Organisation: University of Nottingham, Accident Research Unit
Date uploaded: 16th May 2013
Date published/launched: November 2010
A typical hazard perception test presents participants with a single-screen view of the road ahead, but this study assessed how increasing this field of view would affect hazard perception abilities.
Drivers were shown video clips of driving situations containing at least one hazard either on a single screen, or with the addition of side views on two separate but adjacent screens that extended the perceived worldview to approximately 180 degrees.
Mirror information was also included to allow information from behind the vehicle to be attended. Participants were instructed to press a button as soon as they saw a hazard.
Key results and conclusions
Faster response times were found for hazards that appeared in the centre of the central screen, than in the periphery of the central screen, with hazards that first appeared in the lateral screens responded to slowest. Additionally, responses to the hazards were faster and were more likely to occur in the three, as compared to the single-screen condition. These results suggest that providing participants with a wider field of view, which includes more environmental cues that are related to the relevant hazardous situation, increases their ability to detect hazards.
The study suggests that improvements can be made for new hazard perception tests by including visual information from the side and from behind the driver.
For more information contact:
David Crundall
T: 0115 95 15297