Analysis of Risk Factors in Motorcycle Riding and Distribution of Attention Using Eye Tracking, Interview, and Video–Preliminary Study

Nord University and SINTEF Community, in collaboration with Trygg Trafikk, have carried out a preliminary research study examining the motorcycle accident risk factors and the possible causal relationships of single-motorcycle accidents and multiple-vehicle collisions. The objective was to investigate the distribution of motorcyclists' attention using eye-tracking, interview, and video analysis. The main research question of the study was: What are the most critical factors for riding a motorcycle safely? Nine motorcyclists with different knowledge and experience levels in riding a motorcycle participated in the study. The Tobii eye-tracking system was used to record and reveal the ability of motorcyclists to orient themselves when riding the same route with roundabouts, intersections, and roads with different speed limits. Their riding tours were recorded, and the eye fixation points, fixation point durations, and eye movements were analyzed. All the motorcyclists were interviewed after riding the specific route to understand individual differences in their subjective experiences: self-reported behavior related to planning, attention seeking, speed selection, and road positioning. The study provides findings that strengthen the knowledge base for those who plan and carry out the education of motorcycle instructors and motorcycle riders. The findings will be of high interest for road safety decision makers and for launching new awareness and information campaigns.

Keywords: Motorcycle, Eye tracking, Accidents, Cognitive maps, Vision Zero strategy.

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