Distribution of eye-fixations driving -- effects of road characteristics and driving speed as assessed by two eye-movements registration devices

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of driving speed and route characteristics on the distribution of high-fixation across the visual field. In addition the applicability was examined of too high-movement registration devices under field conditions. The task of the subjects was to drive along 3 Different Rd pipes under slow and fast driving speed instructions. I movement were recorded during the test drive by means of a specifically constructed helmet for the DEBIC-84 and by the NAC V apparatus. Results obtained with both devices demonstrated that task relevant objects were more often fixated as speed increased. However, the results clearly showed that this effect of driving speed depended upon road type. Traffic density also turned out to be a factor affecting a driver's perceptual behavior. On the basis of the results it is argued that the often postulated "tunnel vision" effect of increased driving speed should be conceptualized as a focused distribution of attention to driving task relevant objects. Furthermore, the NAC-V exhibited some clear advantages above the DEBIC for this type of field investigation.