Trade-offs in traffic: does being mainly a car driver or a cyclist affect adaptive behaviour while driving and cycling?

Nygårdhs, Sara; Kircher, Katja; Johansson, Björn · 2020 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1186/s12544-020-0396-y

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Summary

This study investigates how a road user’s primary mode of transport—defined as their "character role" (mainly a car driver or mainly a cyclist)—influences their adaptive behavior when switching between driving and cycling. The research addresses the gap in understanding whether individuals adapt differently to traffic environments based on their habitual role, using the Extended Control Model (ECOM) as an analytical framework. The authors hypothesized that character cyclists would exhibit different rule-following behaviors and attention patterns compared to character drivers, particularly when operating outside their character role or in high-complexity situations. The study employed a semi-controlled experimental design in an urban environment in Linköping, Sweden. Twenty-three participants (12 character drivers and 11 character cyclists) traveled the same route twice: once by bicycle and once by car. Data collection included head-mounted eye-tracking to measure glance behavior, video recordings, and vehicle sensors for speed and acceleration. The researchers analyzed behavior at specific intersections, including mixed-traffic intersections with stop rules and signalized intersections. Complexity levels were categorized based on the time available to close one’s eyes safely, ranging from low to high complexity. Statistical analyses, including McNemar and Mann-Whitney tests, were used to compare behaviors between character roles and conditions. The results revealed no significant differences in adaptive behavior between character drivers and character cyclists. Specifically, there was no difference in stopping behavior at stop-rule intersections or in the position where cyclists stopped pedalling, regardless of their character role. However, the current situational demands significantly influenced adaptation. A more complex traffic environment led to increased information intake, evidenced by changes in glance behavior. Participants adjusted their visual attention based on the immediate complexity of the situation rather than their habitual role. The study found that while character role did not predict specific adaptive behaviors like rule neglect or proactive braking, the complexity of the environment dictated the level of cognitive engagement and visual scanning. The significance of these findings lies in challenging the assumption that habitual road-user roles dictate adaptive behavior in unfamiliar modes. Instead, the study suggests that immediate situational demands and environmental complexity are the primary drivers of adaptation. This implies that traffic safety interventions should focus on managing environmental complexity and ensuring clear infrastructure cues, rather than assuming that experienced cyclists or drivers will inherently adapt differently based on their primary mode of transport. The findings support the ECOM framework’s emphasis on reactive adaptations to current conditions over proactive adaptations based on long-term experience.

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Topics

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• speed choice
• mental model of traffic
• urban rural setting

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence