Braking Assistance System for Train Drivers : Assisting Drivers' Recognition and Judgment by Indicating Predicted Stopping Position( TRANSLOG2009/J-RAIL2009)

This study examines the braking assistance system for train drivers when stopping at a station to prevent the drivers from overrunning. The braking assistance system informs the driver visually of a predicted stopping position based on present vehicle velocity and deceleration. If the predicted stopping position is in front of (over) the desired position, it is presented in green (red) color. It makes the driver aware not only the predicted stopping position, but also the appropriate braking operation. Train-driving simulator experiments are examined with several subjects who are required train driving with the mental calculation which assumes the mental workload. Subjects with the braking assistance system can operate the brake handle smoothly as well as the usual driving without the mental calculation, while subjects without the braking assistance system repeat the modified braking operations. These differences are observed in the standard deviation of the brake handle change by the drivers. The braking assistance system decreases the standard deviation of the handle change value with a significant difference.