The Effects of Highway Curves on Driver Gazing Behavior in a Driving Simulator

This paper focuses on the effect of highway curves on driver gazing behavior in a driving simulator. In this study, eye gazing data were collected using an eye tracker, and gazing parameters were analyzed to locate the divisions between driver gazing regions. The results of the experiment showed that drivers focused on the middle region during the driving process. Moreover, when the vehicle was passing through a curved road, the proportion of attention focusing on the middle region increased. The result indicated that highway curves obviously affected the proportion of drivers focusing on the middle region. As the radius of the curve increased, drivers' gazing points would move from the two sides of the road to the middle region. The results from this research may be used to reveal drivers' gazing behavior, provide insight for visibility research of road signs and markings, and improve the design of traffic safety facilities.