Reducing Contrast Makes Speeds in a Video-Based Driving Simulator Harder to Discriminate as Well as Making Them Appear Slower

We investigated the effect of reducing image contrast on speed perception using a video-based driving simulator in which participants viewed pairs of scenes and were asked to judge whether the second scene was faster or slower than the first scene. We predicted two outcomes: (i) that vehicle speeds would become harder to discriminate, and (ii) that vehicle speeds would appear slower. There is previous evidence confirming the latter prediction in a less realistic computer-based driving simulation, but none demonstrating the former. Our results supported both predictions, each of which may have traffic-safety implications when reduced-contrast conditions are experienced in real life, such as with fog or when the driver has cataracts.