A study on spatial exploration of elderly drivers at unsignalized intersections considering road and traffic conditions and driver's physical function

Unsignalized intersections require more diverse and appropriate physical functions than signalized intersections because traffic is not controlled, and more objects and broader areas must be checked. Elderly drivers may lack adequate physical functions, leading to inadequate spatial exploration and missed recognition, resulting in accidents. This study aims to clarify the spatial exploration behavior of elderly drivers when passing through unsignalized intersections, considering road conditions, traffic conditions, and drivers' physical functions. Participants ( n = 62) whose physical function was measured were asked to watch an entry video of 10 intersections using a head-mounted display with eye-tracking function, and the average angular velocity during the viewing was measured. Factorial analysis on spatial exploration showed that the elderly group did not exhibit greater spatial exploration at intersections with acute angles compared to other age groups, even considering physical function effects and traffic conditions through the linear mixed model. • The spatial exploration of elderly drivers at unsignalized intersections was clarified considering their physical functions. • Participants were asked to watch driving videos using HMD, and the average angular velocity during the viewing was measured. • The elderly group did not exhibit greater spatial exploration at intersections with acute angles compared to other groups. • The development of driving assistance technologies for elderly drivers based on spatial exploration was proposed.