What Makes a Good Passenger? From Teen Drivers’ Perspectives

An exploratory study was designed to examine male and female teenage drivers’ perceptions and expectations of peer passengers. Qualitative methods were used to interview and survey 16- and 17-year-old licensed drivers. 10 interviewees and 96 survey respondents were included in the analysis. Consistent with previous studies, teenage drivers were concerned about passenger-related distractions. There were noticeable differences between males and females in their perceptions of peer behaviors: females most expected passengers to be non-distracting and polite and males most expected passengers to behave maturely. Future studies should focus on social factors and the psychosocial function of driving for better understanding of the peer passenger interactions, and ultimately the development of passenger-related crash prevention efforts

Use of a Simulator to Objectively Distinguish Behaviors Between Low-Risk and High-Risk Drivers

The objective of this study was to validate behavioral differences between two groups of drivers through the use of a driving simulator. Controlled experiments in a driving simulator were used to gather objective and subjective evidence on how drivers reacted to roadway objects and handled various hazardous situations. Low-risk, more experienced drivers were more aware of the mental demands of having to remember and later recall a list of items when compared to high-risk, less experienced drivers. Outcomes of the study may potentially serve as the foundation for a training program that will aim to transfer risk assessment strategies from low-risk drivers to high-risk drivers

Benefits and Challenges of Multidisciplinary Project Teams: Lessons Learned for Researchers and Practitioners

Adopting a multidisciplinary research approach would enable test and evaluation professionals to more effective!y investigate the complex human performance problems faced in today\u27s technologically advanced operational domains. To illustrate the utility of this approach, we present lessons learned based on our experiences as a multi-agency, multidisciplinary team collaborating on an Army research project involving a dynamic military command and control simulation. Our goal with these lessons learned is to provide guidance to researchers and practitioners alike concerning the benefits and challenges of such collaboration. Our project team\u27s diverse members, drawn from both industry and government organizations, offer their multiple p perspectives on these issues. The final sections then summarize the challenges and benefits of multidisciplinary research

Automated Support for AARs: Exploiting Communication to Assess Team Performance

The After Action Review (AAR) process provides a powerful methodology that in the context of training maximizes the benefits of exercises by enabling a unit to learn from experience by systematically reflecting on their strengths and weaknesses. We have developed a tool that supports the AAR process, essentially extending an Observer Controller’s (O/C) reach automatically. This tool was developed with two training contexts in mind: live STX lane convoy training at the National Training Center (NTC) and simulated convoy training using DARWARS Ambush! at the Mission Support Training Facility at Fort Lewis. At NTC, live radio communication is captured during training, while with Ambush! communication using voice over IP (VOIP) is recorded. The tool automatically converts recorded speech to text and then analyzes the text, using advanced statistical machine learning technologies, to determine a unit’s performance and identify critical incidents, leading indicators, and other training events that could be included in an AAR. We worked closely with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to derive the important dimensions of performance allowing the tool to support a wide range of O/C and commander AARs. The tool rates a unit on several scales based on a mission essential task list (METL), including command and control, situation understanding, use of standard operating procedures (SOPs), and battle drills. For each rating scale, the tool selects appropriate trainin

Benefits and Challenges of Multidisciplinary Project Teams: Lessons Learned for Researchers and Practitioners

Adopting a multidisciplinary research approach would enable test and evaluation professionals to more effective!y investigate the complex human performance problems faced in today\u27s technologically advanced operational domains. To illustrate the utility of this approach, we present lessons learned based on our experiences as a multi-agency, multidisciplinary team collaborating on an Army research project involving a dynamic military command and control simulation. Our goal with these lessons learned is to provide guidance to researchers and practitioners alike concerning the benefits and challenges of such collaboration. Our project team\u27s diverse members, drawn from both industry and government organizations, offer their multiple p perspectives on these issues. The final sections then summarize the challenges and benefits of multidisciplinary research