Improving drivers’ hazard perception in pedestrian-related situations based on a short simulator-based intervention

Abstract

Young drivers remain over-represented in road accident statistics and hazard perception is a likely source of a skills gap between younger and older drivers. The aim of this study was to examine whether a short hazard perception training intervention in a driving simulator enhances young drivers’ tactical hazard perception skills in pedestrian-related situations. The intervention combined error and instructional commentary training. Thirty young drivers were trained and compared to 30 untrained drivers based on their eye fixations and driving behaviour in potential visible and hidden hazard situations. The results showed that trained drivers responded to one of three hazards by decreasing speed, while untrained drivers did not. Additionally, trained drivers had lower self-assessed hazard perception skills after than before the training, suggesting that exposure to these critical situations and the opportunity to negotiate them increased their awareness of the limitations of their driving skills. The eye fixation analysis showed that trained drivers fixated on the hidden hazard locations more often, indicating that they had greater awareness of the situation than untrained drivers. The training intervention showed a positive effect in improving drivers’ approach speed and fixations in hidden hazard situations, which requires more advanced hazard perception skills. This training intervention can be further developed into a training module as an addition to existing conventional training in the classroom and on the road.