Enhanced postural stability following driver training is associated with positive effects in vehicle kinematics during cornering.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a specific post-license driver training program on postural stability and vehicle kinematics during cornering.


BACKGROUND
Inertial forces experienced during driving can perturb a driver's posture, which may in turn diminish a driver's perceptual sensitivity and corresponding control actions.


METHODS
A trainee group (n=21) and control group (n=12) participated in the study. The trainee group participated in a 2-day driver training program that included instruction on how to enhance perceptual sensitivity, postural stability, and vehicle kinematics during common driving maneuvers, including cornering. Postural stability and vehicle kinematics were assessed during cornering maneuvers performed on a closed-circuit track using an instrumented vehicle prior to and following training.


RESULTS
Trainee drivers experienced enhanced postural stability and reduced the magnitude and onset of peak vehicle lateral accelerations following training. Prior to training, drivers who were more posturally unstable tended to experience higher lateral vehicle accelerations, and drivers with the biggest improvements in postural stability following training tended to experience the greatest reductions in lateral accelerations of the vehicle.


CONCLUSIONS
Training led to changes in postural stability that were associated with reduced lateral accelerations during cornering.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduction in lateral accelerations following training in the present study indicates a greater dynamic margin of safety for cornering. Overall findings suggest that the driver training programs produced beneficial effects on cornering kinematics and that these effectswere associated with enhanced postural stability.
Petersen
Andrew
A
School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland 4222, Australia. andrew.petersen@griffith.edu.au
Barrett
Rod
R
Morrison
Steven
S
D000054:Acceleration; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012449:Safety