Driver Adaptability When Traffic Side Is Switched from Left to Right and Vice Versa: A Driving Simulator Study with Chinese and Pakistani Drivers

Sheng Dong, Syed Huzaifa Hussain (), Feng Chen, Jibiao Zhou, Feifei Xu and Afaq Khattak
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Sheng Dong: School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Fenghua Rd. #201, Ningbo 315211, China
Syed Huzaifa Hussain: Key Laboratory of Road and Traffic Engineering, College of Transportation Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Cao’an Road, Jiading, Shanghai 201804, China
Feng Chen: Key Laboratory of Road and Traffic Engineering, College of Transportation Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Cao’an Road, Jiading, Shanghai 201804, China
Jibiao Zhou: Key Laboratory of Road and Traffic Engineering, College of Transportation Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Cao’an Road, Jiading, Shanghai 201804, China
Feifei Xu: School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Fenghua Rd. #201, Ningbo 315211, China
Afaq Khattak: Key Laboratory of Road and Traffic Engineering, College of Transportation Engineering, Tongji University, 4800 Cao’an Road, Jiading, Shanghai 201804, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-21

Abstract: Driving simulators serve as valuable instruments for traffic safety research because they enable the creation of various scenarios that are hard to replicate in the real world. Eye tracker devices have proven to be immensely beneficial in studying eye movements. In this particular study, the objective was to examine potential variations in the adaptability of young male Chinese and Pakistani student drivers to left-hand traffic (LHT) and right-hand traffic (RHT) infrastructures when navigating under unfamiliar driving rules and environments. To achieve this, twenty-one Pakistani and twenty Chinese young male drivers were recruited to participate in different simulated driving scenarios (LHT and RHT). The factors tested were: (1) hazard perception; (2) time to collision (TTC); and (3) intersectional and lane-changing behavior. Using data collected from the driving simulator and eye tracker, differences in adaptability between both pools of drivers were compared using the ANOVA technique. The results showed that young male Chinese drivers were more vigilant and had a higher adaptability to unfamiliar infrastructure (3), they also had a better hazard perception (1) and time to collision (1 and 2). Young male Pakistani drivers had poorer hazard perception (2) and consequently had the shortest brake response time in the RHT scenario (2).

Keywords: adaptability; left-hand traffic (LHT); right-hand traffic (RHT); hazard perception; time to collision (TTC) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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