Evaluatie "Denkdek" (ondersteuningssysteem ritsen) in de rijsimulator (2001).

An assistance system for merging at places where a third motorway lane ends was evaluated in the advanced driving simulator of the Department of Psychology of the University of Groningen. The system “Denkdek” (“Thinking roadsurface”), consists of electronic speed limit signs, and moving ledlight bars in the road surface of the emergency lane. Goal of the system is to reduce speed, and to introduce a small speed difference between the three lanes. Drivers on the right-hand lane (i.e. the lane next to the emergency lane) should drive next to a
moving ledlight bar and make space for traffic on the centre lane so they can merge. The space this traffic leaves behind on the centre lane can be used by traffic on the left-hand lane. Results show that the system is effective in reducing speed, and average time-headway to cars-in-front increased. Traffic on the right-hand lane tended to swerve less in the condition where the ledlight was switched on. More traffic merged from centre to right if the system was switched on, and in this way space on the centre lane was created. However, drivers did merge earlier compared with the situation where the system was off. This effect was also found with drivers who drove on the left-hand lane. Time-headway to the new cars ahead after merging was higher if the system was switched on. The maximum decelerations were also larger in the conditions where the system was switched on, and cars decelerated not only at the point where the third lane ended. Drivers judged driving without the system to be easier and more smooth. Rides on the centre and right-hand lane were considered to be less effortful without the system. Acceptance of the system was neutral, usefulness of the system was slightly positive. A high proportion (41%) mentioned potential distraction from other traffic by the system, and more than one in four said they ignored the system.