Understanding time components helps explain why we need margins. This article defines reaction time, attention time and total time in the driving process.
Definitions
- Reaction time: hazard detection to starting action
- Attention time: time needed to perceive and understand a situation
- Total time: perception + decision + action
Practical implications
- More complex scenes increase attention time
- Expect longer times at night, in bad weather and when tired
- Leave space and reduce speed to compensate