A Theory of Visual Control of Braking Based on Information about Time-to-Collision
Abstract
A theory is presented of how a driver might visually control his braking. A mathematical analysis of the changing optic array at the driver's eye indicates that the simplest type of visual information, which would be sufficient for controlling braking and would also be likely to be easily picked up by the driver, is information about time-to-collision, rather than information about distance, speed, or acceleration/deceleration. It is shown how the driver could, in principle, use visual information about time-to-collision in registering when he is on a collision course, in judging when to start braking, and in controlling his ongoing braking. Implications of the theory for safe speeds and safe following distances are discussed, taking into account visual angular velocity detection thresholds, and some suggestions are made as to how safety on the roads might be improved.
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The ambient optical flow field contains an optical variable relating the optical expansion of the water's surface one-to-one to the time remaining before contact.
“this optical flow field contains, among other things, an optical variable that relates the optical expansion of the water's surface one-to-one to the time remaining before the gannet contacts the surface.”
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- Authors
- Lee, D. N.
- Affiliations
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Lee, David N
- Venue
- Perception
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1976-12
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 437-459
- ISSN
- 0301-0066 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-4233
- OpenAlex
- W2016151598
- Cited by
- 2,094
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 48 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 78 · 2022: 66 · 2021: 90 · 2020: 68 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 69 · 2017: 68 · 2016: 44 · 2015: 70 · 2014: 64 · 2013: 62 · 2012: 64
- FWCI
- 136.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Perception (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality › Traffic and Road Safety
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Human-Automation Interaction and Safety
- Keywords
- time-to-collision, optic array, collision avoidance, safe following distance, safe speed, road safety, visual processing
- MeSH terms
- Automobile Driving, Humans, Mathematics, Safety, Time Factors, Visual Perception
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