Perceptions of walking surface slipperiness under realistic conditions, utilizing a slipperiness rating scale

Abstract

People's perceptions of walking surface Slipperiness may be quite different from the actual traction of the surface as measured by the coefficient of friction (COF). Previous studies have shown that subjects' perceptions of walking surface Slipperiness can be measured and compared to the COF of the surface, but those previous studies have taken place in the laboratory. This study was designed to test subjects' perceptions in conditions closer to real life. Subjects were exposed to 10 outdoor walking surfaces under both dry and wet conditions, and were asked to look at and then walk over each surface under each condition. The subjects then rated their perceptions of the Slipperiness of the walking surface for each condition, and the results were compared to each other and to the COF of each surface. The results suggest that subjects tended to make predictions about the Slipperiness of the walking surfaces, and verified these expectations as they crossed them. Perceived Slipperiness and measurements of a surface's traction were in closest agreement when subjects walked across the surface when wet.