Visual Attention Failures towards Vulnerable Road Users at Intersections: Results from On-road Studies

Abstract

Crash data indicate that attention misallocation is a major factor in crashes with vulnerable road users (VRUs) at intersections. However, the extent that drivers fail to scan for VRUs at intersections is unknown. This thesis investigates driver visual attention failures toward VRUs at intersections using an instrumented vehicle and eye-tracking equipment. First, analysis of data collected in an earlier on-road study is presented, which informed the design of the main experiment where 26 drivers (ages 35-54; 13 cyclists) made 18 different turns at downtown Toronto intersections, half of which were identified to be higher risk. Almost half of the turns had a visual attention failure; and most were towards cyclists. The failures were significantly more common at higher risk intersections and among non-cyclist drivers. Overall, prevalence of failures is alarming. Further research is needed to generalize these findings. The thesis also provides an overview of the countermeasures on cyclist safety.