THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DRIVER TRAINING IN BRAKING ON LOW FRICTION ROAD SURFACE

The aim of this report is to evaluate the training in braking on low friction road surface. It consists of the following three parts: 1) measurement of braking distances immediately prior to and after the regular training course, 2) studies of the effects of a radical increase of the number of trials and, 3) statistics from the regular training course. A VW Rabbit was used as experimental vehicle, equipped with a fifth wheel and a microcomputer for the registration of response times and distances. No significant change in braking distances could be found as an effect of the small number of trials in the existing training program. An increase from 4 to 25 trials caused a significant reduction of braking distances. An analysis of the learning curve revealed that almost all of the reductions had been achieved after approximately 15 trials. (Author/TRRL)