Visual information search in simulated junction negotiation: gaze transitions of young novice, young experienced and older experienced drivers.

INTRODUCTION Older drivers and young novice drivers have problems negotiating road junctions. Explanations for problems largely focus on limitations in visual information processing and observation errors associated with age and experience. METHOD Gaze transitions provide information on the positional relationship of fixations, providing a useful tool for highlighting gaps in driver's visual information acquisition strategies. The gaze transitions of three driver groups (young novice, young experienced, and older experienced) were compared during gap selection in right turn junction negotiation manoeuvres. RESULTS When scanning the junction, young experienced drivers distributed their gaze more evenly across all areas, whereas older and novice drivers made more sweeping transitions, bypassing adjacent areas. The use of a preview strategy in the decision phase was less evident in the older experienced group compared to the younger groups. IMPACT The application of results to driver training interventions and future research are discussed.