Research on the Differences of Risk Perception Ability Between Novice and Experienced Drivers

Abstract

Driving safety has been an important issue of common concern among countries around the world and novice drivers continue to have the high fatality rate. Researches have shown that driver’s risk perception plays a leading role in driving safety. This research establishes a driver’s risk perception ability evaluation method including subjective cognition, risk perception and risk response to test and evaluate the differences in risk perception ability between experienced and novice drivers from both subjective and objective perspectives. Forty participants (20 novice drivers and 20 experienced driers) were asked to drive through six dangerous scenarios (both visible and hidden hazards were included) connecting to an eye tracking system and were requested to identify hazardous situations. The results indicated that novice drivers performed worse in subjective cognition, risk perception and risk response. There were significant experience differences in risk perception ability. The results could provide guidance for the further development of driving assistance system.