Effects of working memory load and repeated scenario exposure on emergency braking performance
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2010

Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of working memory load on drivers' responses to a suddenly braking lead vehicle and whether this effect (if any) is moderated by repeated scenario exposure. Background: Several experimental studies have found delayed braking responses to lead vehicle braking events during concurrent performance of nonvisual, working memory-loading tasks, such as hands-free phone conversation. However, the common use of repeated, and hence somewhat expected, braking events may undermine the generalizability of these results to naturalistic, unexpected, emergency braking scenarios. Method: A critical lead vehicle braking scenario was implemented in a fixed-based simulator. The effects of working memory load and repeated scenario exposure on braking performance were examined. Results: Brake response time was decomposed into accelerator pedal release time and accelerator-to-brake pedal movement time. Accelerator pedal release times were strongly reduced with repeated scenario exposure and were delayed by working memory load with a small but significant amount (178 ms). The two factors did not interact. There were no effects on accelerator-to-brake pedal movement time. Conclusion:The results suggest that effects of working memory load on response performance obtained from repeated critical lead vehicle braking scenarios may be validly generalized to real world unexpected events. Application: The results have important implications for the interpretation of braking performance in experimental settings, in particular in the context of safety-related evaluation of in-vehicle information and communication technologies. © 2010, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

attentional processes

dual-task performance

brake response time

repeated scenario exposure

working memory load

Författare

Johan A Skifs Engström

Volvo Group

Mikael Ljung Aust

Chalmers, Tillämpad mekanik, Fordonssäkerhet

Matias Viström

Chalmers, Tillämpad mekanik, Fordonssäkerhet

Human Factors

0018-7208 (ISSN) 1547-8181 (eISSN)

Vol. 52 5 551-559

Styrkeområden

Transport

Ämneskategorier

Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap

DOI

10.1177/0018720810381072

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Senast uppdaterat

2018-11-26