Effects of In-Vehicle Navigation on Perceptual Responses and Driving Behaviours of Drivers at Tunnel Entrances: A Naturalistic Driving Study

Abstract

The perceptual responses and driving behaviours of drivers at tunnel entrances vary, which could cause interference and accidents. This study investigated the effects of in-vehicle navigation on the perceptual responses and driving behaviours and whether these effects are actually valid for safety improvement. For this purpose, a series of naturalistic driving experiments was conducted and a comparative analysis was performed considering two different experiment conditions, control condition and in-vehicle navigation condition. Under each condition, the performances of twenty drivers at seven tunnels were evaluated. The area from 200 m outside the tunnel portal to 200 m inside the tunnel portal was averagely divided into four zones. In each zone, two types of perceptual responses (visual responses and psychological responses) and driving behaviours were analysed using six indicators: number of fixations, average duration of fixations, time interval between continuous R-waves, skin conductance response, speed difference in zones, and maximum deceleration. The results showed that in-vehicle navigation significantly affects the perceptual responses and driving behaviours of drivers, and these effects varied in different zones of the tunnel entrance. Furthermore, in-vehicle navigation was found to be valid for safety improvement because beneficial changes in four of the six indicators proved to be effective at appropriate zones. The remaining two indicators, average duration of fixations and maximum deceleration, were not valid, implying that the difficulty of driving information cognition and driving comfort could not be improved by in-vehicle navigation. Moreover, a negative correlation was discovered between the number of fixations and speed difference in zones. This study provides engineers a new knowledge by extending the quantifiable approaches to the analyses of the effectiveness of the effects of in-vehicle navigation.

Variations in Naturalistic Driving Behavior and Visual Perception at the Entrances of Short, Medium, and Long Tunnels

“…We cannot generalise our findings to all factors such as traffic volume, drivers' experience, and auxiliary driving condition. However, these factors are likely to have a major influence on driving behavior and visual perception [5,14,19].…”

“…For example, the standard deviation of speed has been found to be positively correlated with crash rates, with differences in speed between positional zones corresponding to differences in zonal crash rates. Increasing the mean and maximum deceleration increases the tunnel entrance crash rate, while the vehicle lateral position has been shown to be a reliable indicator of risk of lateral crashing [2,6,13,19]. A number of derivative variables, such as time to collision [20,21], sight distance [5], and driving workload [1,22,23], have also been used to elucidate relevant tunnel entrance safety problems.…”

Physiological indices and driving performance of drivers at tunnel entrances and exits: A simulated driving study

“…Thus far, ample studies have been conducted on the physiological indices and driving performance of drivers in tunnels. Fu et al concluded that in-car navigation has a significant influence on a driver’s perceptual response and driving behavior at tunnel entrances, and the influence degree was different in different regions [ 4 ]. By collecting eye movements (number of fixations, duration of fixations, and number of saccades) and driving performance (speed, steering wheel, and vehicle lateral position), Wang et al reported a gradual increase in the number of fixations, duration of fixations and number of saccades in the transition zone.…”

“…Luo et al established a regression model of the luminance, vehicle speed, and HR growth rate in the case of mountainous tunnels, focusing on the relationship between drivers' workload, luminance, and vehicle speed [10]. The above research focused on the influence of tunnel entrances and exits on both drivers' physiological indices and driving behavior through field or simulation experiments [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Some scholars only studied the influence of tunnels on the driving performance.…”

Exploring the Effects of Signs’ Design and In-Vehicle Audio Warning on Driver Behavior at Flashing-Light-Controlled Grade Crossings: A Driving Simulator-Based Study

“…Meanwhile, the role of signs and markings is degraded under adverse weather conditions, such as foggy weather. In-vehicle audio warning (IVAW) countermeasure based on intelligent vehicle infrastructure cooperative (IVIC) technology can make up for the defects of static signs and markings [19]. Many studies have confirmed that IVAW can improve driver behavior.…”