The development and validation of a hazard perception test for use in driver licensing.

Drivers' hazard perception is the ability to identify dangerous situations on the road ahead. We detail the development and validation of a new computer-based hazard perception test to be used for driver licensing purposes in Queensland, Australia. We proposed five principles of effective hazard perception test creation, which we used to guide development of the test. In Study 1, the video-based instructions for the test were found to be intelligible to non-native English-speakers with an effective English reading age of 10 years. In Study 2, experienced drivers were found to be faster at responding to hazards in the test than learner drivers (independent of simple reaction time or ability to use the response device), providing evidence for test validity. We found no evidence of gender, income, or educational differences in hazard perception scores. The results of both experiments confirm the efficacy of the five principles, and provide support for the validity of the QT-HPT and its suitability for use in the graduated driver licensing system.

[1]  D. Wright.  Behavioural research in road safety VII , 1998 .

[2]  J Catchpole,et al.  IMPLEMENTATION OF VICTORIA'S NEW HAZARD PERCEPTION TEST , 2001 .

[3]  D. Pelz,et al.  CAUTION PROFILE AND DRIVING RECORD OF UNDERGRADUATE MALES , 1974 .

[4]  G. Underwood,et al.  Eye movements and hazard perception in police pursuit and emergency response driving. , 2003, Journal of experimental psychology. Applied.

[5]  F Mckenna,et al.  DEVELOPMENTS IN HAZARD PERCEPTION , 1997 .

[6]  Lisa Dorn,et al.  The effect of social desirability on self reported and recorded road traffic accidents , 2010 .

[7]  Mark Wetton,et al.  Improving older drivers' hazard perception ability. , 2010, Psychology and aging.

[8]  Mark S Horswill,et al.  A comparison of the hazard perception ability of matched groups of healthy drivers aged 35 to 55, 65 to 74, and 75 to 84 years , 2009, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

[9]  A. Quimby,et al.  HUMAN FACTORS AND DRIVING PERFORMANCE , 1981 .

[10]  John O. Willis,et al.  Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test–Third Edition , 2008 .

[11]  P. Chapman,et al.  Visual Search of Driving Situations: Danger and Experience , 1998, Perception.

[12]  M S Horswill,et al.  The development and validation of two complementary measures of drivers' hazard perception ability. , 2010, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[13]  David Crundall,et al.  What happens next? Predicting other road users' behaviour as a function of driving experience and processing time , 2009, Ergonomics.

[14]  H. Deery,et al.  The effect of a moderate dose of alcohol on the traffic hazard perception profile of young drink-drivers. , 1996, Addiction.

[15]  F. McKenna,et al.  Drivers' hazard perception ability: Situation awareness on the road , 2004 .

[16]  Alexander Pollatsek,et al.  Hazard Anticipation of Novice and Experienced Drivers , 2007 .

[17]  Mark Wetton,et al.  Hazard perception in novice and experienced drivers: the effects of sleepiness. , 2009, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[18]  Will Murray,et al.  Applying online fleet driver assessment to help identify, target and reduce occupational road safety risks , 2009 .

[19]  G Grayson,et al.  Cohort II - A study of learner and new drivers - volume 1 - main report , volume 2 - questionnaires and data tables , 2008 .

[20]  Fridulv Sagberg,et al.  Hazard perception and driving experience among novice drivers. , 2006, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[21]  Kazumi Renge,et al.  DRIVERS' HAZARD AND RISK PERCEPTION, CONFIDENCE IN SAFE DRIVING, AND CHOICE OF SPEED. , 1998 .

[22]  Joe P. Sutton,et al.  Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests Revised/Normative Update (WRMT-R/NU) , 1999 .

[23]  Mark S. Horswill,et al.  Hazard perception and its relevance for driver licensing , 1999 .

[24]  Mark S Horswill,et al.  The hazard perception ability of older drivers. , 2008, The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences.

[25]  G Underwood,et al.  Visual attention and the transition from novice to advanced driver , 2007, Ergonomics.

[26]  M. Horswill,et al.  A Brief Office-Based Hazard Perception Intervention for Drivers With ADHD Symptoms , 2010, The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry.

[27]  S. Tremblay.  A Cognitive Approach to Situation Awareness: Theory and Application , 2004 .

[28]  Joanne M Wood,et al.  The Effect of Simulated Cataracts on Drivers’ Hazard Perception Ability , 2008, Optometry and vision science : official publication of the American Academy of Optometry.

[29]  Mike McDonald,et al.  THE EFFECTS OF HAZARD PERCEPTION TRAINING ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVICE DRIVER SKILLS , 1996 .

[30]  G B Grayson,et al.  THE DEVELOPMENT OF HAZARD PERCEPTION TESTING , 2002 .

[31]  F P McKenna,et al.  DIFFERING CONCEPTIONS OF HAZARD PERCEPTION , 1997 .

[32]  A James McKnight,et al.  Young novice drivers: careless or clueless? , 2003, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[33]  F P McKenna,et al.  HAZARD PERCEPTION IN DRIVERS: A METHODOLOGY FOR TESTING AND TRAINING , 1994 .

[34]  A. R. Quimby,et al.  Perceptual abilities of accident-involved drivers , 1987 .

[35]  Mark S Horswill,et al.  Using fuzzy signal detection theory to determine why experienced and trained drivers respond faster than novices in a hazard perception test. , 2007, Accident; analysis and prevention.

[36]  Kaarin J Anstey,et al.  The crash involvement of older drivers is associated with their hazard perception latencies , 2010, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

[37]  J Catchpole,et al.  Redevelopment of Victoria's hazard perception test , 2000 .

[38]  D. M. Green,et al.  Signal detection theory and psychophysics , 1966 .