Predictive head-movements during automobile mirror-sampling

Eye-head response patterns of 3 novice, 3 young experienced, and 3 mature drivers were recorded by television cameras as they sampled their vehicle's mirrors just prior to making freeway left-lane changes, right-lane changes, and entrance merges. Eye-head responses were called "classical" if the eyes moved before the head and "predictive" if the head moved before the eyes. Drivers made about twice as many predictive responses as classical ones. Data suggested that the rate of making predictive head-movements was 90 msec. and that of classical responses was 45 msec. Latency was not related to the amount of driving experience.