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Dr. Nora Reinolsmann is a researcher at the Transportation Research Institute (IMOB) in Belgium. She received the Doctor of Transportation Sciences degree in 2020 from Hasselt University. Dr. Reinolsmann is specialized in traffic safety, traffic psychology and road user behavior. Her research activities focus on the human factor aspect and the improvement of road infrastructure through ergonomic (‘user-centered’) principles. Dr. Reinolsmann was also affiliated with the Qatar Transportation and Traffic Safety Center at Qatar University where she has conducted several driving simulator studies in 2018-2019. She has obtained the M.Sc. degree in Transportation Sciences (specialization Traffic Safety) from Hasselt University in 2017.
Driving simulators are useful and effective tools for conducting studies in the field of traffic safety. Simulation sickness (SS) and the sense of presence (SP) are two well-known factors that could affect the results of the driving simulator experiments. This study investigated the relationship between SP and SS in a medium-fidelity driving simulator. Additionally, the impact of the road environment (urban arterials or rural expressways) on these subscales was investigated. Data was collected by means of self-reported questionnaires, which were conducted after the participants have driven the simulation scenarios in a fixed-base medium-fidelity driving simulator. A total of 125 drivers participated in this study. Results showed that females reported significantly higher SS scores than males. An increasing trend in the SS was observed with the increase of age. Importantly, designing buildings that replicate a real-world environment could increase SP and decrease SS. Moreover, designing high quality and resolution scenarios could also increase SP, thus decreasing the severity of SS symptoms. The results of this study can help researchers using medium-fidelity driving simulators to know the influencing factors for each subscale of SP on SS. Adjustments in the driving simulator and scenario settings as well as additional training exercises for higher speed scenarios can be beneficial in reducing the severity of SS.
Mustafa Almallah; Qinaat Hussain; Nora Reinolsmann; Wael K.M. Alhajyaseen. Driving simulation sickness and the sense of presence: Correlation and contributing factors. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 2021, 78, 180 -193.
AMA StyleMustafa Almallah, Qinaat Hussain, Nora Reinolsmann, Wael K.M. Alhajyaseen. Driving simulation sickness and the sense of presence: Correlation and contributing factors. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. 2021; 78 ():180-193.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMustafa Almallah; Qinaat Hussain; Nora Reinolsmann; Wael K.M. Alhajyaseen. 2021. "Driving simulation sickness and the sense of presence: Correlation and contributing factors." Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 78, no. : 180-193.
A safe headway to the lead vehicle is important to reduce conflicts with merging vehicles from highway on-ramps. Previous research has outlined the advantage of gap metering strategies to yield sufficient space to merging vehicles and improve highway capacity during peak hours. However, prevailing gap metering systems fail to indicate the minimum required gap and leave it to the drivers’ judgment to adjust their headway. This paper proposes a new Active Gap Metering (AGM) signalization that helps outer lane drivers to adjust their headway to the lead vehicle when approaching highway ramps with incoming vehicles. This AGM signalization represents a combination of pavement markings and an innovative Variable Message Sign (VMS). The AGM system was tested alone and in combination with additional variable speed limits (VSL) in distinct environments of the Doha Expressway in the State of Qatar using a driving simulator. The driving behavior of 64 drivers was analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. The results showed that the AGM effectively influenced the drivers’ behavior on the right stream lane. Drivers did gradually increase the distance to the lead vehicle, which resulted in optimal headways to merging on-ramp vehicles. Most importantly, the minimum time-to-collision (TTCmin) to the merging vehicle was increased by an additional 1–1.5 s as compared to no treatment. The proposed AGM signalization can, therefore, be considered by policymakers to influence drivers’ headways at critical merging sections.
Nora Reinolsmann; Wael Alhajyaseen; Tom Brijs; Ali Pirdavani; Qinaat Hussain; Kris Brijs. Investigating the impact of a novel active gap metering signalization strategy on driver behavior at highway merging sections. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 2021, 78, 42 -57.
AMA StyleNora Reinolsmann, Wael Alhajyaseen, Tom Brijs, Ali Pirdavani, Qinaat Hussain, Kris Brijs. Investigating the impact of a novel active gap metering signalization strategy on driver behavior at highway merging sections. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. 2021; 78 ():42-57.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNora Reinolsmann; Wael Alhajyaseen; Tom Brijs; Ali Pirdavani; Qinaat Hussain; Kris Brijs. 2021. "Investigating the impact of a novel active gap metering signalization strategy on driver behavior at highway merging sections." Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 78, no. : 42-57.
Driving anger and aggressive driving are main contributors to crashes, especially among young males. Trait driving anger is context-specific and unique from other forms of anger. It is necessary to understand the mechanisms of trait driving anger to develop targeted interventions. Although literature conceptually distinguished reactive and proactive aggression, this distinction is uncommon in driving research. Similar, cognitive biases related to driving anger, measured by a combination of explicit and implicit measures, received little attention. This pilot study related explicit and implicit measures associated with reactive and proactive aggression to trait driving anger, while considering age. The sample consisted of 42 male drivers. The implicit measures included a self-aggression association (i.e., Single-Target Implicit Association Test) and an attentional aggression bias (i.e., Emotional Stroop Task). Reactive aggression related positively with trait driving anger. Moreover, a self-aggression association negatively related to trait driving anger. Finally, an interaction effect for age suggested that only in young male drivers, higher proactive aggression related to lower trait driving anger. These preliminary results motivate further attention to the combination of explicit and implicit measures related to reactive and proactive aggression in trait driving anger research.
Veerle Ross; Nora Reinolsmann; Jill Lobbestael; Chantal Timmermans; Tom Brijs; Wael Alhajyaseen; Kris Brijs. Relating Reactive and Proactive Aggression to Trait Driving Anger in Young and Adult Males: A Pilot Study Using Explicit and Implicit Measures. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1850 .
AMA StyleVeerle Ross, Nora Reinolsmann, Jill Lobbestael, Chantal Timmermans, Tom Brijs, Wael Alhajyaseen, Kris Brijs. Relating Reactive and Proactive Aggression to Trait Driving Anger in Young and Adult Males: A Pilot Study Using Explicit and Implicit Measures. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (4):1850.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVeerle Ross; Nora Reinolsmann; Jill Lobbestael; Chantal Timmermans; Tom Brijs; Wael Alhajyaseen; Kris Brijs. 2021. "Relating Reactive and Proactive Aggression to Trait Driving Anger in Young and Adult Males: A Pilot Study Using Explicit and Implicit Measures." Sustainability 13, no. 4: 1850.
Transition zones are a road section where posted speed drops from higher to lower limits. Due to the sudden changes in posted speed limits and road environment, drivers usually do not adapt to the posted speed limits and underestimate their traveling speed. Previous studies have highlighted that crash rates are usually higher in these sections. This study aims at improving the safety at transition zones by introducing perceptual measures that are tested using a driving simulator. The proposed measures are speed limit pavement markings with a gradual increase of brightness and/or size that were placed at transition zones in simulation scenarios replicating the real-world environment of the Doha Expressway in Qatar. These innovative measures aim to produce the impression of increased speed that could stimulate drivers to better adapt speed limits. The driving behavior of 81 drivers possessing a valid Qatari driving license was recorded with a driving simulator interfaced with STISIM Drive® 3. Results showed that pavement markings combining size and brightness manipulations were the most effective treatment, keeping drivers' traveling speed significantly below the traveling speed recorded in the untreated control condition. In this regard, the maximum mean speed reductions of 5.3 km/h and 4.6 km/h were observed for this treatment at the first transition (120 to 100 km/h) and second transition (100 to 80 km/h) zones, respectively. Regarding the variations in drivers' lateral position, the results showed that the proposed pavement markings did not negatively influence drivers' lateral control on the road as the maximum observed standard deviation of lateral position was around 0.065 m. This study shows that the proposed pavement markings are recommended for improving the speed adaptation of drivers in the transition zones.
Qinaat Hussain; Wael K.M. Alhajyaseen; Nora Reinolsmann; Kris Brijs; Ali Pirdavani; Geert Wets; Tom Brijs. Optical pavement treatments and their impact on speed and lateral position at transition zones: A driving simulator study. Accident Analysis & Prevention 2020, 150, 105916 .
AMA StyleQinaat Hussain, Wael K.M. Alhajyaseen, Nora Reinolsmann, Kris Brijs, Ali Pirdavani, Geert Wets, Tom Brijs. Optical pavement treatments and their impact on speed and lateral position at transition zones: A driving simulator study. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2020; 150 ():105916.
Chicago/Turabian StyleQinaat Hussain; Wael K.M. Alhajyaseen; Nora Reinolsmann; Kris Brijs; Ali Pirdavani; Geert Wets; Tom Brijs. 2020. "Optical pavement treatments and their impact on speed and lateral position at transition zones: A driving simulator study." Accident Analysis & Prevention 150, no. : 105916.
Advance Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) inform drivers about traffic incidences and expected travel times/ delays en-route. An online computer study was conducted in Qatar to investigate drivers’ willingness to divert to an alternative route given changes in expected travel conditions. Respondents’ route choices were queried after exposure for 6 seconds to varying display strategies. The results from a binary logistic regression and a stated preference survey showed that delay times and displayed colors on a Graphical Route Information Panel (GRIP) effectively influence drivers to take the alternative route, while total travel times were preferred for Variable Message Signs (VMS).
Nora Reinolsmann; Wael Alhajyaseen; Tom Brijs; Ali Pirdavani; Veerle Ross; Qinaat Hussain; Kris Brijs. Dynamic travel information strategies in advance traveler information systems and their effect on route choices along highways. Procedia Computer Science 2020, 170, 289 -296.
AMA StyleNora Reinolsmann, Wael Alhajyaseen, Tom Brijs, Ali Pirdavani, Veerle Ross, Qinaat Hussain, Kris Brijs. Dynamic travel information strategies in advance traveler information systems and their effect on route choices along highways. Procedia Computer Science. 2020; 170 ():289-296.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNora Reinolsmann; Wael Alhajyaseen; Tom Brijs; Ali Pirdavani; Veerle Ross; Qinaat Hussain; Kris Brijs. 2020. "Dynamic travel information strategies in advance traveler information systems and their effect on route choices along highways." Procedia Computer Science 170, no. : 289-296.
Harsh decelerations and abrupt lane changes of drivers on the outer expressway lane in response to merging platoon vehicles from on-ramps increase the crash- and congestion risk on expressways. Several merge control approaches are worldwide implemented. However, there is a gap in knowledge which driving behaviors determine whether a particular merge control approach is best for a rural or urban expressway. This study tests a number of dynamic merge control strategies, such as lane control signalization (eventually combined with variable speed limits (VSL), on a 4-lane urban and rural expressway to measure the behavioral responses of drivers being directly exposed to platoon merging from on-ramps. Subsequently, a comparison was made with the driving behaviors in response to static merge control (e.g. merge warning signs or road marking treatment). The driving behavior of 66 drivers from the State of Qatar was recorded in a driving simulator and analyzed by means of a within-subject repeated measures analysis with univariate statistics. The results suggest that dynamic merge control is more effective for rural expressways considering the higher traffic speeds. The earlier lane changes contributed to smooth maneuvers and gradual speed reductions on the rural expressway and improved safe driving behavior as compared to static merge control. In contrast, the dynamic merge control did not deliver additional safety benefits on urban expressways and can be substituted by a low-cost static merge control approach. Policymakers aiming to improve traffic safety at expressway merging sections are advised to take the speed characteristics of the local expressway into account before implementing dynamic merge control.
Nora Reinolsmann; Wael Alhajyaseen; Tom Brijs; Ali Pirdavani; Qinaat Hussain; Kris Brijs. Investigating the impact of dynamic merge control strategies on driving behavior on rural and urban expressways – A driving simulator study. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 2019, 65, 469 -484.
AMA StyleNora Reinolsmann, Wael Alhajyaseen, Tom Brijs, Ali Pirdavani, Qinaat Hussain, Kris Brijs. Investigating the impact of dynamic merge control strategies on driving behavior on rural and urban expressways – A driving simulator study. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. 2019; 65 ():469-484.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNora Reinolsmann; Wael Alhajyaseen; Tom Brijs; Ali Pirdavani; Qinaat Hussain; Kris Brijs. 2019. "Investigating the impact of dynamic merge control strategies on driving behavior on rural and urban expressways – A driving simulator study." Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 65, no. : 469-484.
Graphical route information panels (GRIPs) are an alternative to conventional text-based variable message signs to address different traveler information needs. Since drivers are traveling at higher speeds on the motorways, they have to quickly comprehend and correctly respond to the graphical information displayed on a GRIP. Design elements like the shape of the route map, the meaning of colors indicating congestion and the font sizes of main and minor destinations along the route can influence the comprehension times of drivers. In this study, GRIPs with two purposes (congestion information and event destination information) were presented to 49 Belgian drivers in a computer-based task. All GRIPs were presented on an abstract and naturalistic motorway network shape. Half of the GRIPs were presented with congestion-related colors (red-only or red–orange), and the other half were presented with additional destinations being displayed in different or same font sizes to facilitate drivers visual search on the GRIP. Firstly, travel information statements were presented to the participant, followed by a displayed GRIP layout. Afterward, the participant had to indicate as fast as possible whether the subsequently shown GRIP confirmed the same travel statement. The subjects’ response accuracy and response times were recorded to assess drivers’ quick comprehension of the graphical content. The results of a repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that for GRIP displaying congestion, the red-color element (and not the map shape) significantly reduced drivers response times. A survey among participants also revealed a preference for two-color congestion information, if shown on an abstract map shape. An abstract map shape in combination with different font sizes for major and minor destinations improved drivers’ comprehension and response times to the GRIP, whereas different destination font sizes displayed on a naturalistic map had the contrary effect. The results highlight the importance of graphical design elements with respect to the information purpose.
Nora Reinolsmann; Wael Alhajyaseen; Tom Brijs; Veerle Ross; Chantal Timmermans; Ali Pirdavani; Qinaat Hussain; Kris Brijs. Investigating the Impacts of Graphical Route Information Panel Layouts on Drivers’ Comprehension and Response Time. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering 2019, 44, 8439 -8450.
AMA StyleNora Reinolsmann, Wael Alhajyaseen, Tom Brijs, Veerle Ross, Chantal Timmermans, Ali Pirdavani, Qinaat Hussain, Kris Brijs. Investigating the Impacts of Graphical Route Information Panel Layouts on Drivers’ Comprehension and Response Time. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering. 2019; 44 (10):8439-8450.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNora Reinolsmann; Wael Alhajyaseen; Tom Brijs; Veerle Ross; Chantal Timmermans; Ali Pirdavani; Qinaat Hussain; Kris Brijs. 2019. "Investigating the Impacts of Graphical Route Information Panel Layouts on Drivers’ Comprehension and Response Time." Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering 44, no. 10: 8439-8450.
Correctly estimating the travelling speed is essential for safety on the roads to ensure safer interactions with other drivers and to avoid violations of traffic regulations. Therefore, it is important to create understanding of the pattern of speed perception of drivers and the influencing factors. This study invited 40 drivers to participate in a field experiment measuring speed perception. The experiment was conducted using a test car equipped with high fidelity Global Positioning System (GPS). Data were collected for two settings (hidden versus revealed speedometer) and four requested speeds (50, 70, 80 and 100 km/h). An analysis of variance test was conducted along with separate t-tests and cumulative distributions for each speed independently. The results clearly show that there were significant differences in perceived speed between a hidden and revealed speedometer, between the first and second trial and among all the requested speeds. Participants drove significantly faster for all the requested speeds in the hidden speedometer setting. This shows that participants underestimated their speed. In case of complex situations, drivers may not be able to rely on speedometers and may cause a violation of law, unintentionally. Therefore, it is recommended to jurisdictions to consider these results while making decisions regarding speed management.
Qinaat Hussain; Wael K. M. Alhajyaseen; Kris Brijs; Ali Pirdavani; Nora Reinolsmann; Tom Brijs. Drivers’ estimation of their travelling speed: a study on an expressway and a local road. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion 2019, 26, 216 -224.
AMA StyleQinaat Hussain, Wael K. M. Alhajyaseen, Kris Brijs, Ali Pirdavani, Nora Reinolsmann, Tom Brijs. Drivers’ estimation of their travelling speed: a study on an expressway and a local road. International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion. 2019; 26 (3):216-224.
Chicago/Turabian StyleQinaat Hussain; Wael K. M. Alhajyaseen; Kris Brijs; Ali Pirdavani; Nora Reinolsmann; Tom Brijs. 2019. "Drivers’ estimation of their travelling speed: a study on an expressway and a local road." International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion 26, no. 3: 216-224.
Professional drivers play a significant role within the traffic system of the State of Qatar. With developing infrastructure, the need for professional drivers is growing. However, knowledge is lacking about their perception of traffic safety. Therefore, this study investigates the personal acceptance of risky driving and suggested traffic laws among this specific group of drivers, in order to create understanding about their likelihood to commit certain risky driving behaviors and their resistance to the implementation of certain traffic laws. The aim of this study is to establish which personal attributes of professional drivers in Qatar could influence a high likelihood to commit risky driving behaviors, estimating which specific groups of professional drivers impose the highest risk to violate certain traffic laws. Results indicate that transportation mode, origin and years of driving experience are all personal attributes that have a significant impact on the professional driver's risk to commit risky driving behaviors and their opposition to the implementation of related traffic laws. Distressing results have been found for the high likelihood to violate speed in school zones and the high risk to be distracted by any type of phone use while driving, suggesting the need to put emphasize on these safety hazards during the training programs of professional drivers at professional driving schools in the State of Qatar.
Chantal Timmermans; Wael Alhajyaseen; Nora Reinolsmann; Hideki Nakamura; Kazufumi Suzuki. Traffic safety culture of professional drivers in the State of Qatar. IATSS Research 2019, 43, 286 -296.
AMA StyleChantal Timmermans, Wael Alhajyaseen, Nora Reinolsmann, Hideki Nakamura, Kazufumi Suzuki. Traffic safety culture of professional drivers in the State of Qatar. IATSS Research. 2019; 43 (4):286-296.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChantal Timmermans; Wael Alhajyaseen; Nora Reinolsmann; Hideki Nakamura; Kazufumi Suzuki. 2019. "Traffic safety culture of professional drivers in the State of Qatar." IATSS Research 43, no. 4: 286-296.
Driving simulators have become an effective research tool in traffic safety, but the validity of results obtained in simulated environments remains a debated issue of high importance. The objective of this study is to validate a fixed-base driving simulator for speed perception and actual speed and to support its application in traffic safety studies. The study consisted of two experiments to test the external and subjective validity of the driving simulator in absolute and relative terms. External validity was framed into two parts i.e. for speed perception and actual speed. In the first part, the external validity was assessed based on the speed perception observations from forty volunteers that participated in the study. Speed estimations for four different requested speeds (50, 70, 80 and 100 kph) were recorded under two conditions: speedometer hidden and speedometer revealed. In the second part, the external validity was assessed based on the comparison of actual speed observations from field and simulator. The subjective validity of the simulator setting was assessed through a questionnaire. Results from both experiments showed correspondence of the driving behavior between the simulator and real-world settings. In general, the profiles for estimated speed and actual speed followed a significantly similar tendency and indicated relative validity in both experiments. Moreover, external absolute validity for speed perception was established on all the requested speeds with speedometer hidden while only for the requested speed of 80 kph with speedometer revealed. Participants’ evaluation of the quality and performance of the driving simulator supported the subjective validity of the simulator setting. The fixed-base driving simulator used in this study can be considered as a useful tool for research on actual speed and speed perception.
Qinaat Hussain; Wael K.M. Alhajyaseen; Ali Pirdavani; Nora Reinolsmann; Kris Brijs; Tom Brijs. Speed perception and actual speed in a driving simulator and real-world: A validation study. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 2019, 62, 637 -650.
AMA StyleQinaat Hussain, Wael K.M. Alhajyaseen, Ali Pirdavani, Nora Reinolsmann, Kris Brijs, Tom Brijs. Speed perception and actual speed in a driving simulator and real-world: A validation study. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour. 2019; 62 ():637-650.
Chicago/Turabian StyleQinaat Hussain; Wael K.M. Alhajyaseen; Ali Pirdavani; Nora Reinolsmann; Kris Brijs; Tom Brijs. 2019. "Speed perception and actual speed in a driving simulator and real-world: A validation study." Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour 62, no. : 637-650.
Nora Reinolsmann. Variable Message Sign strategies for congestion warning on motorways – a driving simulator study. 2018, 1 .
AMA StyleNora Reinolsmann. Variable Message Sign strategies for congestion warning on motorways – a driving simulator study. . 2018; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNora Reinolsmann. 2018. "Variable Message Sign strategies for congestion warning on motorways – a driving simulator study." , no. : 1.