Driver behaviour in response to potential hazards in a simulated environment

Driver error is a contributing cause of most motor vehicle collisions. Consequently, accident rates are much higher in scenarios where safe transit requires increased reliance on driver ability and decision-making. Intersections, for example, are potential conflict zones, because unexpected hazards are common. For accident reconstructionists, like those at Kodsi Engineering, understanding hazard response enables comparison of ongoing assignments with typical driver behaviour. This analysis further helps to inform expert opinions during insurance claim litigations and can affect the distribution of liability and compensation. While some experiments have been conducted to investigate unexpected hazard scenarios, there is limited research on right-turning and left-side approaching vehicles. Given the risks associated with studying driver behavior, these studies are most safely conducted in a simulator like the Oktal complete driving simulator at the University of Guelph. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Michele Oliver

Student:

Erika Ziraldo

Partner:

Kodsi Engineering Inc

Discipline:

Engineering - other

Sector:

University:

Program:

Accelerate