Visual anticipation of collisions in simulated situations: Effects of driving experience

Author(s): Mestre, D., Taramino, R.

Journal/Book: Trav Hum. 1995; 58: Service Des Periodiques, 12 Rue Jean de Beauvais, 75005 Paris, France. Univ France. 311-337.

Abstract: Little is known about the perception of another vehicle during self-motion. This situation occurs, for instance, when a car driver approaches an intersection with ongoing traffic. Previously, we have shown that the perception of the other car's trajectory depends both on global visual information, such as the optical flow field, and on local visual information, such as the optical motion of the moving object and the relative optical motion between the moving object and fixed elements in the environment. The present paper examines the environmental factors which contribute to perceptual judgments in relation to the level of driving experience. Three experiments simulated the curvilinear approach of a driver to an intersection at which another vehicle was arriving. Four factors were manipulated: the radius of curvature of the driver's trajectory, the presence or absence of a spatial reference (road sign near the intersection), the level of environment complexity (realistic of abstract environment and texture density) and the level of driving experience. Subjects' anticipations about whether the other vehicle would reach the intersection before or after their own vehicle were analysed in term of perceptual thresholds, response biases and, in the third experiment, reaction response Overall, the results show that a road sign near the intersection (a spatial reference point) improves judgments. However, judgments became increasingly difficult for small curve radii (sharp curves), where visual motion becomes ambiguous. Driving experience seems to induce better visual anticipations in intersection situations and more adequate selections of pertinent visual cues in complex environments. In the third experiment, we found that perceptual judgments were as accurate in non drivers as in experienced drivers, although experienced drivers tended to analyse the situation more quickly than non drivers. They also used local cues (such as a spatial reference) more efficiently with realistic scenes than with abstract ones.

Note: Article C Berthelon, Inrets, Dept Mecanismes Accidents, Chem Croix Blanche, F-13300 Salon de Provence, France

Keyword(s): driving experience; intersections; optical flow; simulations; visual anticipations; TIME-TO-COLLISION; VEHICLE GUIDANCE; CATCHING TASK; SELF-MOTION; INFORMATION; PERCEPTION; INTERSECTION; PERFORMANCE; LOCOMOTION; SYSTEMS

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