Benefits and challenges of multi-driver simulator studies

Lessons learned from a multi-driver simulator study are presented. The motivation of the use of a multi-driver simulator is outlined by describing the need to study driver-driver interaction and the so far existing insufficient methods. Therefore the multi-driver simulator MoSAIC `Modular and Scalable Application-platform for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) components´ at the German Aerospace Center will be presented. Its benefits and requirements in the conduction and analysis of obtained data are derived from theoretical analysis of recent work on multi-driver simulators as well as methodological requirements to study driver behaviour. Based on a study within the German national project UR:BAN (German acronym `Urbaner Raum: Benutzergerechte Assistenzsysteme und Netzmanagement´) to evaluate the impact of cooperative ITS on non-equipped drivers, further lessons learned are collected. Driving parameters are operationalised to evaluate the safety criticality as well as the overall acceptance of the equipped driver´s behaviour from the perspective of non-equipped naïve drivers. However, main focus is on non-equipped drivers´ behavioural changes in regard to an imitation of the efficient driving behaviour of an equipped driver. Parameters measuring not only individual behavioural adaptation, but also behavioural adaptation of a platoon of drivers are presented. Thus, a step towards a methodology for studies with multi-driver simulators, especially for the data analysis, is made.