Cross-Platform Simulation Needs for Novice (and other) Drivers TRB Workshop on “Development of Standardized Descriptions of Driving Simulator Scenarios:

Cross-Platform Simulation Cross-Platform Simulation Needs for Novice (and other) Needs for Novice (and other)

DriversDrivers

TRB Workshop on “Development of TRB Workshop on “Development of Standardized Descriptions of Driving Standardized Descriptions of Driving Simulator Scenarios: Human Factors Simulator Scenarios: Human Factors

ConsiderationsConsiderations

Jerry WachtelJerry Wachtel

The Veridian Group, Inc.The Veridian Group, Inc.

January 9, 2005January 9, 2005

The Veridian Group, Inc. 2

Young Novice DriversYoung Novice Drivers

We’ve been studying this issue for We’ve been studying this issue for a long timea long time

Must distinguish novice drivers Must distinguish novice drivers from young novice driversfrom young novice drivers


Young Novice Drivers Young Novice Drivers Have:Have:

Excellent ReflexesExcellent Reflexes Good hand-eye coordinationGood hand-eye coordination Rapid perception-reaction timeRapid perception-reaction time Ability to divide and share attentionAbility to divide and share attention Wide range of body strength and Wide range of body strength and

motionmotion Excellent peripheral and night vision, Excellent peripheral and night vision,

contrast sensitivitycontrast sensitivity


These are essentially the These are essentially the same factors that are same factors that are

important for safe driving, important for safe driving, but compromised in the but compromised in the

elderly and known to elderly and known to contribute to their contribute to their elevated crash rateelevated crash rate


Young novice drivers also Young novice drivers also have:have:

An inflated assessment of their abilitiesAn inflated assessment of their abilities A high propensity to take risksA high propensity to take risks Greater exposure to potential crash Greater exposure to potential crash

situationssituations A lack of driving experience, which leads A lack of driving experience, which leads

toto Unrefined perceptual and cognitive skills Unrefined perceptual and cognitive skills

critical for safe drivingcritical for safe driving


We Can See these We Can See these Differences in Crash Types Differences in Crash Types

and Consequencesand Consequences

Young novice drivers have high-Young novice drivers have high-speed, single vehicle, run-off-road speed, single vehicle, run-off-road crashescrashes

Older drivers have low-speed, two-Older drivers have low-speed, two-vehicle, intersection, angled crashes vehicle, intersection, angled crashes

Older drivers have high fatality rates Older drivers have high fatality rates because they are physically frailbecause they are physically frail

Young drivers have high fatality Young drivers have high fatality rates because they hit things hardrates because they hit things hard


Fatality Rates by Age 1993-Fatality Rates by Age 1993-20032003


Four Skills to Mediate Four Skills to Mediate Young Novice Driver Crash Young Novice Driver Crash

RiskRisk

Risk perceptionRisk perception Attentional ControlAttentional Control Time-sharingTime-sharing CalibrationCalibration


Training/Testing for These Training/Testing for These Skills Amenable to Skills Amenable to

Simulation Simulation

Traditional driver education not Traditional driver education not workingworking

Focus has been on vehicle control or Focus has been on vehicle control or “passing the test”“passing the test”

Focus should be on compressing the Focus should be on compressing the learning curve for critical perceptual learning curve for critical perceptual and cognitive skillsand cognitive skills

This is precisely where simulation is This is precisely where simulation is at its bestat its best


Traditional Arguments Traditional Arguments Against SimulationAgainst Simulation

CostCost FidelityFidelity Validity (and the “criterion” Validity (and the “criterion”

problem)problem)


Two Less Obvious Two Less Obvious Arguments Against Arguments Against

SimulationSimulation

MotivationMotivation Challenges and “gold standards”Challenges and “gold standards”


The Role of MotivationThe Role of Motivation

Motivation has been shown to Motivation has been shown to affect performance on simulatorsaffect performance on simulators

Traditional motivators include:Traditional motivators include:– Captive subjects (required to Captive subjects (required to

participate)participate)– Payment for servicePayment for service– Zero-sum gameZero-sum game– Please the professorPlease the professor


Negative MotivationNegative Motivation

Young novice drivers may consider Young novice drivers may consider “safe” driving boring and tedious“safe” driving boring and tedious

Examples abound of simulators Examples abound of simulators used as race carsused as race cars

The Plymouth/Dodge Neon Drunk The Plymouth/Dodge Neon Drunk Driving SimulatorDriving Simulator


The Neon Drunk Driving The Neon Drunk Driving SimulatorSimulator


Inherent MotivationInherent Motivation

Pass the simulator test, get your Pass the simulator test, get your licenselicense

Not as far-fetched as it may seemNot as far-fetched as it may seem Used successfully in other industriesUsed successfully in other industries Used with specific subsets of drivers:Used with specific subsets of drivers:

– Police traineesPolice trainees– Cognitively impaired patientsCognitively impaired patients


How can we use the power How can we use the power of simulation to provide of simulation to provide positive motivation and positive motivation and

serve the learning serve the learning function?function?


Challenges, and “Gold Challenges, and “Gold Standards”Standards”

Challenges are at the heart of our Challenges are at the heart of our simulation exercisessimulation exercises

We have a tendency to seek the We have a tendency to seek the “holy grail”“holy grail”

Subject matter experts can tell us Subject matter experts can tell us what is neededwhat is needed

We should be coming together to We should be coming together to harmonize these events across sitesharmonize these events across sites


Cross-Platform Compatibilities Cross-Platform Compatibilities Important for Younger (and all) Important for Younger (and all)

DriversDrivers

The Visual Data BaseThe Visual Data Base The ScenarioThe Scenario The Simulation (including The Simulation (including

independent variables)independent variables) Dependent variablesDependent variables


The Data BaseThe Data Base

The road and the terrainThe road and the terrain ITE “Green Book”ITE “Green Book” FHWA MUTCDFHWA MUTCD


An Example from the MUTCD


The Scenario – and SignsThe Scenario – and Signs

Signs as “environmental filler” vs. Signs as “environmental filler” vs. actual triggers or independent actual triggers or independent variablesvariables

Some have argued that poor visual Some have argued that poor visual characteristics of simulated signs characteristics of simulated signs results in fail-safe recommendations.results in fail-safe recommendations.

This does not work for the novice This does not work for the novice driverdriver


Use of Supplemental Use of Supplemental Monitor for Display of Monitor for Display of

SignsSigns



The SimulationThe Simulation

Are objects intended to be Are objects intended to be background or will they be used as background or will they be used as triggers or independent variables?triggers or independent variables?

The answer to this question might The answer to this question might dictate how precise we must be in dictate how precise we must be in our specificationsour specifications


And if precision is needed, And if precision is needed, “the devil is in the “the devil is in the

details.”details.”


Importance of Sign Size Importance of Sign Size and Placement Fidelityand Placement Fidelity


Dependent MeasuresDependent Measures

Documents

Cross-Platform Simulation Needs for Novice (and other) Drivers TRB Workshop on “Development of Standardized Descriptions of Driving Simulator Scenarios: