Driver Crash Avoidance Behavior: Analysis of Experimental Data Collected in NHTSA’s Vehicle Antilock Brake System (ABS) Research Program

As part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Light Vehicle Antilock Brake System (ABS) Research Program a study was conducted to examine driver crash avoidance behavior and the effects of ABS on drivers’ ability to avoid a collision in a crash-imminent situation. The test track study, described in detail in the SAE paper “Driver Crash Avoidance Behavior with ABS in an Intersection Incursion Scenario on Dry Versus Wet Pavement” [1], was designed to examine the effects of ABS versus conventional brakes, ABS brake pedal feedback level, and ABS instruction on driver behavior and crash avoidance performance.

Exponent has obtained the electronic data collected by NHTSA in the dry pavement study and analyzed the steering inputs to better understand how drivers respond to emergency avoidance situations. The results of this study can also be used to put the steering magnitudes, rates, and patterns used by test drivers performing idealized avoidance-type maneuvers on the skid-pad into the proper perspective by comparing them with what truly surprised drivers apply when confronted with an emergency situation requiring a steering response.