Effects of Intelligent Warning Systems on Drivers' Steering Wheel Angle in Fog Situations

Larocca, Ana Paula; Calsavara, Felipe · 2023 · Crossref

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1003830

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Summary

This study investigates how fog and in-vehicle intelligent warning systems affect drivers’ steering behavior, specifically focusing on lateral control and steering wheel corrections. The research was motivated by the high severity of fog-related accidents, which often involve multiple vehicles or single-vehicle exits from the roadway due to reduced visibility. While Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) are increasingly used to alert drivers to hazardous conditions, there is a lack of data regarding their effectiveness on directional control, particularly within the context of Brazilian highway infrastructure and driver behavior profiles. The researchers conducted a controlled experiment using a driving simulator to recreate a 5 km stretch of a Brazilian highway known for high fog incidence and complex curves. Twenty-eight licensed participants drove through three randomized scenarios: clear weather (control), fog without warning, and fog with a passive in-vehicle warning displayed on a Head-Up Display. The simulator captured steering wheel angle data at 60 Hz. Using Python programming and Pierre Fermat’s Theorem, the team calculated the number of steering corrections—defined as local maxima and minima in the steering angle graph—as a metric for lateral control adjustments. The results indicated that fog significantly impaired lateral control. Drivers made an average of 26 steering corrections in the fog scenario, compared to 19 in the clear weather scenario, a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001). However, the presence of the intelligent warning system did not yield a significant improvement in steering behavior. The average number of corrections in the fog-with-warning scenario was 24, which was not statistically different from the fog-only scenario (p = 0.157). This suggests that while fog forces drivers to adjust their steering more frequently, the passive warning system failed to mitigate this effect or improve lane-keeping stability. The findings imply that passive warning systems are insufficient for maintaining lateral control in low-visibility conditions. The authors conclude that active systems, which directly intervene with vehicle braking or steering, may be more critical for safety in foggy regions than passive alerts. Additionally, the study highlights a regional difference in accident types, noting that Brazilian fog accidents are predominantly single-vehicle exits from the roadbed, unlike the multi-vehicle pile-ups common in North America. Future research is recommended to evaluate active intervention systems and the influence of driving experience on these behaviors.

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• hud ar windshield
• weather rain fog snow

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• Methodological Resource: tool software