A new study at Rice University asked whether drivers understand cyclist hand signals. The research was led by a doctoral student in psychological sciences.
In the study, drivers watched realistic road scenes and were asked to predict whether a cyclist would turn left, turn right, stop or go straight. Each scene combined three cues: arm signals, head movement and the cyclist's position on the road.
Drivers relied mostly on arm signals. Lane position and a glance over the shoulder did not improve predictions much. Eye tracking showed drivers looked at the cyclist's back first, then at the arms or head. Simulated phone conversations made drivers worse. The researchers say clearer signals and better education are needed.
Difficult words
- study — a careful examination or research project
- predict — to say what will happen next
- signal — a movement or sign that gives informationarm signals, clearer signals
- position — the place of something on the roadLane position, cyclist's position
- eye tracking — a method that records where people look
- simulate — to make something seem like the real thingSimulated phone conversations
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you seen cyclists use hand signals on the road? Describe one example.
- How can drivers learn to understand cyclist signals better?
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