cff-version: 1.2.0
abstract: "<p><b>Objective.</b> To share results of an experiment that used
visual occlusion for a new purpose: inducing a waiting time.</p>

<p><b>Background.</b> Senders was a leading figure in human factors.
In his research on the visual demands of driving, he used occlusion techniques.</p>

<p><b>Methods.</b> In a simulator experiment, we examined how
drivers brake for different levels of urgency and different visual conditions.
In three blocks (1 = brake lights, 2 = no brake lights, 3 = occlusion), drivers
followed a vehicle at 13.4 or 33.4 m distance. At certain moments, the lead
vehicle decelerated moderately (1.7 m/s<sup>2</sup>) or strongly (6.5 m/s<sup>2</sup>).
In the occlusion condition, the screens blanked for 0.4 s (if 6.5 m/s<sup>2</sup>)
or 2.0 s (if 1.7 m/s<sup>2</sup>) when the lead vehicle started to decelerate.
Participants were instructed to brake only after the occlusion ended. </p>

<p><b>Results. </b>The lack of brake lights caused a delayed
response. In the occlusion condition, drivers adapted to the instructed late
braking by braking harder. However, adaptation was not always possible: In the
most urgent condition, most participants collided with the lead vehicle because
the ego-vehicle’s deceleration limits were reached. In non-urgent conditions, some
drivers braked unnecessarily hard. Furthermore, while waiting until the
occlusion cleared, some drivers lightly touched the brake pedal. </p>

<p><b>Conclusion.</b> This experimental design demonstrates how
drivers (sometimes fail to) adjust their braking behavior to the criticality of
the situation.</p>

<p><b>Application.</b> The phenomena of biomechanical readiness and (inappropriate)
dosing of the brake pedal may be relevant to safety, traffic flow, and ADAS
design.</p>

<p> </p>"
authors:
  - family-names: de Winter
    given-names: Joost
    orcid: "https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1281-8200"
  - family-names: Saffarian
    given-names: Mehdi
  - family-names: Senders
    given-names: John W.
title: "Supplementary data for the paper &#39;The effect of an occlusion-induced delay on braking behavior in critical situations: A driving simulator study&#39;"
keywords:
version: 1
identifiers:
  - type: doi
    value: 10.4121/19126667.v1
license: CC0
date-released: 2022-02-07