Influence of age and proximity warning devices on collision avoidance in simulated driving.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a set of experiments to examine the utility of several different uni- and multimodal collision avoidance systems (CASs) on driving performance of young and older adult drivers in a high-fidelity simulator.


BACKGROUND
Although previous research has examined the efficacy of different CASs on collision avoidance, there has been a dearth of studies that have examined such devices in different driving situations with different populations of drivers.


METHODS
Several different CAS warnings were examined in varying traffic and collision configurations both without (Experiment 1a) and with (Experiment 2) a distracting in-vehicle task.


RESULTS
Overall, collision avoidance performance for both potential forward and side object collisions was best for an auditory/visual CAS, which alerted drivers using both modalities. Interestingly, older drivers (60-82 years of age) benefited as much as younger drivers from the CAS, and sometimes they benefited more.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that CASs can be beneficial across a number of different driving scenarios, types of collisions, and driver populations.


CONCLUSIONS
These results have important implications for the design and implementation of CASs for different driver populations and driving conditions.
Kramer
Arthur F
AF
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, 405 N. Mathews Ave., Urbana, IL 61801, USA. akramer@cyrus.psych.uiuc.edu
Cassavaugh
Nicholas
N
Horrey
William J
WJ
Becic
Ensar
E
Mayhugh
Jeffrey L
JL
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D001336:Automobiles; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011482:Protective Devices; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D014584:User-Computer Interface