Driving is smoother and more stable when using the tangent point

Abstract

Car drivers can employ a number of strategies to negotiate curves. The tangent point strategy proposes the use of the angle between the tangent point of the inner lane markings and the car's current heading direction, which is proportional to the required steering angle. The gaze-sampling strategy proposes to fixate points on the future path and measure the curvature of optic flow vectors which can inform the drivers whether they over- or under-steer. Nine subjects drove repeatedly on the four loops of a motorway junction for which street parameters were available, while eye-movements, steering parameters and relations of the car to the lane were recorded. In the first half of the trials, we observed which strategy drivers normally use, whereas in the second half, we instructed subjects to use exclusively either the tangent-point or the gaze-sampling strategy and observed their steering behavior. Our results confirm that subjects normally look at the tangent point whereas they do not use gaze sampling of their own accord. Further, subjects drive more smoothly in terms of position on the lane and steering stability in the tangent-point condition.

Application of eye-tracking in drivers testing: A review of research

“…This mechanism occurs in most management tasks, such as driving a bicycle, horse riding or simulated driving on a computer [47,48]. However, Kandil et al [49,50] point out to a discrepancy between the results of research conducted on simulators and real-time driving. The results compared with the literature suggests that the strategy of the real driving is most often a "target point" (described above and in the Dishart's study), while during simulated driving, a target sampling strategy is more frequently observed, which involves progressively moving virtual point according to the movement of the vehicle [49,50].…”

“…However, Kandil et al [49,50] point out to a discrepancy between the results of research conducted on simulators and real-time driving. The results compared with the literature suggests that the strategy of the real driving is most often a "target point" (described above and in the Dishart's study), while during simulated driving, a target sampling strategy is more frequently observed, which involves progressively moving virtual point according to the movement of the vehicle [49,50]. The main problem in conducting research on visual strategy is to identify and monitor the requirements of drivers as independent variables [51].…”

The visual control of bicycle steering: The effects of speed and path width

“…On curved roads, the 'tangent point' has been identified as an important visual cue. This is the point on the inside edge of the bend which protrudes the most in the road and has been shown to be closely linked to the drivers steering behaviour (Land and Lee, 1994;Mars, 2008;Kandil et al, 2009). The second region described in the two-level model is the near road region.…”

Eye Movement Analysis during Activities of Daily Living (ADL) among Fully Sighted School Children

“…However, studies of eye movements for tasks other than reading i.e. walking, playing cricket, driving and preparing food had started after the portable eye tracker was created in the 1980s (Kandil et al 2009;Land 2006;Land & Hayhoe 2001;Land & McLeod 2000;Land et al 1999;Turano et al 2002). Most of these studies investigate the role of eye movements while performing activities daily living (ADL).…”