A method to enhance drivers' hazard perception based on psychological deception induction

Drivers' hazard perception is a critical factor in road safety. However, existing interventions in driver safety education and training lack relevance and interactivity. Additionally, these interventions typically fail to address the perception needs of potential hazards in complex traffic environment. This study investigated the effects of a psychological deception-induced intervention on drivers' hazard perception. A total of 45 drivers were recruited and randomly divided into a control group and two experimental groups (the informed false heart rate alerts group and the uninformed false heart rate alerts group). We collected and analyzed eye movement data, physiological data, and driving behavior data of drivers from all three groups across 6 scenarios using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests. The results indicate that drivers in both experimental groups demonstrate enhanced hazard perception relative to the control group. Specifically, compared to the control group, drivers in both experimental groups exhibited longer average fixation durations, shorter time to first fixation, lower driving speed, smoother brake pedal force, and lower true heart rate in hazardous scenarios. These results suggest that the intervention supported earlier hazard detection and more rational responses. Furthermore, comparison between the two experimental groups revealed that the uninformed false heart rate alerts group showed greater improvement in attention allocation to hazards than the informed false heart rate alerts group. The study offers novel insights for enhancing road safety awareness and for designing future driver assistance systems.