Development of a Foot Behavior Evaluation System Based on Automatic Hazard Scene Detection and Foot Joint Tracking

Kazuma Suzaki (Department of Modern Mechanical Engineering, School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University)･Hiroaki Hayashi･Shigeki Sugano (Department of Modern Mechanical Engineering, Waseda University)･Mitsuhiro Kamezaki (Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo)

Preventive actions that enable immediate response to potential hazards are crucial for avoiding traffic accidents. This study focuses on the driver's right foot movement in preparation for braking. We propose an automatic evaluation method that detects hazardous situations (e.g., passing parked vehicles, driving in parking areas) using a front-facing camera, and tracks foot joint movements using a footwell camera to assess whether and when the foot moves toward the brake. Experimental results showed over 90% agreement with instructor evaluations.

Early Detection of Latent Unsafe Consciousness Based on Dynamic Estimation of Internal Driver State

Hironori Suzuki (Toyo University)･Toshiaki Kimura (Kyoto Tachibana University)･Jun Tajima (Misaki Design LLC)

Many traffic accidents caused by drivers are triggered by observable unsafe behaviors, which themselves may be rooted in latent unsafe awareness or unconscious cognitive states. Understanding and anticipating these underlying states is essential for improving driving safety. This study proposes an algorithm that dynamically estimates the internal state of the driver to detect early signs of latent unsafe awareness before it manifests as atypical driving. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is validated using experimental data collected from a driving simulator under various cognitive and environmental conditions.

Comparative analysis of Japanese and Chinese drivers behavior using the KM safe driving test kit

Masahiro Yamataka (Aichi University of Technology)･Katsuya Matsunaga (Kyushui university (emeritus professor))

This study examines the driving behavior of Japanese and Chinese individuals, assessing the impact of driver’s license possession and nationality on cognitive processing and reaction latency during driving. The KM Safety Driving Test Kit was employed to quantify cognitive load, reaction efficiency, and timing precision. The results indicate that among licensed drivers, Japanese participants exhibited reduced cognitive response times and greater temporal stability compared to their Chinese counterparts. Conversely, among unlicensed individuals, Chinese participants demonstrated accelerated and less variable cognitive reaction times relative to their Japanese peers. These findings suggest that driving experience enhances cognitive decision-making efficiency, while that differences in traffic environments may also influence driving behavior.

Characteristics of Bicycle Driving at Unsignalized Intersections by Non-Driving License Holders

Oto Nagamine･Hiroshi Yoshitake･Motoki Shino (Institute of Science Tokyo)

Since there are many bicycle accidents involving junior high and high school students and the bicycle side is often at fault, there is a need for safe driving assistance for cyclists. In this study, we focused on the fact that junior high and high school students do not have a driving license, and used a simulator to understand the characteristics of bicycle driving by those who do not have a driving license at unsignalized intersections, a scene where many accidents occur.

Investigation of Control Requirements for Maintaining Driving Excitement and Arousal in Level 2 Driver Assistance Systems

Masahiko Kato･Maki Sakamoto･Kenji Tanaka (University of Electro-Communications)

We conducted a study of control specifications to maintain high arousal and ensure safety during highway driving with a Level 2 driver assistance system. Referring to the idea of Russell's Circle Model, we presented control requirements that would achieve both high arousal and driving pleasure during driving by representing the driver's emotions on a plane with two axes: driving pleasure and arousal level.

Consideration of Indicators to Distinguish the Decrease in Attention Resources for Driving
-Capturing the Eye-Centering Phenomenon through Fixation Time-

Hiroaki Ogawa･Katsushi Asami (DENSO)･Takushi Kawamorita (Kitasato University)

We are studying a method to distinguish a state (cognitive distraction) in which the driver is looking ahead but is not sufficiently cognitive and attentional resources for driving are reduced using eye movements.
In addition to the control task of following the moving visual object displayed on the display with the eyes, the n-back task was imposed to reproduce the state of reduced attentional resources. The "eye-centering phenomenon" in which the gaze is located in the center of the visual field was frequently observed.
When this phenomenon was quantified by the fixation time near the center of the visual field, it was suggested that this condition could be distinguished with more than 80% accuracy.