Car driving simulators and safety

The r esearch driving simulator software of Carnetsoft is increasingly being used by universities. Although most applications concern human factors research done by Psychology departments, recently is has also been applied more and more in studies of autonomous driving by engineering departments. Apart from measuring all kinds of behavioural data, the software also excels in the way driving modes can be enabled. There are various levels of automation that can be simulated. For example, full automation of both lateral control (steering) and longitudinal control (speed regulation) is one of the modes a researcher can choose from and that allows studies on full autonomous driving and its effects on attention and loss of control. Its also possible to to let the simulator car steer autonomously, and a human driver then controls speed via the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals. One of the most interesting parts is where the simulator controls speed and the human driver has to steer. In