An explorative study of visual scanning strategies of motorcyclists in urban environment

Abstract

Motivation --- To identify the objects/entities that determine the ontology of the motorcyclist's visual exploration activity, when driving in urban arterials. This ontology may form the basis for modelling the motorcyclists' visual activity in urban traffic as well as shed light in their interaction with automobile drivers. Research approach --- An explorative naturalistic field study was conducted, using the eye-tracking method, in which three experienced motorcyclists were asked to drive normally in a predefined route consisting of three road sections: motorway, avenue, local urban two way street. Immediately after driving an interview of each participant was conducted using the video assisted autoconfrontation method. Findings/Design --- The results suggest that (i) visual scan patterns of motorcyclists in urban arterials are much more vivid compared to those in motorway and extend well beyond formal signals, (ii) to minimize the cognitive effort of scanning motrocyclists seek for specific cues to monitor the future intentions of the other road users (iii) motorcyclists feel more vulnerable than car drivers, which leads them to recurring visual checks of the points of concern. Research limitations/Implications --- The results presented are based on a small sample of motorcyclists. In the near future we intend to extend our sample of participants and to perform formal protocol analysis of the a-posteriory, verbalizations. Originality/Value --- One of the very few naturalistic field studies of motorcyclist visual exploration activity in urban environment using eye tracking and autoconfrontation. Promises to offer fresh insights to safety measures for motorcyclists. Take away message --- Urban driving scan patterns of motorcyclists are very systematic and recurring across situations and participants. Fixation points are rarely directed to road elements as such. Fixations tend to be clearly directed at specific points (e.g. side mirrors, car wheels, rear edge of car roofs) that convey information about the other road users' state and intentions.