Drivers' Visual Attention Characteristics under Different Cognitive Workloads: An On-Road Driving Behavior Study.

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Cognitive Psychology
• Traffic Safety Engineering

Background:

• Understanding driver visual attention is crucial for enhancing road safety.
• Cognitive workload significantly impacts driver behavior and visual scanning patterns.
• Previous research often relies on driving simulators, which may not fully replicate real-world driving conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate visual attention fixation and transition characteristics of drivers under varying cognitive workloads during on-road driving.
• To compare visual attention patterns between male and female drivers.
• To differentiate visual attention during on-road driving versus driving simulation.

Main Methods:

• An on-road driving experiment was conducted.
• Macroscopic analysis of visual attention using the entropy method.
• Microscopic analysis using Markov glance one- and two-step transition probability matrices.

Main Results:

• Male drivers showed 23.08% higher visual fixation entropy than female drivers.
• Under cognitive workload, visual transitions concentrated in front and right areas, unlike normal driving (front and left).
• Increased cognitive workload shifted visual trajectory towards the junction of near-front and far-side areas.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive workload significantly alters driver visual attention patterns and transitions.
• On-road driving captures twice the attention to the front area compared to driving simulators.
• Findings offer practical insights for improving traffic safety systems and driver training.