Situation Awareness: its proficiency amongst older and younger drivers, and its usefulness for perceiving hazards.
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Key, J
Morris, A
Mansfield, NJ
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The two studies reported here sought to measure and compare the Situation Awareness (SA) of
younger and older driver groups whilst driving (Study 1), and watching video footage of actual
car journeys (Study 2). In both studies this was achieved by recording a participant’s
commentary on what s/he felt was of relevance to the driving task. The narratives produced
were analysed by computer software that could abstract main concepts and calculate scores
indicative of Situation Awareness. In Study 2, these scores were related to others for hazard
perception proficiency (also derived from participant commentaries). It was found that the
older drivers matched and often exceeded the younger drivers when their SA scores were
compared individually, but not when assessed as a group. However, the younger drivers out‐
performed their older counterparts in hazard perception ability, and this was shown to be
related to their Situation Awareness score. When the results from participants who undertook
both studies were compared, it was found that Situation Awareness performance was
significantly higher when commenting on video footage (Study 2) than whilst actually driving
(Study 1).
younger and older driver groups whilst driving (Study 1), and watching video footage of actual
car journeys (Study 2). In both studies this was achieved by recording a participant’s
commentary on what s/he felt was of relevance to the driving task. The narratives produced
were analysed by computer software that could abstract main concepts and calculate scores
indicative of Situation Awareness. In Study 2, these scores were related to others for hazard
perception proficiency (also derived from participant commentaries). It was found that the
older drivers matched and often exceeded the younger drivers when their SA scores were
compared individually, but not when assessed as a group. However, the younger drivers out‐
performed their older counterparts in hazard perception ability, and this was shown to be
related to their Situation Awareness score. When the results from participants who undertook
both studies were compared, it was found that Situation Awareness performance was
significantly higher when commenting on video footage (Study 2) than whilst actually driving
(Study 1).
Date Issued
2016-05-19
Date Acceptance
2016-04-17
Citation
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 2016, 40, pp.156-168
ISSN
1873-5517
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
156
End Page
168
Journal / Book Title
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
Volume
40
Copyright Statement
© 2016, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Subjects
Situation Awareness
Hazard Perception
Older drivers
‘Think Aloud’ method
Publication Status
Published