Psychological Response not Physiological Response Predicts Aggression behind the Wheel during Cold Stress

Abstract

Cold environments alter human behavior and limit performance through cold stress. Driving is commonly performed during cold winter months when vehicle cabin temperatures induce short-term cold stress. Skin temperature was experimentally manipulated to study the impact of cold stress on driving behavior. Forty-four participants drove a high-fidelity driving simulator during a thermal neutral or cooled condition. Results showed that participants who had higher subjective ratings of cold followed lead vehicles closer and applied brakes harder. Participants in the cold condition followed the lead car 22% (0.82 seconds) closer and applied the brakes 7% harder when presented with a stop sign during a following task. This behavior was predicted by subjective sensation and not by physiological response to cold. The current results suggest that drivers exposed to cold environmental conditions are more likely to display aggressive driving behavior.