Abstract
Motorcycle riders are an increasing group of road users. The intrinsic characteristics of powered two wheelers (PTW) allow them to be particularly flexible, both in urban and extra-urban environments. Nevertheless, crash statistics indicate that riders involved in road accidents are highly likely to suffer severe injuries, underlining the vulnerability of this group of road users. An element that can greatly affect the safety of PTW users is road design, as roads are usually designed for two-track vehicles (cars, buses, and lorries) and do not consider the needs of PTWs. Additionally, handling a motorcycle is quite different from driving a car; thus, the behaviour of riders is different to that of drivers. The aim of this paper is to compare how different road designs are perceived by riders and drivers and to preliminarily assess if riders’ behaviour and attention allocation are related. For the purpose of this research, an eye-tracking experiment was developed outdoors. Both drivers and riders travelled along a route comprising four different road designs and various road layouts, and the output was analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Although it was not possible to carry out a statistical analysis due to the limited number of participants, the results demonstrate that there is a difference in the gaze behaviour of drivers and riders, with the latter being far more focused on the left-hand side of the road and concentrating on defined elements of road design. Furthermore, the experiment demonstrated that a higher number of fixations is related to lower speeds. Finally, it was noted that both kinds of road users focus fairly well on the carriageway, leading to the conclusion that the indications given through road markings may be much more effective than vertical signalisation, which has rarely been observed.
Highlights
Accepted: 3 February 2022Powered two wheelers (PTWs) is a term used in the motorcycle industry to refer to motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters
The main objective of this study is to investigate whether this differBased on the research hypothesis that riders generally focus on different features of ence in the behaviour of drivers and riders of PTWs can be observed when they are travthe roadway than drivers, and that these features represent the risks they face within the elling on urban roads
The study is based on three research quesurban environment, the main objective of this study is to investigate whether this difference tions: in the behaviour of drivers and riders of PTWs can be observed when they are travelling are theTo elements of objective, urban road riders driversquestions: focus on most?
Summary
Accepted: 3 February 2022Powered two wheelers (PTWs) is a term used in the motorcycle industry to refer to motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters. The use of PTWs is very popular worldwide as they offer various advantages in terms of both personal and societal benefits They facilitate movement in congested urban environments, have a low initial cost, and consume less fuel, while requiring less space for parking. The high number of road accidents and poor safety statistics in many countries in Europe and around the world have highlighted the vulnerability of users of PTWs. Motorcycles have very different road performance characteristics than other motorised vehicles, and certain driving manoeuvres and road conditions pose a higher risk to riders than to car drivers. Motorcycles have very different road performance characteristics than other motorised vehicles, and certain driving manoeuvres and road conditions pose a higher risk to riders than to car drivers For all these reasons, riders of PTWs are considered a vulnerable group of road users. Considering the different controls of PTWs and cars, i.e., handlebars and lean angle for PTWs and the Published: 11 February 2022
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