Dividing and Focussing Attention Hazards in Virtual Nottingham
Panos Konstantopoulos, Peter Chapman, David E. Crundall · Coventry University Open Collections (Coventry university) · 2012
Driving environment is complex and full of potential hazards. Safe driving depends on driver’s ability to monitor multiple sources. However, dividing attention across multiple potential hazards must give way to focussing upon one actual hazard when it occurs. Previous research has used the term Dividing and Focussing attention (DF) for these situations. Also, it has been stated that novice drivers find it more difficult to cope with DF hazards than experienced drivers. In order to further investigate this issue, we developed several simulated scenarios on which the driver needs to monitor two hazard precursors (e.g. two pedestrians on either side of the road). Eventually, one of these precursors turns into an actual hazard (e.g. one of the pedestrians walks into the road) on which the driver has to allocate attention and adjust driving behavior. A motion-based driving simulator was used to conduct this study. Participants drove around virtual Nottingham, a high-definition database (LiDAR scan), while their driving behaviour was recorded. The results are discussed in relation to DF hazard behaviour, driving experience and gender.