Combining experiences of race gaming and natural driving affects gaze location strategy in simulated context

Abstract

The aims of the study were to investigate the effects of race gaming experience in playing racing video games on gaze behaviour and performance of drivers and the effects of natural driving experience on gaze behaviour and performance of gamers. Thirty participants, divided into drivers-gamers, drivers-non-gamers and non-drivers-gamers, were asked to drive in a race circuit as fast as possible while their eye movements were recorded. Drivers-gamers spent more time looking at the lane than non-drivers-gamers. Furthermore, drivers-gamers performed greater number of fixations towards the speedometer and showed faster performance in the racing task than the drivers-non-gamers. Combining natural driving and race gaming experiences changed the gaze location strategy of drivers.

Practitioner summary: Racing video games practitioners have high propensity to exhibit attitudes and intentions of risky driving behaviour. Combining natural driving and race gaming experiences affects gaze behaviour strategy of drivers.

Abbreviations: DG: Drivers-gamers; DNG: Drivers-non-gamers; NDG: Non-drivers-gamers; AOIs: Areas of Interest; r-NUMFIX: Relative number of fixations; r-DURFIX: Relative fixations duration