Exploratory Analysis of Hazard Perception in Hazardous Driving Situations: A Virtual Reality Eye-Tracking Study

Driving is a task that demands a range of cognitive processes, both simple and complex. Detecting potential hazards is crucial to reducing traffic accidents. This study examined drivers’ perception of hazardous situations in virtual reality (VR). Fifty-two participants completed demographic and driving habit questionnaires before watching 10 hazardous and 11 control videos, which were presented randomly on a Varjo eye-tracking VR headset. After each video, participants rated the perceived risk of the situation. Results indicated that hazardous videos were rated riskier. Additionally, during hazardous videos, participants had longer and more frequent fixations, along with greater saccade duration and count. Eye-tracking data were not correlated with driving habits. Driving experience was related to fewer penalties and accidents. These findings suggest that hazardous driving videos are perceived differently from normal ones in terms of eye-tracking parameters and subjective risk evaluation. Future research should investigate the cues that contribute to these perceptual differences.