A virtual reality instrument to raise drivers’ awareness on safer driving through road tunnels

Studies reveal that drivers’ behavior is the most significant factor in road accidents worldwide. Regarding tunnels, which are the most critical element of road infrastructure, despite the significant efforts that have been conducted toward the enhancement of drivers’ education all these years, studies illustrate that there are still serious deficiencies need to be tackled. To address this issue, this research endeavor develops a virtual reality tool based on the serious game idea in order to inform and educate potential users about the specific rules and behavioral patterns that should govern their safe driving when passing through tunnels. To do so, the appropriate behavioral patterns are determined using applicable norms and guidelines while the specific educational requirements are identified. Following that, the novel tool for training users is developed. The tool consists of a virtual reality gaming environment based on the notion of serious games that simulates driving through a tunnel from a first-person perspective. Various scenarios are developed within this environment based on the knowledge gaps identified in the literature, with the aim of assessing users’ knowledge as well as educating them when required. The developed tool was tried by more than 50 drivers, professional and non-professional during tool’s launch activities. In particular, drivers who had recently obtained a driver’s license confirmed that such a tool would be especially useful in the context of their training. The ultimate goal of this study is to provide an efficient tool in order to support both practitioners and authorities to significantly improve the safety level of road tunnels by emphasizing on the driving behavior, since this is considered the most crucial component of each tunnel system.