulators for research are discussed in this paper.

[1]  Jeff K Caird,et al.  A meta-analysis of the effects of cell phones on driver performance. , 2008, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[2]  W J Horrey,et al.  Examining cognitive interference and adaptive safety behaviours in tactical vehicle control , 2007, Ergonomics.

[3]  Mohamed Abdel-Aty,et al.  Validating a driving simulator using surrogate safety measures. , 2008, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[4]  Christopher D. Wickens,et al.  Examining the Impact of Cell Phone Conversations on Driving Using Meta-Analytic Techniques , 2006, Hum. Factors.

[5]  P L Olson,et al.  Perception-Response Time to Unexpected Roadway Hazards , 1986, Human factors.

[6]  D. Shinar.  Traffic Safety and Human Behavior , 2007 .

[7]  Heikki Summala,et al.  Brake reaction times and driver behavior analysis , 2000 .

[8]  J. G. Adair,et al.  The explosion of knowledge, references, and citations. Psychology's unique response to a crisis. , 2003, The American psychologist.

[9]  William J Horrey,et al.  Modeling drivers' visual attention allocation while interacting with in-vehicle technologies. , 2006, Journal of experimental psychology. Applied.

[10]  Walter W. Wierwille,et al.  Comparison of Computer-Generated and Simulated Motion Picture Displays in a Driving Simulation , 1975 .

[11]  Matthew P. Reed,et al.  Comparison of driving performance on-road and in a low-cost simulator using a concurrent telephone dialling task , 1999 .

[12]  Marc Green,et al.  "How Long Does It Take to Stop?" Methodological Analysis of Driver Perception-Brake Times , 2000 .

[13]  Gerard J. Blaauw,et al.  Driving Experience and Task Demands in Simulator and Instrumented Car: A Validation Study , 1982 .

[14]  William J. Horrey,et al.  Driver-initiated distractions: examining strategic adaptation for in-vehicle task initiation. , 2009, Accident; analysis and prevention.