The Effectiveness of an Intelligent Speed Assistance System with Real-Time Speeding Interventions for Truck Drivers: A Belgian Simulator Study

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In this paper, volunteers were recruited to conduct driving simulation experiments in different scenarios and multi-stage speed intervention modes, and real-time information of driving status was collected. By analyzing the statistical characteristics of the average speed, the highest speed, the lowest speed, the percentage of distance exceeding the speed limit by 5% and the percentage of distance below the speed limit of the multilevel speed intervention mode in a certain scenario, we find out in which scenario the intelligent speed assist system is effective, and the research results have certain significance for the application of intelligent speed assist system. The problems in the paper are as follows:

1. Compared with the second speed intervention model, drivers in the third speed intervention model have higher sleepiness, and the reaction time of drivers in this state is longer. However, the paper sets a higher speed threshold, which has an impact on driving safety, and it is suggested to consider the setting of this speed threshold.

2. According to the description of the paper, the states of drivers in driving mode 2 and driving mode 3 are basically the same, but fatigue driving does exist in reality, so it is suggested to consider the third group of experiments when drivers are sleepy.

3.The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of intelligent speed assistance system on speed behavior, and to consider adding a driving mode with high sleepiness and no speed intervention as the control group of driving mode 3, so as to analyze the effectiveness of this assistance system when drivers are high sleepiness.

Author Response

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Reviewer 2 Report

This study examined the effectiveness of an intelligent speed assistance system for truck drivers in a simulated-driving scenario for four different road sections. A total of 34 participants in this study performed three different types of driving scenarios namely, baseline, intervention, and intervention plus sleepiness. The findings would be worth for the development of advanced driver assistance systems in future research. However, there are some comments regarding the article.

The following comments are provided for the authors’ reference.

1.      [Section 3.1] This section will be better moved into section 2.1. In addition, please add the approval number from Institutional Review Board (IRB).

2.      [Figure 1a] Please highlight the device name in the picture.

3.      [Section 2.3] How do the authors induce the sleepiness of participants in the experiment? It should be explained clearly

4.      [Section 2.4] It is stated that the driving duration lasted 25 min. Is it enough to induce sleepiness?

5.      [Page 7 line 225] Please summarize the characteristics of drivers related to driving per week and different transport types in a table.

6.      [Discussion] Please more elaborate on the findings of this study compared with existing studies in this section. Limitations and future work need to be more elaborate.

Author Response

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Reviewer 3 Report

In the paper Authors bring up the topic of the influence of speed exceeding on the road safety, what is very important, of course. Authors proposed the assistance system that is dedicated to the trucks. The investigated features of this system are the speeding and the sleepiness of the driver. The Authors decided to carry out their research using the truck driving simulator. For this purpose they do a drives with 3 different levels of assist system settings. This levels were used for driving in different road conditions in form of roads defined by the different speed limits. Because the aim was to check what is the influence of the assisting system scenario on the driver behavior in terms of speed limits respect Authors ask 34 persons, in many cases the professional truck drivers, to do a drives using their simulator. Collected data were statistically processed and based on obtained results the conclusions were formed.

In my opinion the presented paper is rather the short report of some action performed in the EU project by the Authors. It is really general description without details. For example it is interesting what was a distribution of the average speed, maximum speed and minimum speed for the particular drivers. However, the Authors indicates the significant influence of the ISA on the driver behavior in terms of speed limits respecting to the rural kind of roads in the same time they explain that in Belgium for this kind of roads there are different speed limits for cars and trucks what is not indicated on the road sights for the second one. For the motorways, practically, there was no difference with and without the ISA, because the speed limits for the cars and trucks is the same.

In my opinion the ISA may be useful tool for the not experienced drives, and the carried out test proves that good driver training and knowledge of traffic regulations are the key for the safe driving and the same safe driver behavior. Moreover I think that the test designed by the Authors is not representative in terms of the driving of the trucks. The driving of 24 km and 15 min compare to the distance and time of driving for professional driver is not representative. The key question is why the drivers may try to exceed the speed limits. In many cases it is caused by the time of cargo delivering what has also the influence on the driver behavior, if no crucial.

I think that the Authors should more detailed describe the collected data and the method of its analysis. Moreover in the tables with the results Authors for the speed limits uses the units km/h while for other speeds m/s. I think all of the speeds should be expressed using the same unit. I'm also not sure what exactly means Inteligent Speed Asistance compare to the systems used in vehicles now.

Author Response

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Reviewer 4 Report

I acknowledge the reception of the manuscript entitled:  The effectiveness of an intelligent speed assistance system with 2 real-time speeding interventions for truck drivers: a Belgian 3 simulator study.

The manuscript is well conceptualized, creatively utilizes data collected through a simulator to achieve the study objectives. Appropriate methods and techniques are used for analysis and presentation of findings. However, I have some comments that I found useful for the authors

Line 46: From 2022 onwards, the European Commission mandates ISA for all new vehicles (including trucks) from 2022 onwards [7]. Different technologies are used to determine speed limits. I suggest rewording this text. The term "onwards" seems to be repeated.

What is the research gap this study wants to address?

Line 98: 2.1. Data collection instruments

This study used a DriveSimSolutions TruckSim driving simulator (see Figure 1a). The simulator replicates the seating position of a truck and uses authentic truck parts like the steering wheel and turn indicator… My question is about the reliability of this data. It is known that individuals can adjust their behaviour (driving behaviour) if they are aware that they are being monitored. How do you ensure that drivers have not had their behaviours influenced?

Line 168: To investigate the effects of the ISA system, each driver performed three 15-minute drives during which data was collected. Considering that truck drivers drive for a long hours per day. Why do you consider 3X15minutes test enough to have conclusive data on truck drivers behaviour?

For what time of day or year has this experience been considered? We know that driving at night/day or in summer/winter can present quite different challenges.

What weather conditions has this experiment been considered for?

Line 276: Discussion

… First, an ISA system may be most effective in situations where speed limit signs contradict the enforced speed limit for trucks…The findings are not discussed in relation to existing literature. It is hard to validate these studies' findings.

My recommendation

 

Therefore, I would encourage publishing this paper, even though there are several issues. The paper might require significant improvement before it can be considered suitable for publication

Author Response

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Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The author completed the revision of the paper according to the review comments.

Reviewer 3 Report

I accept all Authors explanations and improvements introduced to the paper.