Time headway in car following and operational performance during unexpected braking.
The relation between car-following behaviour and braking performance was studied in a driving simulator. The theoretical perspective was that individual differences in tactical car-driving behaviour may be related to skills on the operational level of the driving task via a process of adaptation. In a sample of 16 young and middle-aged experienced drivers independent assessments were made of preferred time headway during car following and of braking skill. Starting from modern theories of visual-motor learning, braking performance was analyzed in terms of a reaction time component, an open-loop visual-motor component, and a closed-loop visual-motor component involving the precise adjustment of braking (timing and force) to the situation. The efficiency of the visual-motor component of braking was a strong and significant predictor of choice of time headway to the lead vehicle in such a way that less efficient braking indicated a preference for a longer time headway. This result supports the theory of adaptation on the individual level.
van Winsum
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Traffic Research Centre, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Brouwer
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D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time