Investigating the effect of a visual search task for simulator-based driver training

Conference Paper (2013)
Author(s)

Peter Jan Van Leeuwen (TU Delft - Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control)

R. Happee (TU Delft - Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control)

J. C.F. Winter (TU Delft - Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control)

Research Group
Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control
Copyright
© 2013 P.M. van Leeuwen, R. Happee, J.C.F. de Winter
More Info
expand_more
Publication Year
2013
Language
English
Copyright
© 2013 P.M. van Leeuwen, R. Happee, J.C.F. de Winter
Research Group
Biomechatronics & Human-Machine Control
Pages (from-to)
425-431
ISBN (print)
9780615819723
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

Novice drivers tend to direct their gaze to the road ahead and not scan the environment properly. This study investigated the training effectiveness of a visual search task in a driving simulator, aimed at increasing young drivers' spread of visual search. Two groups of inexperienced drivers were instructed to drive as accurately as possible in the center of the right lane in a self-paced driving task of four 6-min sessions in a rural environment. While driving, one group performed a visual search task, consisting of detecting and fixating on visual stimuli in the peripheral area. The stimuli were purple dots that faded in slowly and disappeared when fixated by the participant. After training, both groups drove a transfer session in an urban environment, in which various hazardous situations occurred. Results showed that both groups improved their lane keeping performance, whereas the training group became more proficient in the visual search task. However, in the transfer session no group differences were detected. In conclusion, despite improvements in visual search performance during a relatively short training period, the visual search training did not detectibly influence the spread of visual search of novice drivers during a post training transfer session.

Files

065_vanleeuwen_0.pdf
(pdf | 0.328 Mb)
License info not available
065_da2013_poster.pdf
(pdf | 1.15 Mb)
License info not available