This chapter discusses the requirements, advantages and limitations of simulator studies in driver behaviour research. There are many types of simulators with various capacities and capabilities, ranging from very simple static mock-ups to very sophisticated driving simulators. To study the complete driving task, an advanced simulator is preferable, meeting the following demanding design criteria: (1) capability for real-time simulation; (2) use of a `complete' vehicle model; (3) a vehicle characteristics model representing a broad range of handling qualities; (4) adequate modelling of vehicle-road interface; (5) a wide-angle colour visual system; (6) a moving base system to simulate inertial forces. It is crucial that the time delay, introduced by the simulator, is short compared with real vehicle lags. Simulator advantages include: (1) enabling driving conditions and environmental conditions to be kept constant; (2) lower required number of subjects; (3) no danger to road users; (4) possibility of testing and evaluating proposed in-vehicle systems during their conceptual development stage. Simulation limitations include: (1) limits to possible motion, velocity, and acceleration ranges; (2) impossibility of full representation of the real traffic environment, with all its components and vast variability; (3) simulation nausea can occur; (4) inability to generalise from simulator driving to real driving; (5) difficulties of measuring driving performance.
Abstract