Citation

Reymond G, Kemeny A, Droulez J, Berthoz A. Hum. Factors 2001; 43(3): 483-495.

Affiliation

Renault Dierection de la Recherche, Technocentre Renault, Guyancourt, France. gilles.reymond@renault.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

11866202

Abstract

Experimental studies show that automobile drivers adjust their speed in curves so that maximum vehicle lateral accelerations decrease at high speeds. This pattern of lateral accelerations is described by a new driver model, assuming drivers control a variable safety margin of perceived lateral acceleration according to their anticipated steering deviations. Compared with a minimum time-to-lane-crossing speed modulation strategy, this model, based on nonvisual cues, predicts that extreme values of lateral acceleration in curves decrease quadratically with speed, in accordance with experimental data obtained in a vehicle driven on a test track and in a motion-based driving simulator. Variations of model parameters can characterize "normal" or "fast" driving styles on the test track. On the simulator, it was found that the upper limits of lateral acceleration decreased less steeply when the motion cuing system was deactivated, although drivers maintained a consistent driving style. This is interpreted per the model as an underestimation of curvilinear speed due to the lack of inertial stimuli. Actual or potential applications of this research include a method to assess driving simulators as well as to identify driving styles for on-board driver aid systems.