SOUTH AFRICAN NOVICE DRIVER BEHAVIOUR: FINDINGS FROM A NATURALISTIC DRIVING STUDY

1. SOUTH AFRICAN NOVICE DRIVER BEHAVIOUR: FINDINGS FROM A NATURALISTIC DRIVING STUDY South African Transport Conference 7 July 2014 Karien Venter & Prof. Marion Sinclair

2. CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Background 3. Research objectives 4. Methodology 5. Findings 6. Conclusions 7. Recommendations

3. 1. INTRODUCTION • Across the world novice drivers are over-represented in crashes. • 18 months after licensure appear > dangerous • Hazard perception is a skill that is learned over time and with driving experience. • Acquire skills quickly, but ability to perceive and react to hazards on the road is slower to develop . • Take longer to recognise and react to potential road and traffic hazards than experienced drivers

4. 2. BACKGROUND Figure 1: Driver fatalities per age group per 10 000 drivers (Source: Chokotho et al, 2012)

5. DUAL INVESTIGATION Methodology: Naturalistic Driving Data Research topic: Novice driver behaviour in the SA context Grounded Theory for development of the coding scheme Why? Why? • International literature - most vulnerable during the first 18 months after they successfully obtain their licenses. • High number of fatal and serious crashes that occur on South African roads. • Identify at-risk behaviour early -recommendations for driver training methods, content and legislation for young and inexperienced drivers in South Africa. • Unobtrusive approach to studying driver behaviour. • Driver behaviour in the context of the driving task and road environment • Inform driver actions preceding crashes or near crash events. • Behaviour not significantly altered over the long term reflect natural driver behaviour over time.

6. 3. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES • Determine the level of skill that the sample of novice drivers possess when they start driving; • Explore a methodology that could potentially be useful for understanding novice driver behaviour in hazardous and dangerous driving situations. • Comparing the sequence of decision making of the novice drivers with those of more experienced drivers in similar circumstances.

7. 4. METHODOLOGY

8. Equipment

9. Research instrument: DAS equipment purchased and installed in vehicle Three cameras in vehicle Data collection, cleaning, preparation, analysis Data logger in vehicle Data collection: Weekly or bi-weekly download of data Data cleaning Qualitative data Match quantitative and qualitative entries in the databases Quantitative data Convert into .avi files Data logger information Select videos for analysis Convert files into Access and Excel files Development of hazard perception coding scheme Strategy for the management of large databases Analysis of selected video data Hazard perception and handling skills Analysis of speed, km driven, number of movement per vehicle etc. MATCH & ANALYSE Interpretation

10. Selection of material 2 hours of videos with selected hazardous locations: compare novice and experienced drivers’ behaviour Samples of 4 situations from both novice and experienced drivers. Summary statistics compiled for each of the participant groups’ to compare the observed behaviour at the different hazardous locations with each other. P-values were calculated per scan behaviour using a t-test. (t-test - sample sizes were relatively small).

11. Development and application of the coding scheme • Pre-coding scheme developed – insufficient • Resort to code “in-vivo” & started using grounded theory to develop a theory for explaining novice driver hazard perception. • Each code=assigned a colour as well as a begin and end time stamp

12. 5. DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

13. Discussion of findings (a): Driver behaviour questionnaires

14. Discussion of findings (b): Equipment

16. ND behaviour vs. ED behaviour found in scan behaviour when… No significant differences in scan behaviour: Significance differences in (confidence interval P between 90 and 95%) approach of intersections (general) turn right in intersections • when turning left at intersections • on approach to stop streets. • on approach to green traffic lights • on approach to traffic circles

17. 6. CONCLUSIONS • Demographic information • gender vs. risk taking • Personality factors vs. risk taking • Theory of Intent • clear indication on what rules they are prepared to break and which not.. • Acceptable circumstances • Social learning theory: • Significant others • Seatbelt use • Cell phone use – • Passenger influence • Speed- target zone • Urban residential • Smaller horizontal scans • Novices scanned most of the selected environments left of them less than experienced drivers BUT experienced drivers also did not scan left adequately • Difference horizontal scan between novice drivers • Front Fixating • evident with both novice drivers • Mirrors • Infrequent checking of side and rear-view mirrors

18. ..research questions • Hazard perception? - Indications ND do not yet recognise hazards or potential hazardous situations • React and adapt - No real “near” or crash event was observed. • Hazard perception in ND vs. ED? • Speed behaviour • Behaviour on approach to intersections and right turns over intersections • Time allocated to scanning • Scan behaviour in terms of mirror use • Cell phone use • Red light running d) Driver training before licensure? • Both novice drivers had training and driving experience of driving prior to the study • Not possible to determine differences between two novice drivers that would sufficiently answer this question NDS METHODOLOGY

19. 7. RECOMMENDATIONS • Training and education (with larger sample investigate): • Lack of left side scanning • Mirror use • Attitudes and perceptions • Support for the development of a South African hazard perception test to be included in learner driver training and driver license testing procedures.

20. Thank you • Participants • US • US Electrical Engineering Department • CSIR Supervisors & colleagues