Determination of DRT in Collision Avoidance: Evaluation of the Results of Tests with Different Driver Groups in the Driving Simulator

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 4, 657 - 674, 31.12.2025

Habib Gürbüz , Canberk Yüksel Hüsameddin Akçay

https://doi.org/10.30939/ijastech..1680388

Abstract

The driver reaction time (DRT) of road drivers not only significantly affects driving stability and performance but also causes traffic congestion and accidents, so its detection is important for traffic safety. In this paper, the effect of driver characteristics and habits (i.e., education, job status, gender, age, experience, health status, and driver habits) on DRT is examined through tests performed in a driving simulator on a randomly selected sample group (49 males and 21 females). Before the tests, 14 different sub-sample groups were created by identifying the characteristics and habits of the drivers based on their own statements through a survey conducted with the sample group. From the DRTs determined for each subsample group, the average DRT and deviation of male and female drivers were calculated separately. The results show that there are significant variations in DRT according to driver characteristics and habits. The DRT of female drivers is approximately 22% higher than that of male drivers. The DRT increases as the driver's age increases. The effect of the driver experience on the DRT is unclear, but the DRT decreases with daily vehicle usage time when considered as an indicator of experience. It was also determined that the DRT becomes shorter as drivers’ educational attainment increases. The DRT is varied by the job status of the drivers; while the unemployed have the highest DRT, public sector employees and students have a significantly lower DRT. In addition, health conditions such as chronic illness, the use of glasses, and fatigue cause a notable increase in DRT. Lifestyle factors such as smoking (negative) and sports activities (positive) affect DRT. While habits such as using mobile phones and CD players/TV while driving negatively affect DRT, seat belt use positively affects DRT.

Keywords

Driver characteristics and habits , Driver DRT , Driving simulator , Traffic safety

Supporting Institution

Süleyman Demirel University Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit (SDÜ, BAP)

Project Number

FYL-2023-8994

Thanks

This study was carried out within the scope of the project number FYL-2023-8994, supported by the Süleyman Demirel University Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit (SDÜ, BAP). The authors would like to thank the Isparta Provincial Gendarmerie Command Traffic Branch Directorate for their support during the implementation of the study.

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