Human Factors Flashcards
7 cards from real ACTAR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Human Factors flashcards as text
What is the primary reason nighttime pedestrian detection distances are shorter than daytime distances even with functioning headlights?
Answer: Pedestrian clothing reflectivity is lower and headlight illumination is limited
Headlights illuminate a limited range and pedestrians in dark clothing may only reflect enough light for detection within 60–100 feet, far less than daytime visibility.
The 'last clear chance' doctrine in accident reconstruction relates to which human factors concept?
Answer: Time-distance analysis of evasive opportunity
Last clear chance analysis uses time-distance calculations to determine whether either party had a perceivable, reachable opportunity to avoid the collision.
Which term describes the minimum time a driver needs to process a signal before being able to initiate a voluntary response?
Answer: Irreducible minimum reaction time
The irreducible minimum reaction time (roughly 0.5 s) represents the physiological floor below which a voluntary response cannot occur regardless of expectancy.
Speed estimation errors by drivers tend to be greatest under which of the following conditions?
Answer: Transitioning from high-speed to low-speed environments
After sustained high-speed driving, the perceptual system adapts, causing drivers to underestimate speed in lower-speed zones—a well-documented adaptation effect.
Which glare type is most likely to temporarily impair a driver's vision at night when an oncoming vehicle's headlights are misaligned?
Answer: Disability glare
Disability glare occurs when stray light within the eye reduces contrast of the retinal image, directly impairing vision rather than merely causing discomfort.
How does driver expectancy influence crash causation in intersection accidents?
Answer: Violated expectancy can delay recognition and reaction to unexpected events
When events violate a driver's expectancy (e.g., a wrong-way vehicle), perception and recognition are delayed because the brain must first resolve the discrepancy.
What does the term 'conspicuity' mean in traffic accident human factors analysis?
Answer: The probability that an object will attract a driver's attention in the environment
Conspicuity refers to the degree to which an object is able to attract attention based on its sensory properties relative to the background.