Impact of Visual Attention and Useful Field of View in Driving: A Review

Driving includes a complex task of visual information processing and cognitive functions. Two of the most studied and complex factors in this context are visual attention and the useful field of view. These visual tasks are interconnected and play a crucial role in driving safety and hence have to be incorporated in the comprehensive assessment in the evaluation of driving performances.

Aim of the review is to delve into the significance of visual attention and UFOV in driving, exploring their relationship with driving performance, factors that influence them, and potential interventions to enhance these cognitive abilities. Articles were selected based on the topic relevance and methodological rigor. Further articles were selected based on the cross-referencing from the relevant articles. The search included articles from the year 2003 and further. Articles in languages other than English were not included

Results show that Visual attention is important for viewing and reacting to relevant information from clutter. Problems with visual attention can lead to delayed reaction time in perception of hazards, hence resulting in accidents. Reduced Useful field of vision may lead to limitations on peripheral information processing that can impact driving related tasks.

This narrative review aims at providing the basic understanding of the existing literature on Visual attention and useful field of view. It also covers the impact of these factors on driving performance and safety, influencing factors, existing literature, and future scope.