This brief report describes some early findings from a research project. Due to the short time available for an analysis, all results are not discussed in terms of causal explanations. Test drives with an instrumented car were performed along a certain test road. During the tests psychophysiological variables were recorded on a digital tape recorder. These variables were skin conductivity (edr, gsr), heart rate (hr) and muscle tensions in the driver's right leg measured by electromyography (emg). simultaneously variables describing the dynamic behaviour of the car were recorded: accelerations in the x-, y- and z-directions, velocity and brake pressure. The characteristics of the test road were measured in the field and the data were registered on punched cards together with information concerning police reported accidents. Mean values for over 60 test drivers were calculated on a computer and response profiles along the test road were plotted. Covariations between skin conductance (edr) and the complexity of the road and traffic environment are demonstrated. Results are discussed in terms of the complexity of the environment and a theoretical model for some interactions within the driver/vehicle/environment system is proposed. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting