Decision-making in controlling development of driving/piloting situations

This paper introduces the presentation of several works carried out, in France, in the field of transport ergonomics and psychology. It aims at pointing out the original features of the French ergonomics approach of dynamic situations; these features are related to the method used (the analysis of an activity in actual working conditions is emphasized) and the specific definitions of several concepts such as the concepts of ‘work activity’, ‘task’ and ‘situation’. This introductory paper proposes to define these notions and to show their relevance to an analysis of driving activities.