This study used a video-based hazard perception dual task to compare the hazard perception skills of young drivers with middle aged, more experienced drivers and to determine if these skills can be improved with video-based road commentary training. The primary task required the participants todetect and verbally identify immediate hazard on video-based traffic scenarios while concurrently performing a secondary tracking task, simulating the steering of real driving. The results showed that the young drivers perceived fewer immediate hazards (mean = 75.2%, n = 24, 19 females) than the more experienced drivers (mean = 87.5%, n = 8, all females), and had longer hazard perception times, but performed better in the secondary tracking task. After the road commentary training, the mean percentage of hazardsdetected and identified by the young drivers improved to the level of theexperienced drivers and was significantly higher than that of an age and driving experience matched control group. The results will be discussed inthe context of psychological theories of hazard perception and in relation to road commentary as an evidence-based training intervention that seemsto improve many aspects of unsafe driving behaviour in young drivers. (A)Reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
Abstract