Young drivers’ perception of hazards: Variation with experience and day versus night
Young novice drivers have a relatively high crash risk for several years following initial licensing, and while all drivers are at greater risk at night, the night-time increase is greater for inexperienced drivers. Poor hazard perception has been identified as an important contributor to inexperienced drivers’ risk, but research on day-night differences in hazard perception for drivers varying in experience is lacking. This exploratory study investigated the nature of hazards reported by young inexperienced drivers versus more experienced and slightly older drivers. Hazards were not pre-identified by researchers; participants were simply provided with a general definition of ‘hazard’. Analysis focused on how experience level affected qualitative differences in the kinds of hazards reported, with particular focus on day-night differences. The 53 participants ranged in driving experience from learners through to 5+years post licensing, and in age from 16 to 30 years. They viewed 14 day- and night-time video clips of a diverse range of driving situations, pausing the video whenever they identified a hazard and then explaining why they had paused it at that point. Their responses were recorded. Content analysis of responses showed that more experienced drivers reported visibility-related hazards significantly more often than inexperienced ones, and significantly more so at night. They also commented significantly more on hazards related to tight bends in the road and significantly less on hazards concerning compliance with rules. Comments tended to be fewer with higher vehicle speeds, particularly for the least experienced drivers. Results are discussed in terms of how experience-related differences in drivers’ cognitive schemata and mental models are likely to affect hazard perception and crash risk, particularly at night. Some implications for driver training and license testing are suggested.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13698478
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Supplemental Notes:
- © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
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Authors:
- Evans, Teal
- Stuckey, Rwth
- Macdonald, Wendy
- Publication Date: 2022-7
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Features: References;
- Pagination: pp 258-280
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
- Volume: 88
- Issue Number: 0
- Publisher: Elsevier
- ISSN: 1369-8478
- Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13698478
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Driver experience; Hazard evaluation; Periods of the day; Recently qualified drivers; Risk taking; Teenage drivers
- Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01848518
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Jun 13 2022 1:14PM