Immediate and Delayed Recall of Simulated L2 Motor Vehicle Accident Details

Litigation efforts commonly rely on testimony from eyewitnesses and involved parties, often using responses collected weeks to years after the incident. However, delaying memory recall is generally associated with reduced completeness and increased variability in reported information. This study examined immediate and delayed recall of details among 28 licensed drivers who participated in a virtual reality driving simulation involving an imminent head-on sideswipe collision while supervising an SAE Level 2 driving automation system. Participants provided event reports immediately following the simulation, and again at a 2-month follow-up. Results indicated a decline in recall accuracy over time for vehicle speeds and their evasive performance. Participants consistently overestimated time-to-collision. Trial duration estimates were significantly underestimated during immediate recall and did not differ significantly during follow-up. Overall, these findings suggest that immediate reports were more accurate than delayed reports.