Abstract
This study examines the accuracy of judgements of relative distance of traffic sounds (car and lorry) compared with nonattributed sounds (white noise). Adults judged whether sounds were comparatively nearer or further away in both conditions when decibel levels were the same and when decibel levels differed. Results indicated that judgement of relative distance is generally difficult and that such judgements are not based on loudness alone, particularly for traffic sounds. More errors were made when decibel levels were the same, indicating a reluctance to rely on loudness as an indicator of distance. Also more errors were made for traffic sounds. It was suggested that nonauditory criteria may be used in interpreting sounds, possibly including past experience and visual imagery. Finally, the implications of the results for road safety are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ampofo-Boateng, K. and Thomson, J.A. (1991). Children's perception of safety and danger on the road. British Journal of Psychology, 82, 487–505.
Butler, R., Levy, E. and Neff, W. (1980). Apparent distance of sounds recorded in anechoic chambers. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 6, 745–750.
Coleman, P.D. (1963). An analysis of cues to auditory depth perception in free space, Psychological Bulletin, 60, 302–15.
Coleman, P.D. (1968). Dual role of frequency spectrum in determination of auditory distance. Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 44, 631–632.
Colovita, F.B. (1971). Human sensory dominance. Perception and Psychophysics, 16, 409–412.
David, S.S.J., Chapman, A.J., Foot, H.C. and Sheehy, N.P. (1986). Peripheral vision and child pedestrian accidents. British Journal of Psychology, 77, 433–450.
Demetre, J.D., Lee, D.N., Pitcairn, T.K., Grieve, R., Thomson, J.A. and Ampofo-Boateng, K. (1992). Errors in young children's decisions about traffic gaps: Experiments with roadside simulations. British Journal of Psychology, 83,189–202.
Hoffmann, E.R., Payne, A. and Prescott, S. (1980). Children's estimates of vehicle approach times. Human Factors, 22, 235–240.
Lee, D.N., Young, D.S. and McLaughlin, CM. (1984). A roadside simulation of road crossing for children. Ergonomics, 27, 1271–1281.
Massaro, D.W. and Warner, D.S. (1977). Dividing attention between auditory and visual perception. Perception and Psychophysics, 21, 569–574.
Mershon, D.H. and Bowers, J.N. (1979). Absolute and relative cues for the auditory perception of egocentric distance. Perception, 8, 311–322.
Middlebrooks, J.C. and Green, D.M. (1991). Annual Review of Psychology, 42, 135–59.
Morrongiello, B.A., Hewitt, K.L. and Gotowiec, A. (1991). Infants' discrimination of relative distance in the auditory modality: Approaching versus receding sound sources. Infant Behaviour and Development, 14, 187–208.
Posner, M.I., Nissan, J.M. and Klein, R. (1976). Visual dominance: An information processing account of its origins and significance. Psychological Review, 83, 157–171.
Sheehy, N.P. and Chapman, A.J. (1986). Accidents, perceptions of safety and danger on the road. British Journal of Psychology, 82, 487–505.
Strybel, T.Z. and Perrot, D.R. (1984). Discrimination of relative distance in the auditory modality: The success and failure of the loudness discrimination hypothesis. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 76, 318–20.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Barnecutt, P., Pfeffer, K. Auditory perception of relative distance of traffic sounds. Curr Psychol 17, 93–101 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-998-1023-6
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-998-1023-6