Developmental differences in auditory detection and localization of approaching vehicles.
Pedestrian safety is a significant problem in the United States, with thousands being injured each year. Multiple risk factors exist, but one poorly understood factor is pedestrians' ability to attend to vehicles using auditory cues. Auditory information in the pedestrian setting is increasing in importance with the growing number of quieter hybrid and all-electric vehicles on America's roadways that do not emit sound cues pedestrians expect from an approaching vehicle. Our study explored developmental differences in pedestrians' detection and localization of approaching vehicles. Fifty children ages 6-9 years, and 35 adults participated. Participants' performance varied significantly by age, and with increasing speed and direction of the vehicle's approach. Results underscore the importance of understanding children's and adults' use of auditory cues for pedestrian safety and highlight the need for further research.
Department of Psychology and Communication Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844-3043, United States. barton@uidaho.edu
Benjamin K
BK
Barton
Roger
R
Lew
Casey
C
Kovesdi
Nicholas D
ND
Cottrell
Thomas
T
Ulrich
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D001336:Automobiles; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009038:Motion; D012449:Safety; D013017:Sound Localization; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis