The Problem
Most organizations that teach emergency lane change skills use hand signals, commands over the radio, flags, or lights do so using a fixed marker to tell the instructor when to give the command. The student is told to approach the training area at a set speed -- usually 35-MPH -- and when the vehicle reaches that fixed marker the instructor calls out "left" or "right" and the student is supposed to react and change lanes. This method has many problems.
First, the student knows when to expect a command because they can see the cone where the command will be given. Their instinct is to lift off the gas pedal in preparation for a lane change. This buys them some reaction time as the vehicle slows down. In essence, they are cheating the system to their advantage. For overzealous students who accelerate too much, they reduce their reaction time, possibly inducing a failure.
Second, if an instructor either deliberately, or unconsciously, calls too late or too early they can influence the student's success rate. Calling too early gives the student more time to react, whereas calling too late can cause them to fail. Agencies using digital radios to communicate can experience a delay as radios negotiate to establish communication. This further exacerbates the problem of calling too late.
Third, for agencies using voice commands, a recent study in 2021 (Van der Ham et. al., 2021) has shown that 14.6-percent of study participants have self-identified "left-right confusion." This predisposes a portion of students to failure for emergency lane change exercises when voice commands are used.
What is Adaptive Reaction Time?
Adaptive Reaction Time analyzes the speed of the student's vehicle and determines when to activate the lights in order to give the student the reaction time set by the instructor. It automatically compensates for students who drive faster or slower ensuring everyone has the same reaction time.
Adaptive Reaction Time vs. Fixed Triggering Points
The ATSS uses a method we have named "Adaptive Reaction Time." With Adaptive Reaction Time the instructor sets the reaction time that all students are to have for the training evolution. The ATSS then ensures that all students get the same reaction time regardless of the speed their vehicle is traveling. For the first time in Emergency Vehicle Operation training instructors can now teach to a reaction time standard. By analyzing the speed of the student's vehicle, the ATSS automatically adjusts when the lights change to ensure that each student is presented with the same reaction time ensuring unmatched consistency of training.
Fixed Point Triggering
With fixed point triggering methods the student will take 1.461 seconds to react and clear the 75-foot course at 35-MPH. If the student speeds up to 37-MPH then their available reaction time drops to 1.382 seconds; however, if they slow down just 3-MPH they are able to have 1.598 seconds to react. Additionally, because the student can see exactly where the signal point is, they are able to anticipate a command and have a 50/50 chance of choosing the correct lane.
Adaptive Reaction Time
At 35 MPH the ATSS will give the student 1.5 seconds to react and clear the 75-foot course. If the student speeds up to 37-MPH the ATSS automatically compensates for the extra speed and gives the student a 1.5 second reaction time. If the student slows down to 32-MPH the ATSS will again compensate and provide the student with a 1.5 second reaction time. The infrared beam that gives the ATSS vehicle position data is set outside the exercise area and therefore does not correspond to when the lights will trigger. Because of this configuration students cannot use these sensors as a reference point to anticipate the lights. This ensures that students must react to the lights rather than anticipate at a fixed reference point.
How does my training program benefit from Adaptive Reaction Time
The ATSS' Adaptive Reaction Time means that your organization can train to a reaction time standard, rather than an "about-35-MPH-at-this-cone" standard. The instructor sets the desired reaction time and then the ATSS handles all the calculations automatically. No input is needed from instructors after initial setup. This exclusive design feature ensures unmatched consistency of training.
Adaptive Reaction Time also completely eliminates the ability for students to cheat by slowing down to get more reaction time. It also eliminates failures induced by overzealous students who go too fast. The use of Adaptive Reaction Time can also help your instructors show how speed can quickly overcome driver talent. Having students go through the same exercise at ever increasing speeds, but with the same reaction time can show the hazards of driving beyond one's capability.
One of the most important features of the ATSS is its ability to eliminate accusations of instructor bias from students who are unable to meet your department's performance standards. Because the system is fully automated, the student's success or failure lies solely with them.
No other system on the market utilizes Adaptive Reaction Time.