Evaluation of the Hazard Perception Skills of Young Drivers

Abstract The aim of this study is to collate valuable information about the hazard perception process of (young) drivers and to evaluate their hazard perception skills. For this, an eye-tracking system was used to record the visual behaviour of drivers. In addition, a system based on a data logger and sensors was developed to capture and log the relevant data from the vehicle. By tapping into the vehiclés CAN bus (Controller Area Network), the needed parameters (e.g. position of accelerator, brake, and clutch pedal, as well as the steering wheel angle) were acquired through the reverse engineering of the vehicle′s CAN stream. All the captured data was subsequently synchronized and overlaid in the eye-tracking video. The complete system, i.e. data-logger and sensors, was consistently integrated into a driving school car. Due to the fact that all the data was captured in real-time whilst driving in traffic, every analysed situation can be considered unique and therefore cannot be compared to other situations. The results of the study revealed that only in 18% of the analysed situations, the hazard-perception skills were adequate or the same as they were taught at the driving school just a few months previous. Confronted by the videos of their lessons, the participating drivers adjusted their self-assessment scores for their driving skills downwards by around 25% on average.