The Effect of Driving Experience on Change Blindness at Intersections: Decision Accuracy and Eye Movement Results

To understand the differences between inexperienced and experienced driver visual behavior for hazard detection at intersections, twelve less experienced drivers aged 18 to 19 and twelve experienced drivers aged 35 to 48 were shown 36 complex intersection images using a modified flicker method. Twenty-four of these intersections contained a changing object that was a pedestrian, vehicle or a traffic control device. The remaining 12 intersections did not contain a changing object. Visual search was measured using a head mounted eye movement system and areas of interest were specified for each image to determine the foci of visual search. The time to view the flickering images affected turn decision accuracy. The pattern of results showed that less experienced drivers tended to fixate on other vehicles within the intersections, whereas experienced drivers fixated on lights and signs. The implications of the results on hazard perception are discussed.