Japan Highway Public Corporation are developing a driving support system called the Information Provision System (IP system) for patrols using special vehicles that act as pace makers in the falling snow and dense fog. IP system provides information of obstacles, the alignment of the road ahead and the position of the patrol vehicle itself on a monitor installed in the vehicle. This study is being performed to gain an understanding of the effectiveness of the support provided to drivers by the IP system and of ways to provide information to drivers through driving trials on a driving simulator for the development of the IP system. The results indicate that if drivers can receive those information above, their feelings of fear and unease abate, and they are able to brake in a milder, avoid collision against obstacles.
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