Drivers Perception of Vulnerable Road Users - A Hazard Perception Approach
Our studies on hazard perception elicited two pedestrian-related factors. Based on our findings, we first suggest that drivers' expectations play a key role in their ability to project and detect hazards in advance (proactive behavior). Therefore, unexpected locations in which pedestrians may appear should include road signs to enhance drivers' awareness of the possibility that a pedestrian may cross the road (similar to work zones signage indicating the possible appearance of unexpected heavy vehicles). Secondly, with respect to older drivers, although they tend to compensate for their deteriorating driving abilities, it would be intriguing to examine how they perform when circumstances, such as driving in unexpected pedestrian-related situations, are dictated. The additive contribution of age-related deficiencies and wrong expectations may be detrimental.
