Comparative Analysis of Motorcyclists’ Gaze Behavior in Different Road Environments

Abstract

While car drivers consist the vast majority of road users, motorcycle drivers are considered among the most vulnerable ones with significant participation in accidents. The present study investigates the role of elements that permanently exist in the road environment and affect motorcyclist’s behavior since their usefulness requires visual contact between them and the rider during a certain period of time. Therefore, on such an occasion the riders do not monitor the road ahead which is considered as a fundamental driving task and hence the visual search and scan is not directed to the frontal view. The main objective of this paper is to identify and evaluate certain aspects of motorcyclists’ behavior influenced by exterior factors, such as observation of vertical signage or advertisement signs, by using naturalistic data. Motorcyclist’s visual behavior is evaluated via a continuous recording of his gaze, which acts as the main indicator regarding the rider’s performance, with the use of special equipment under naturalistic riding conditions. The selection of a naturalistic method permits continuous data recording, producing real-time data. Thus, the results are reliable and valid to the maximum possible extent. This research is based on a medium-scale experimental procedure that took place in three different road sections in Western Greece. A number of 11 motorcyclists participated in the study. The present research may be used as a tool to improve road infrastructure and to identify attitudes that pose a risk to rider’s safety aiming to the creation of a safer road environment, which will lead to less fatal and serious accidents.