Han Lei, Du Zhigang, Wang Shoushuo
School of Traffic and Transportation, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang, China.
School of Transportation and Logistics Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
Traffic Inj Prev. 2025;26(5):524-534. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2024.2441879. Epub 2025 Jan 13.
The objective of this study was to assess drivers' visual search patterns and cognitive load during driving in curved tunnels. Specifically, we aimed to investigate how different curved tunnel geometries (tunnel radii, turning directions) and zones (entrance, middle, exit) influence drivers' saccadic eye movements. This understanding can inform the development of safer tunnel designs and driving guidelines.
A total of 30 licensed Chinese drivers participated in the study. Eye movement data were collected using the eye tracker while participants drove through four experimental curved tunnels. Each tunnel differed in radius, turning direction, and zone. Eye movement parameters, including saccade duration, frequency, amplitude, and velocity, were analyzed to evaluate drivers' visual search patterns and cognitive load.
The results revealed significant differences in drivers' saccadic eye movements across different tunnel conditions. As the tunnel radius decreased, drivers exhibited shorter saccade durations, increased saccade frequencies, decreased saccade amplitudes, and reduced saccade velocities, indicating increased cognitive load and more frequent visual updates. The turning direction also influenced saccadic behavior, with drivers demonstrating shorter saccade durations and higher frequencies when turning left compared to turning right. Furthermore, significant variations were observed across tunnel zones, with drivers showing the shortest saccade durations and highest frequencies in the entrance zone, while the mean saccade amplitude and velocity were largest in the exit zone.
This study provides valuable insights into how drivers adapt their visual search strategies and cognitive processes in response to varying curved tunnel conditions. The findings highlight the importance of considering tunnel geometry, turning direction, and tunnel zones in designing safer tunnel infrastructures and driving guidelines. Specifically, the results suggest that drivers experience increased cognitive load in narrower tunnels and during left turns, necessitating a more dynamic and frequent visual search strategy.
本研究的目的是评估驾驶员在弯道隧道中驾驶时的视觉搜索模式和认知负荷。具体而言，我们旨在研究不同的弯道隧道几何形状（隧道半径、转弯方向）和区域（入口、中间、出口）如何影响驾驶员的扫视眼动。这种理解可为更安全的隧道设计和驾驶指南的制定提供参考。
共有30名中国持证驾驶员参与了本研究。在参与者驾车通过四条实验性弯道隧道时，使用眼动仪收集眼动数据。每条隧道在半径、转弯方向和区域方面均有所不同。分析眼动参数，包括扫视持续时间、频率、幅度和速度，以评估驾驶员的视觉搜索模式和认知负荷。
结果显示，在不同的隧道条件下，驾驶员的扫视眼动存在显著差异。随着隧道半径减小，驾驶员的扫视持续时间缩短、扫视频率增加、扫视幅度减小、扫视速度降低，这表明认知负荷增加且视觉更新更频繁。转弯方向也影响扫视行为，与向右转相比，驾驶员向左转时扫视持续时间更短、频率更高。此外，在隧道不同区域观察到显著差异，驾驶员在入口区域的扫视持续时间最短、频率最高，而在出口区域平均扫视幅度和速度最大。
本研究为驾驶员如何根据不同的弯道隧道条件调整其视觉搜索策略和认知过程提供了有价值的见解。研究结果凸显了在设计更安全的隧道基础设施和驾驶指南时考虑隧道几何形状、转弯方向和隧道区域的重要性。具体而言，结果表明驾驶员在较窄的隧道中以及向左转时会经历更高的认知负荷，因此需要更动态、更频繁的视觉搜索策略。
