Analyses of optic flow due to observer self-motion and analyses of the driver's gazing behavior during curve driving have suggested that the driverhas a tendency to look at a location close to the tangent point on the inside edge of the road. Psychophysical experiments have further demonstrated that this visual strategy can be partly explained as an optimization of information pick-up. The main objective of the present study was to investigate, in an interactive simulation context, if this perceptual strategy might be used to define a visual aid for curve driving. In the framework ofthe French ARCOS project (Research action for secure driving; www.arcos2004.com), the authors used a mini-simulator developed by INRETS (MSIS-CIR group) in collaboration with FAROS company, with two main original characteristics: (1) during curve driving, the tangent point can be calculated andinserted in the visual scene in real-time and (2) a real-time eye-recording system (EYELINK,ÂR SMI) allows the authors to evaluate the relationships between driving performance, gaze direction and the on-line presentationof the tangent point.
Samenvatting