Work

Children’s visual attention in street-crossing tasks: insights from virtual reality and eye tracking

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study examined visual attention in children's street-crossing behaviour using a virtual reality (VR) environment with integrated eye-tracking. We hypothesized that older children would spend more time and a higher proportion of time focusing on vehicles, that boys would spend less time looking at vehicles than girls, and that greater visual attention would be associated with fewer dangerous crossings. A total of 377 children aged 7 to 10 completed six VR street-crossing trials, during which their gaze behaviour was recorded and analysed using linear regression. Results showed that older children spent a higher proportion of time looking at vehicles, indicating developmental improvements in attention. Boys spent less total time focusing on vehicles. Greater visual attention to vehicles was associated with fewer dangerous crossings, underscoring its role in pedestrian safety. These findings highlight developmental differences in gaze and the importance of attention to traffic-relevant elements.

Source: International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion

DOI: 10.1080/17457300.2025.2568567

Authors: Ole Johan Sando, David C. Schwebel, Rasmus Kleppe, Jo Skjermo, Dagfinn Moe, Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter

Institutions: Queen Maud University College, University of Alabama at Birmingham, SINTEF Community

Language: English

Topic: Traffic and Road Safety

Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Norges Forskningsråd