Curve Perception by Drivers: Dependence of the Critical Viewing Distance on Planting Structures and the Driver's Experience

The perception of road curves by car drivers was studied in a simulated driving situation. The purpose was to investigate how planting structures along the road would affect the distance at which the curve was clearly perceived by novices and by experienced subjects, respectively. Subjects rated the clarity of the curve percept in different situations on a nominal scale from 1 to 7. Estimations were made under static conditions at the distances 0 m, 100 m, and 200 m before the beginning of the curve. The critical point for a clear percept was found to be at 100 m for novices and at 200 m for experienced drivers. The planting conditions made no difference.