Effect of Cyclists' Communication Cues on Drivers' Perceptions of Intent
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Background: There has been an increase in the number of fatal crashes between cyclists and drivers over the last decade. One potential cause of collisions between these road users is a driver’s inability to correctly predict a cyclist’s intentions. The current research aimed to determine what cues drivers used to make correct judgments of intent and assessed where drivers looked when asked to make judgments of intent. Methods: Drivers were shown video clips of a cyclist performing different combinations of cues (position on the road, head movement, arm signals). They were asked to report what they believed the cyclist intended to do (i.e., turn left, turn right, stop, or go straight). The scene ended before the cyclist performed the intended action. After the driver made their decision, they were asked to describe to the experimenter what cues they used to make their decision. Results: The results revealed that the likelihood of a driver correctly predicting the cyclist’s intentions depended only on the arm signal presented and not on head movement or position on the road. The straight arm signals were the only signals correctly predicted by all drivers. Less than a quarter of the drivers correctly predicted the bent right turn arm signal. Results of eye movement measures also showed that drivers directed their attention to the back of the cyclist and then redirected their attention to where a signal was being presented. Conclusion: Overall, drivers could correctly predict a cyclist’s intentions when straight arm signals were presented. Transportation laws should be rewritten to remove the bent right turn arm signal to improve cyclists' safety.
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Petersen, Christine Marie. "Effect of Cyclists' Communication Cues on Drivers' Perceptions of Intent." (2023). Master's thesis, Rice University. https://hdl.handle.net/1911/115395