Is drivers’ interaction with pedestrians affected by cognitive load and LED bands? A driving simulator study investigating performance across two age groups during different lighting conditions

Pedestrians, being vulnerable road users (VRU), are disproportionately affected by road traffic crashes. Many factors influence driver-pedestrian interactions and hence pedestrian safety. Within these interactions, drivers play a critical role as operators of the vehicle. Therefore, it is crucial to understand what factors influence drivers’ perceptions and actions when interacting with pedestrians in different situations. To answer this question, a driving simulator study was designed to investigate the effects of age (younger and older drivers), cognitive load (no task, 2-back task), the presence (or absence) of a zebra crossing, lighting (daylight, after dark), pedestrian position (standing, walking), and the presence (or absence) of light-emitting diode (LED) strips on drivers’ yielding behaviours during interactions with pedestrians. Two groups of drivers (23 younger drivers: Mdnage = 22; 19 older drivers: age Mdnage = 64) completed two experimental drives during daylight and after dark. Objective measures (probability of yielding and average deceleration) were used to interpret yielding behaviour and the factors influencing it. Drivers were more likely to give way to pedestrians waiting by the roadside (in comparison to those walking towards the crossing), when a zebra crossing was present (in comparison to no crossing), and after dark (in comparison to daylight). In those trials where the pedestrians wore LED bands to enhance their conspicuity, the average deceleration was reduced, resulting in smoother braking. The results focus on the factors that influence drivers’ response to pedestrians in the simulator environment, as well as the value of using LED bands for road safety. The results inform the development of policy and interventions to improve the safety of vulnerable road users.