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USING EYE TRACKING TECHNOLOGY TO COMPARE HAZARD DETECTION IN VEHICLE DRIVING VERSUS INTERACTIVE DRIVING SIMULATOR ACROSS TWO AGE GROUPS

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2019-12-10

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McDonald, Mary-Grace K

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East Carolina University

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Rationale: Although current research exists regarding the validity of using a driving simulator compared to on-road driving for evaluation, there is a lack of evidence regarding hazard detection between the two driving conditions. Additionally, there is no clear consensus on whether old and young adults detect hazards differently. Purpose: This study utilized eye- tracking technologies to assess the validity of using a driving simulator compared to on-road driving for evaluation of hazard detection. The study also explored age differences in hazard detection across these two driving conditions. Design: This study was a 2x2 factorial design with repeated measures to determine if hazard detection is similar during on-road driving and simulated driving across two age groups. In addition, secondary analyses were completed to determine if hazard detection is similar between (1) on-road and simulated drives for younger drivers, (2) on-road and simulated drives for older drivers, (3) older adults and younger adults for on-road driving and (4) older and younger adults for simulated driving. Participants: Participants were 18 younger adults (ages 22-39) and 16 older adults (ages 65+). Methods: Each participant completed a simulated drive and on-road drive in their personal vehicle while wearing the eye-tracking glasses. Standardized pedestrians served as potential hazards and were placed throughout each driving condition in similar locations (three-way stop sign, pedestrian by the car, four-way stop light). Eye tracking metric including total fixation duration, fixation count, total visit duration, and visit count were analyzed. These metrics were compared between driving conditions and age groups. Results: Repeated measures ANOVAs were completed to compare simulated and on-road performance for all participants. Results showed significant differences between driving conditions for fixation count (F(1, 20), p=0.045) at the four-way stoplight and for total fixation duration (F(1, 20)=13.669, p=0.001), total visitation duration (F(1, 20)=12.876, p=0.002), and visit count (F(1, 20)=9.547, p=0.006) at the three-way stop sign hazard. Repeated measures ANOVAs compared performance between older and younger adults for both driving conditions with no significant differences found. For the secondary analysis using paired samples t-test, results within the older adults indicated there was a statistically significant difference between driving conditions for fixation duration (t(10)=3.491, p=0.006) and visit duration (t(10)=3.406, p=0.007) at the pedestrian by the car and for fixation duration (t(9)=3.833, p=0.004), visit duration (t(9)=3.841, p=0.004), and visit count (t(9)=2.751, p=0.022) at the three-way stop sign. No significant differences were found with younger adult performance. Two sample t-test compared older and younger adults’ performance on the on-road driving condition with no significant differences found. Two sample t-test compared older and younger adults’ performance on the simulated drive. Statistically significance difference between older and younger drivers included fixation duration (t(20)= 3.255, p= 0.030) and visit duration (t(20)= 3.236, p= 0.034) at the four-way stoplight. There were no significant differences between age groups for the simulated drive at the three-way stop sign and pedestrian by the car. Discussion: The results of this study indicated that hazard detection behavior was similar across the driving conditions, with a few exceptions. Therefore, supporting the use of driving simulators as a safe mechanism to observe driving habits, behaviors, and mistakes without risk to the driver, evaluator, or environment. Additionally, these findings indicate that, despite age-related visual decline, older adults detect hazards similarly to younger adults, especially when assessing on-road performance.

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