An empirical assessment of driver motivation and emotional states in perceived safety margins under varied driving conditions

Motivation models in driving behaviour postulate that driver motives and emotional states dictate risk tolerance under various traffic conditions. The present study used time and driver performance-based payment systems to manipulate motivation and risk-taking behaviour. Ten participants drove to a predefined location in a simulated driving environment. Traffic patterns (density and velocity) were manipulated to cause driver behaviour adjustments due to the need to conform with the social norms of the roadway. The driving environment complexity was investigated as a mediating factor in risk tolerance. Results revealed the performance-based payment system to closely relate to risk-taking behaviour as compared with the time-based payment system. Drivers conformed with social norms associated with specific traffic patterns. Higher roadway complexity led to a more conservative safety margins and speeds. This research contributes to the further development of motivational models of driver behaviour. Practitioner Summary: This study provides empirical justification for two motivation factors in driver risk-taking decisions, including compliance with social norm and emotions triggered by incentives. Environment complexity was identified as a mediating factor in motivational behaviour model. This study also recommended safety margin measures sensitive to changes in driver risk tolerance.

[1]  R. Fuller.  Towards a general theory of driver behaviour. , 2005, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[2]  E. Hall,et al.  The Hidden Dimension , 1970 .

[3]  Knut M. Wittkowski,et al.  Friedman-Type Statistics and Consistent Multiple Comparisons for Unbalanced Designs with Missing Data , 1988 .

[4]  Robert S. Kennedy,et al.  Simulator Sickness Questionnaire: An enhanced method for quantifying simulator sickness. , 1993 .

[5]  Ryan C. Martin,et al.  Driving anger, sensation seeking, impulsiveness, and boredom proneness in the prediction of unsafe driving. , 2005, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[6]  John C Hayward,et al.  NEAR-MISS DETERMINATION THROUGH USE OF A SCALE OF DANGER , 1972 .

[7]  Jeroen Hogema,et al.  TIME-TO-COLLISION AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEMS , 1994 .

[8]  A Heino,et al.  Choice of time-headway in car-following and the role of time-to-collision information in braking. , 1996, Ergonomics.

[9]  David Shinar,et al.  Minimum and Comfortable Driving Headways: Reality versus Perception , 2001, Hum. Factors.

[10]  J. Dankelman,et al.  Relationships between driving simulator performance and driving test results , 2009, Ergonomics.

[11]  E. Salas,et al.  Human Factors : The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society , 2007 .

[12]  R. Näätänen,et al.  Road user behavior and traffic accidents , 1976 .

[13]  Ray Fuller,et al.  Driver Control Theory , 2011 .

[14]  Lars Åberg,et al.  Speed choice in relation to speed limit and influences from other drivers , 2000 .

[15]  Shane Brendan McLaughlin,et al.  Measurement of Driver Preferences and Intervention Responses as Influenced by Adaptive Cruise Control Deceleration Characteristics , 1998 .

[16]  Yizhen Zhang,et al.  A new threat assessment measure for collision avoidance systems , 2006, 2006 IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Conference.

[17]  Ray Fuller,et al.  Determinants of time headway adopted by truck drivers , 1981 .

[18]  Paul Milgram,et al.  The Development of a Time-Related Measure to Describe Driving Strategy , 1984 .

[19]  J. Russell,et al.  Core affect, prototypical emotional episodes, and other things called emotion: dissecting the elephant. , 1999, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[20]  R. Fuller,et al.  Iconography : Task difficulty and risk in the determination of driver behaviour , 2007 .

[21]  P. Carlo Cacciabue.  Modelling Driver Behaviour in Automotive Environments , 2007 .

[22]  Marjan Hagenzieker,et al.  Frequency, determinants, and consequences of different drivers’ emotions: An on-the-road study using self-reports, (observed) behaviour, and physiology , 2007 .

[23]  Hiroo Ohta.  INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN DRIVING DISTANCE HEADWAY , 1993 .

[24]  Heikki Summala,et al.  Towards Understanding Motivational and Emotional Factors in Driver Behaviour: Comfort Through Satisficing , 2007 .

[25]  Bryan E. Porter,et al.  Handbook of Traffic Psychology , 2011 .

[26]  Gerald J.S. Wilde,et al.  The Theory of Risk Homeostasis: Implications for Safety and Health , 1982 .

[27]  Margaret J. Robertson,et al.  Design and Analysis of Experiments , 2006, Handbook of statistics.

[28]  Suzanne E. Lee,et al.  Modeling Slow Lead Vehicle Lane Changing , 2003 .

[29]  Bryan Reimer,et al.  The validity of driving simulation for assessing differences between in-vehicle informational interfaces: A comparison with field testing , 2010, Ergonomics.

[30]  Heikki Summala,et al.  Driving experience and time-sharing during in-car tasks on roads of different width , 1998 .