Can secondary traffic alerts improve the latent hazard anticipation ability of novice and experienced drivers? A simulator study

Abstract

The current simulator study aims to investigate whether warnings of an impending latent hazard, delivered on Google Glass can improve both, young and middle-aged drivers’ latent hazard anticipation ability. Twenty young and 30 middle-aged drivers were pseudo-randomly assigned to either the Google Glass condition or the control condition. All participants completed seven simulated driving scenarios with potential hazards. Participants in the Glass condition received text messages alerting them about the presence of a potential hazard, approximately 400 ft in advance of the hazard. Participants in the control condition received no such alerts. The results showed that warnings on Google Glass significantly improved the proportion of latent hazards anticipated by young drivers. The performance of middle-aged drivers was not affected by the warnings. It is concluded that head mounted displays like Google Glass offer a promising platform for the delivery of traffic warnings to help young driver better detect hazards on the road. However, its application on middle-aged drivers requires further research attention.