The impact of acute stress on simulated driving performance of occupational road freight drivers

Abstract

Stress is common among occupational road freight drivers due to the demanding nature of their profession. Stress has been shown to negatively influence driving behavior among car drivers, thus raising concerns about its impact on the safety of professional drivers. This study examines how stressful events affect the driving behavior of occupational road freight drivers in three different types of situations: routine road sections, transitions in speed limit, and hazardous events. Driving simulator data from 27 participants was analyzed. They drove through a neutral driving scenario in a TruckSim driving simulator, followed by a stressful scenario with stressful driving events and simulated time pressure. The results showed that under stressful circumstances, drivers exhibited riskier driving behavior, including increased speed and harsher acceleration and braking. On the other hand, the standard deviation of the lateral position (SDLP) decreased. These findings highlight that action should be taken to monitor and reduce occupational road freight driver stress during driving. Future research may involve measuring stress and driving behavior in a naturalistic driving study, allowing for a deeper understanding of the real-world implications of stress. Additionally, studies could investigate the development of interventions that can reduce stress of occupational drivers during driving.