UNCERTAINTIES OF PERCEIVED RELATIVE SPEED AND REACTION TIME IN CAR FOLLOWING: A QUANTUM OPTICAL FLOW PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The paper experiments with the trade-off between the deviations of perceived relative speed and reaction time in car following under driver perception uncertainties. Scope: Rooted in quantum optical flow theory, this study investigates if the trade-off relationship between the uncertainties of perceived relative speed and reaction time exists in a form mimicking the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle when car following. The leading vehicle speed is controlled in the driving simulator, and a rear signal of the leading car is manipulated as a stimuli. Conclusions: The finding from the experiment indicates that as the deviation of perceived relative speed increases, the deviation of reaction time decreases inferring that there is a trade-off relationship between the uncertainties of driver perceived relative speed and reaction time. The results may help to characterize car following phenomena under driver perception uncertainties to facilitate road safety improvement and stimulate new ideas for traffic theory development.