The contribution of stereo vision to the control of braking.
In this study the contribution of stereo vision to the control of braking in front of a stationary target vehicle was investigated. Participants with normal (StereoN) and weak (StereoW) stereo vision drove a go-cart along a linear track towards a stationary vehicle. They could start braking from a distance of 4, 7, or 10m from the vehicle. Deceleration patterns were measured by means of a laser. A lack of stereo vision was associated with an earlier onset of braking, but the duration of the braking manoeuvre was similar. During the deceleration, the time of peak deceleration occurred earlier in drivers with weak stereo vision. Stopping distance was greater in those lacking in stereo vision. A lack of stereo vision was associated with a more prudent brake behaviour, in which the driver took into account a larger safety margin. This compensation might be caused either by an unconscious adaptation of the human perceptuo-motor system, or by a systematic underestimation of distance remaining due to the lack of stereo vision. In general, a lack of stereo vision did not seem to increase the risk of rear-end collisions.
Tijtgat
Pieter
P
Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Pieter.Tijtgat@UGent.be
Mazyn
Liesbeth
L
De Laey
Christophe
C
Lenoir
Matthieu
M
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D001336:Automobiles; D003654:Deceleration; D003867:Depth Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012449:Safety; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014787:Vision Tests; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*