One of the most difficult problems in driver training is the challenge of exposing learner drivers to hazardous situations in a realistic but safe manner. While the introduction of hazard perception testing in the British driving test has substantially increased awareness of hazards among both learners and trainers, there are still limited opportunities for learner drivers to experience real hazards while actually driving, and there are questions about the value of learning to respond to hazards in a purely video-based task. A three-year project at the Accident Research Unit, University Nottingham, is exploring the possibility of using hazard-perception training in simulators owned by the British School of Motoring. One of the main aims of the current training intervention is to improve the visual search performance of novice drivers. This paper compares the typical visual search behaviour of drivers in the simulated hazardous scenarios with the behaviour of drivers in actual dangerous situations, and while watching videos of driving hazards. The results show that the typical patterns of attention-focusing in hazard situations occur in most simulated hazards and that they are particularly noticeable during the precursors to these hazards. Differences in visual behaviour among three types of hazard are explored and the time course of changes in visual behaviour is analysed. For the covering abstract see ITRD E0903020.
Samenvatting