UNSW investigates driver behaviour

A $4 million study into driving behaviour has been announced by UNSW, which is calling for 360 drivers from New South Wales and Victoria to take part.

The study, announced last week by UNSW Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs and described as an "Australian first", is being conducted by UNSW road safety scientists, with support from government and industry.

What distinguishes this 'Australian Naturalistic Driving Study' (ANDS) from crash data gathered by law enforcement agencies is that the former looks at how drivers respond to critical situations as they unfold. It is, in essence, a project aimed at compiling 'near miss' data, which is expected to amplify how and why crashes occur.

It's the sort of data that is rarely taken into consideration at coroner's inquests or in major accident reports. The study is expected to yield new approaches to road safety strategies, road design and driver fatigue mitigation.

For the study, cars will have be equipped with radar, GPS and video cameras to record the driver's gaze, views from front and rear, and the proximity of pedestrians and cyclists. Other sensors will record vehicle speed, lane position and any sudden evasive manoeuvres (swerving/braking).

"The aim of our research is to save lives and prevent serious injuries," says study leader, UNSW Professor Raphael Grzebieta (pictured).

"This is the first driving study of this magnitude and sophistication in Australia.  It will provide an invaluable record of the behaviour of drivers, their cars and other road users in real world situations.

"With this technology we will learn how people avoid collisions or other safety-related incidents in everyday driving. The study will also reveal new information on human factors such as distraction, inattention, speeding, aggression and tiredness, which are often the main culprits in collisions."

While UNSW has taken the lead for the project, it is assisted and supported by Monash University, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Adelaide and Virginia Tech. Other bodies supporting the study include Hyundai Australia, the NSW Centre for Road Safety at Transport for NSW, NRMA, the Transport Accident Commission in Victoria, VicRoads, the Motor Accident Commission in South Australia and the Western Australian Office of Road Safety.

Volunteers must be aged between 20 and 70, hold a full driver's licence, and be willing to have the plethora of sophisticated monitoring equipment fitted to their cars. Those taking part can register via the website. For their involvement they will earn $250 worth of gift vouchers.