Plateau effect on driver’s hazard perception response mode: Graph construction approach

Abstract

It is crucial for drivers to conduct rapid and effective risk perception and response processes when faced with hazardous driving situations. The low pressure and oxygen environment in the plateau results in a greater workload of drivers, contributing to a significant decline in perception and response ability. This study proposes a graph construction approach to model drivers’ hazard response modes (HRMs) in plateau areas. A total of 31 drivers (23 males) aged 21 to 55 years (M [age] = 28.0 years, M [driving experience] = 6.5 years) were recruited to participate in four hazard perception experiments using a UC-WIN/ROAD driving simulator. The experiments were successively conducted in five cities with different altitudes, including Nanjing (50 m), Nyingchi (2,995 m), Lhasa (3,650 m), Nagqu (4,460 m), and Yanghu Scenic Spot (4,998 m). Then, according to the graph construction approach, four HRMs for drivers were extracted. In addition, two series of generalized linear models were proposed to analyze the relationships between the perception reaction time (PRT), HRM, altitude, age, acclimation period, gender, and driving experience. The effects of significant variables, including scenario types, altitude, acclimation period, driving experience, and gender, were used in the construction of HRM and risk perception ability of plateau drivers. These results showed that constructing HRMs to model the driving styles of plateau drivers is feasible and effective, enabling future driving assistance systems to be better customized for drivers in such a particular condition.

Keywords:

• hazard perception
• hazard response mode
• driving simulations
• eye-tracking
• plateau area
• altitude

Data availability statement

Some or all data, models, and code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Acknowledgments

This study is part of a collaborative research project between Southeast University and Tibet University. The authors thank three anonymous reviewers for their thorough and helpful comments.

Author contributions

Study conception and design: Chenzhu Wang, Fei Chen, and Jianchuan Cheng; data collection: Jiyun Zhu, Wu Bo, and Ping Zhang; analysis and interpretation of results: Chenzhu Wang, Mingyu Hou, and Wu Bo; draft article preparation: Chenzhu Wang, Fei Chen, Jianchuan Cheng, and Said Easa. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51768063 and 51868068).