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

Ole Johan Sando; David C Schwebel; Rasmus Kleppe; Jo Skjermo; Dagfinn Moe; Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter

doi:10.1080/17457300.2025.2568567

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

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

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

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

International journal of injury control and safety promotion

10/08/2025

DOI: 10.1080/17457300.2025.2568567

PMID: 41061124

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https://doi.org/10.1080/17457300.2025.2568567View

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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.

Virtual Reality

street-crossing

Visual attention

eye tracking

Details

Title: Subtitle: Children's visual attention in street-crossing tasks: insights from virtual reality and eye tracking
Creators: Ole Johan Sando - Queen Maud University College
David C Schwebel - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Rasmus Kleppe - Queen Maud University College
Jo Skjermo - SINTEF
Dagfinn Moe - SINTEF
Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter - Queen Maud University College
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: International journal of injury control and safety promotion
DOI: 10.1080/17457300.2025.2568567
PMID: 41061124
NLM abbreviation: Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot
ISSN: 1745-7319
eISSN: 1745-7319
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Grant note: Research Council of Norway: 324155
This study was funded by the Research Council of Norway (project number 324155).
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 10/08/2025
Academic Unit: Research Administration; Psychological and Brain Sciences
Record Identifier: 9985014901402771

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