Task complexity refers to the dynamic road and environmental conditions influencing driving, while coping capacity reflects a driver’s ability to manage these challenges. The concept of the Safety Tolerance Zone (STZ) describes the point at which self-regulated control is considered safe, where the demands of the driving task are balanced with the driver’s ability to cope. This study endeavours to quantify the relationship between task complexity and coping capacity in identifying the STZ. Towards that end, a driving simulator experiment involving 55 participants was conducted and the most reliable indicators were collected and analysed. Generalized Linear Models were performed to examine the impact of road, vehicle and driver characteristics on crash risk, while Structural Equation Models were applied to assess the relationship between latent and observable variables of task complexity, coping capacity and crash risk. Results indicated that increased task complexity significantly elevated crash risk, while greater coping capacity mitigated it. It was also revealed that task complexity and coping capacity were inter-related with a positive correlation, implying that drivers coping capacity increases as the complexity of driving task increases. Findings highlighted the importance of adaptive driver support systems in maintaining drivers within the STZ under varying road conditions.
| ID | pc652 |
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