An eye-tracking study of the effects of dimensions of speed limit traffic signs on a mountain highway on drivers' perception

Autor(es)

Costa, Alex Taima ; Figueira, Aurenice C. ; Larocca, Ana Paula C.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART F-TRAFFIC PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR; v. 87, p. 12-pg., 2022-04-04.

Resumo

Signs control and regulate traffic, anticipating potential dangers, prescribing correct behaviors, and disambiguating likely conflicts in priority. In Brazil, traffic accidents on highways located in mountain rural areas are mainly related to the design of roads and speeding, rather than to the impact of traffic flow. Since drivers highly depend on their visual perceptions for adopting driving behaviors, this study analyzes driver perception during a trip and the response of this parameter to changes in the diameter of vertical speed limit signs in a driver simulator equipped with an eye-tracking system. The objective was to investigate whether an increase in the plate size would enhance driver perception and influence drivers' compliance with speed limits. Fifty-five volunteers were asked to drive twice on a 10-km mountain route, after which one of the diameters, namely 75, 100, 120, and 150 cm, used according to several Brazilian and American standards, was randomly chosen. The results showed the size of the traffic signs did not affect dependent variables number of fixations, percentage of perceived signals, time of observation, perception distance, and non-compliance with the speed limit. The most significant result was the relationship between speed variability and guided round, since the driver's performance was improved with the distance along the studied stretch. The outcomes can be useful for the development of strategies that manage speeding on roads by improving and implementing low-cost interventions in low-income countries. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 18/12762-6 - Estudo da percepção do condutor às dimensões das placas de sinalização de velocidade com o uso do equipamento Eye Track System
• Beneficiário: Alex Taima Costa
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 21/10727-1 - Intervenções de baixo custo na infraestrutura rodoviária para a mitigação de acidentes: estudo em ambiente simulado de direção
• Beneficiário: Ana Paula Camargo Larocca
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular