Interrelations between Judgements, made by Drivers, of the Duration, Distance and Speed of their Journeys

Abstract

In previous investigations we have shown that judgements of duration are dependent on the corresponding distances with which the intervals of time are associated. This interdependence occurs in visual, auditory and tactile situations, and also when passengers in a vehicle on the road estimate the duration, distance and speed of their journey. The present experiments were designed to determine whether there is a similar interdependence in the estimates made by drivers themselves.

Expert drivers drove an experimental vehicle on a motorway. During the journey a signal was given at a predetermined point in time or distance. The subjects estimated, at the end of each journey, the pre- and post-signal durations, distances and speeds. The results suggest that comparative judgements of the duration of a journey are clearly influenced by distance and speed.

The results are also consistent with the converse effect of duration and speed on apparent distance, but inconclusive for the effect of duration and distance on subjective speed. Of the three variables studied speed seems to be judged most accurately. Duration seems to be over-stated by comparison with joint estimates of distance and speed, while the latter appear to be understated by comparison with the two corresponding pairs of estimates.