An Experimental Investigation of Novice and Experienced Drivers' Car Following Task Performance on Snowy Road

Driving on snowy road is different from dry road due to reduced friction. Novice drivers may have more problems driving on snowy road due to the lack of experience, e.g., driving too fast, frequently baking, turning the steering wheel at will, braking and avoiding at the same time. It is an important issue for legislation, automotive tire design and driving safety training. This study compared the effect of snowy road versus dry road on driving performance in a driving simulator by asking participants to perform a car-following task. Results showed that both inexperienced and snowy driving impaired driving performance by causing more variation in lane position. The accelerating response time of the drivers, speed and headway distance was increased on snowy road. These results provided suggestions for snowy-road specific countermeasures and driving safety training.