01103752

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2069-06

http://scholar.google.com...ndor&publication_year=2008

In-vehicle technology is increasingly being implemented to assist drivers. These technologies could improve driver safety or, conversely, introduce distractions that reduce safety. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed, commercially available road safety device (Otto Driving Companion, Persen Technologies Inc.) that provides drivers with auditory alerts based on position and velocity data acquired via the Global Positioning System. Auditory alarms warn of situations such as speeding, crosswalks, and red light cameras. To study emergency braking situations, simulated driving was used (STISIM Driving Simulator). Younger male drivers (30 to 50 years old, n = 16) and older male drivers (70+, n = 14) participated in two sessions. In the first session, they were tested for underlying driving abilities, and they practiced driving on the simulator. In the second session, they were refamiliarized with the simulator and then drove two blocks of 10 trials, with and without auditory alerts. Braking events in each trial were either expected (e.g., person crossing at a crosswalk) or unexpected (e.g., person jaywalking). The presentation of auditory alerts resulted in faster brake response times with expected events for both groups (p < .01), and they resulted in even faster response times for the older subjects for unexpected events (p < .05). The auditory alerts also reduced the proportion of events with crashes for the older subjects (from 25.3 ± 21.7% to 10.8 ± 11.9%, p < .05). In conclusion, this simulator study demonstrated that there may be road safety benefits associated with auditory alerts.

01116572

English

pp 41-47

2008

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309113410

Print

Figures (3) ; References (25) ; Tables (2)

Aged drivers; Audible warning devices in vehicles; Braking; Crosswalks; Distraction; Drivers; Driving simulators; Global Positioning System; Highway safety; Males; Reaction time; Speeding

Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 29 2008 2:30PM

• A Comparison of Infrastructure and In-Vehicle Driver Interfaces for Left-Turn Warnings
• Analysis of Fatal Run-Off-the-Road Crashes Involving Overcorrection
• Driver Performance at Two-Way Stop-Controlled Intersections on Divided Highways
• Effect of Wireless Communication and Entertainment Devices on Simulated Driving Performance
• Effects of Reduced Visibility from Fog on Car-Following Performance
• Estimation of Time Lag Between Right-Turning Vehicles and Pedestrians Approaching from the Right Side
• Modeling Driver Behavior Within a Signalized Intersection Approach Decision–Dilemma Zone
• Testing Effects of Warning Messages and Variable Speed Limits on Driver Behavior Using Driving Simulator
• Traveler Information Delivery Mechanisms: Impact on Consumer Behavior
• What Affects Use of Pretrip Public Transport Information? Empirical Results of a Qualitative Study