Konferensartikel

The choice of time headway is individual and highly depends on the perceived likelihood of a rear-end collision. This study investigated whether this perception is dependent on drivers’ mood and cognitive load. Drivers were asked to follow a lead vehicle in one of four moods (neutral, happy, sad, and angry) and under three cognitive loads (none, non-driving related load, and driving related load). Time headways were measured along with eye tracking data and physiological measurements of electro-dermal activity and heart rate. The relationship between cognitive load, visual search patterns, mood, and time headway was modelled. The results indicate that those in a sad mood followed at longer time headways than those in other moods However, the positive effect of these changes is moderated by the reduction of attentional shift, in the form of longer eye fixations. In addition, it was found that cognitive load can act as attentional mediator for those in the sad mood but as a distractor for other drivers.

Time headway, driver’s mood, cognitive load, attentional shift, driving safety