A Naturalistic Study of Driver Attention and Response to Vulnerable Road Users

This naturalistic study investigates how drivers perceive and respond to vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, in real-world settings. Leveraging eye-tracking and biophysiological measurements like heart rate and skin response, the study aims to assess drivers’ visual attention patterns and stress levels as they encounter varying roadway contexts. By analyzing fixation points and environmental factors, the research addresses a common assumption in road design: that all visible pedestrians or cyclists are automatically noticed by drivers. This study’s findings will provide critical insights into the visual and cognitive demands drivers experience, contributing to safer roadway design and enhanced safety for non-motorized road users. Through this in-depth examination of driver behavior in diverse driving environments, the project supports the USDOT's Safe Systems approach to reducing pedestrian and cyclist fatalities. Outcomes will include a comprehensive dataset detailing driver attention and physiological responses, which can inform future road safety measures and design guidance. Additionally, by examining the influence of road context on driver workload and stress, the study aims to identify specific roadway characteristics that improve driver awareness of vulnerable users, paving the way for transportation policies that prioritize safe road user interactions.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $125000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348301

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Massachusetts, Amherst

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  130 Natural Resources Road
  Amherst, MA  United States  01003
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Connecticut, Storrs

  Connecticut Transportation Institute
  270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202
  Storrs, CT  United States  06269-5202
• Principal Investigators:

  Shirani, Niloufar

• Start Date: 20240901
• Expected Completion Date: 20250831
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program
• Subprogram: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Eye fixations; Safety; Vulnerable road users
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01935905
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: New England University Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348301
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Nov 5 2024 6:40AM