Effects of rainfall-impeded visibility on cognition and reaction during expressway driving

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  • YANO Nobuhiro
    Department of Traffic Science, National Research Institute of Police Science
  • YOKOZEKI Toshiya
    Department of Traffic Science, National Research Institute of Police Science
  • MORI Kenji
    Department of Traffic Science, National Research Institute of Police Science

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  • 降雨による視認性低下が高速道路走行時の認知反応に及ぼす影響
  • コウウ ニ ヨル シニンセイ テイカ ガ コウソク ドウロ ソウコウジ ノ ニンチ ハンノウ ニ オヨボス エイキョウ

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Abstract

To investigate effects of decreased visibility on cognition and reaction during rainfall while driving on an expressway, two experiments were conducted to compare drivers' cognitive and reactive characteristics in rain and non-rain conditions. For Experiment 1, participants adjusted an accelerator pedal as quickly as possible in response to acceleration or deceleration of a leading vehicle. In Experiment 2, participants momentarily perceived the traffic conditions ahead and identified the position and type of each leading vehicle. Results suggest the following: (1) Rainfall-impeded visibility decreases driver awareness of slight changes of traffic conditions and delays their risk-avoiding reactions to those changes. (2) Drivers lack attentional resources because of increased difficulty in recognizing traffic conditions ahead because of rainfall-impeded visibility. Consequently, they become more likely to commit cognitive errors. Results suggest that speed restraint during rainfall is effective not only for preventing slip accidents caused by wet road conditions, but also in compensating for delayed reaction and lack of attentional resources, which causes human errors such as cognitive errors.

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