Project Objectives

• Do anxious and non-anxious young drivers differ in their self-reported stress, confusion, safety, and scenario comfort during simulated drives?

• Does a single positive affirmation influence stress, confusion, and safety ratings differently for anxious vs. non-anxious drivers?

• Why it matters: Young drivers are particularly vulnerable to crash risk; understanding how anxiety and affirmations influence perception can inform interventions that promote safer, more confident driving.

Data and Results

• Participants: 31 licensed young adult drivers (18–25), grouped by self-reported driving anxiety.

• Instruments: VR driving simulator with integrated eye-tracking.

• Findings: Anxious drivers showed significantly lower saccade counts during high-demand scenarios (e.g., pedestrian crossing), suggesting narrowed visual scanning.

• Affirmation effect: After a positive self-affirmation, saccade counts increased in  the anxious group, indicating improved attentional flexibility.

Significance

• Driving anxiety can impair visual scanning, reducing a young driver’s ability to detect hazards.

• Self-affirmation may offer a simple, low-cost way to improve attention and reduce risk in anxious drivers.

• Next steps: Explore long-term effects of affirmation and test in real-world or on-road driving settings.

Publication or Conference

Paper to be submitted to TRB (Transportation Research Board) for conference

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Center for Geological and Climate Hazards

Interdisciplinary Research Experience for Undergraduates in Atmospheric and Geological Hazards