Reliability Evaluation on Driver Reaction Characteristics

Reaction, normally presented by reaction time, is one of the contributory factors to the safety reliability of road users. The primary purpose of this study is to research the correlation of reaction time and accident liability. Participants involved 392 drivers, who are divided into accident and non-accident groups by accident experience. Four reaction characteristics indexes including simple reaction time, choice reaction time, movement reaction time, and concentration ability are evaluated in the investigation. Results show that the variables of simple reaction time and concentration ability have no relation to the accident; the greatest differences between accident and non-accident groups, however, are found under conditions of choice reaction time; moreover, distance-related changes in movement reaction time are also obtained. Implications for drivers with appropriate reaction characteristics are discussed.