Auditory localisation of conventional and electric cars

Auditory localisation of conventional and electric cars: Laboratory results and implications for cycling safety

Stelling-Konczak, A. (TU Delft Transport and Planning; Stichting Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Verkeersveiligheid (SWOV))
Hagenzieker, Marjan (TU Delft Transport and Planning)
Commandeur, Jacques J F (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Agterberg, Martijn J H (Cognition and Behaviour)
van Wee, G.P. (TU Delft Transport and Logistics)

2016

When driven at low speeds, cars operating in electric mode have been found to be quieter than conventional cars. As a result, the auditory cues which pedestrians and cyclists use to assess the presence, proximity and location oncoming traffic may be reduced, posing a safety hazard. This laboratory study examined auditory localisation of conventional and electric cars including vehicle motion paths relevant for cycling activity. Participants (N = 65) in three age groups (16–18, 30–40 and 65–70 year old) indicated the location and movement direction (approaching versus receding) of cars driven at 15, 30 and 50 km/h in two ambient sound conditions (low and moderate). Results show that low speeds, higher ambient sound level and older age were associated with worse performance on the location and motion direction tasks. In addition, participants were less accurate at determining the location of electric and conventional car sounds emanating from directly behind the participant. Implications for cycling safety and proposals for adding extra artificial noise or warning sounds to quiet (electric) cars are discussed.

Auditory perception
Cycling safety
Cyclists
Electric vehicles
Traffic safety
Vehicle localisation

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:affc1a56-0640-4440-9374-15d4fa9dfb85

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2015.09.004

2019-08-06

1369-8478

Transportation Research. Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 41 (Part B), 227-242

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2016 A. Stelling-Konczak, Marjan Hagenzieker, Jacques J F Commandeur, Martijn J H Agterberg, G.P. van Wee