Rider Reaction Time studies

Rider Reaction Time studies
CMC has conducted two significant studies using dynamic motorcycle riding simulators to explore rider reaction times to various warning types. These studies offer valuable insights for enhancing rider safety and designing more effective future C-ITS applications.
Study setup
Both studies compared reactions in urban and rural settings. These did not include imminent crash warnings, but advisory warnings with 3 seconds between warning onset and the potentially critical situation becoming visible.
RRT I (End of 2022) focused on generic visual warnings on the dashboard. Findings indicate that for about one out of six instances, riders failed to notice the warnings. When warnings were noticed, it took riders about 1 second to look towards the dashboard and about 2 to 2.5 seconds to react physically by reducing throttle or initiating braking. Responses were quicker in urban settings, which were deemed more critical by the riders.

RRT II (End of 2023) expanded the research to include 4 more variations regarding the type of warning signals:

• Visual (Mirror-mounted LEDs)
• Visual (Head-Up Displays)
• Auditory (Warning tones)
• Haptic (Vibrations in wristband)

The dynamic motorcycle riding simulator at WIVW that was used for the study

Key Outcomes

• All tested warning methods outperformed the baseline scenario of no warnings, with mirror LEDs and haptic alerts showing no missed warnings at all.
• The primary reaction across warning types was to focus attention on the road ahead, leading to potentially safer deceleration times.
• In urban scenarios, riders began braking upon receiving warnings, even before seeing the obstacle. This highlights the potential of C-ITS applications to improve safety.
• Riders appreciated devices that were fixed on the bike itself, like mirror-mounted LEDs, for their convenience and safety. Helmet- or rider-mounted devices require additional gear and stable connections, and were therefore not so well accepted.
• Compared to passenger car studies, motorcycle riders had more missed warnings as well as longer and more variable reaction times, underscoring the need for motorcycle-specific safety research.

https://www.cmc-info.net/rider-reaction-time.html