Sensitive and Reliable Measures of Driver Performance in Simulated Motor-Racing

Irwin, Christopher; Mollica, Jamie; Desbrow, Ben · 2019 · Crossref

DOI: 10.70252/iqqc5979

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

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Summary

This study addresses the need for valid metrics in simulated motor-racing research, where driving simulators offer a safe alternative to on-road testing for examining physiological perturbations like heat stress or dehydration. While simulators are established for commute-style driving, no prior research had validated the reliability and sensitivity of performance parameters specific to the high-speed, high-demand context of motor racing. The authors aimed to identify which simulated driving indicators could reliably detect performance changes, thereby providing confidence for future investigations into factors affecting driver capability. Thirty-six healthy male participants completed a single experimental trial involving four simulated motor-racing drives: two initial drives and two repeat drives, separated by a one-hour rest period. Each pair of drives was conducted under two conditions: a Normal condition and a condition wearing Fatal Vision Goggles (FVG), which distort vision to simulate alcohol-induced impairment. The study assessed sensitivity by comparing performance between Normal and FVG conditions, and reliability by comparing initial versus repeat drives within the same condition. Four performance measures were recorded: lap time (LT), sector time (ST) for a specific track section, position displacement (PD) to a marker on the first corner, and vehicle speed at that marker. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests for sensitivity and comparisons of initial versus repeat drives for reliability, with a subset analysis focusing on faster drivers. The results demonstrated that lap time and sector time were both sensitive and reliable measures. Participants drove significantly slower under FVG conditions compared to Normal conditions for both LT and ST, indicating sensitivity to visual disturbance. Furthermore, these measures showed low within-drive variability and consistent results between initial and repeat drives under Normal conditions, confirming reliability. In contrast, position displacement was neither sensitive nor reliable, exhibiting high variability (coefficient of variation >50%). Vehicle speed at the marker was not sensitive to the visual impairment. Analysis of the subset of faster drivers revealed reduced variance in performance measures, suggesting that higher-skilled drivers provide more consistent data. The study concludes that lap time and sector time are the appropriate metrics for assessing simulated motor-racing performance in future research. The findings imply that researchers should employ performance criteria to select fast, consistent drivers to minimize variability and enhance the detection of true intervention effects. This validation allows for more robust experimental designs in studying how physiological factors, such as dehydration or fatigue, impact the complex motor and cognitive skills required in motorsport.

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Topics

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• simulator validity fidelity
• sensory abilities
• workload measurement

Information type

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• Methodological Resource: validation psychometrics, tool software
• Theoretical Contribution: computational model