Perception of the traffic situation as the factor of safety

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to analyze the psycho-physiological characteristics, which show the driver's ability to perceive traffic information, interpret it, make decisions and timely perform actions to manage the transport standard. One of the main tasks is to consider the particularities of perception, which is the main source of information about the human environment during the movement.

Findings. The psycho-physiological properties of a person, affecting the ability of the driver to perceive traffic information have been analyzed. The factors that determine the behavior of a person in traffic conditions and are determined by his mental state at a given time are disclosed. A detailed description of mental processes and phenomena affecting the condition of road users is given, such as: space and time perception, reaction time, attention, thinking. The causes and conditions of occurrence of illusory perceptions are considered. Empirically, the most significant psychophysiological parameters of perception were revealed that directly affect the reliability of professional activity of a driver: the level of perception of distances and speed of moving objects, attention distribution, emotional stability, complex motor reaction, risk inclination.

Application field of research. Based on the identified significant perceptual properties that affect the reliability of professional activity of the driver, 5 techniques have been developed, aimed at the optimal definition and development of the level of person’s perception. These techniques will find their application in driving schools, where testing and determination of psycho-physiological characteristics of future drivers, as well as the necessary dropout of trainees should be carried out.

Conclusions. For road safety personal qualities of the driver are very important. Negative personality traits impede the activity of the driver, leading to errors and accidents. And the positive ones, on the contrary, contribute to the correct behavior of the driver. Therefore, in educational institutions it is necessary to introduce a course on educating positive qualities among drivers, and this should be the primary task of the leaders of all educational and road transport enterprises.