In a driving simulator with a motion system, warnings were provided to N = 16 participants (25-72 years) en route to the tail of a congestion. Two different kinds of congestion tails were simulated. In the first, the speed of the surrounding traffic was abruptly reduced before the tail of the congestion was reached and in the second, the speed of the surrounding traffic was gradually reduced. In the simulated runs, congestion warnings were given at different distances ('3.5 km' vs. '1.5 km' vs. '0.3 km' prior to the congestion tail) and the precision of the warnings ("precise warning": distance to the congestion is indicated and updated regularly vs. 'imprecise warning': without a clear distance indication) was varied. Furthermore, the tail was approached without any warning. Drivers were asked to work on a secondary task (handling a menu system) during the entire run. Overall, precise warnings have greater effects on driving safety when approaching a congestion tail than imprecise warnings. Driving safety was at its lowest when drivers approached the congestion tail without any warning. Precise warnings given 1.5 km prior to the congestion tail show the highest driving safety and were preferred by drivers. (Author/publisher)
Abstract