Stopping performance in familiar and unfamiliar vehicles.

Lack of vehicle familiarity is a contributing factor in motor- vehicle accidents. It may also contaminate results in experiments where subjects are required to drive unfamiliar vehicle on driving simulators. An instrumented driving range, including a signalized intersection, was developed to evaluate driving performance in subjects' own vehicles. Results were interpreted as suggested heightened driver awareness in the unfamiliar vehicle. Implications for the safety of drivers in unfamiliar vehicles are discussed.