Familiarity breeds contempt for the road ahead: The real-world effects of route repetition on visual attention in an expert driver. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Young, Angela H.; Mackenzie, Andrew K.; Davies, Robert L.; Crundall, David
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 57(2018)
• Page Start: 4
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Route familiarity -- On-road eye movements -- Eye movements; Automobile drivers -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Automobile driving -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 629.283019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2017.10.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8478

Abstract

Highlights: On-road study, showing changes in visual attention with increased route familiarity. Attention to driving irrelevant stimuli increases with route familiarity. Time spent looking ahead decreases with route familiarity. These changes are apparent across several road types. Effects evident despite using an expert driver who knew they were under observation. Abstract: The majority of journeys by car take place on familiar roads, with many routes being driven time and time again. This familiarity has been linked to mind wandering and reduced attention to specific elements of the visual scene (e.g. speed signs). The current study presents on-road eye tracking data from a driving instructor who drove the same route 28 times, incorporating two types of suburban roads, dual and multi-lane carriageways, and a country road. Data reveal a significant positive correlation between the number of times the same route is navigated and off-road dwell time across all five road sections. In addition, route familiarity was associated with decreasing dwell time on safety-relevant aspects of the road ahead in four out of the five sections. These data suggest that route familiarity can lead to undesirable changes in visual attention on real roads, even for expert drivers under observation.