Impacts of Green Landscapes of Urban Freeway on Driver's Visual Perception: An Equilibrium Effect of Greenness and Complexity

While green landscapes are known to influence drivers’ visual attention, the optimal configurations for enhancing driving safety and performance remain unclear. This study employed eye-tracking technology to investigate eye fixation and gaze behaviors of 24 drivers during a 90-minute simulated urban highway driving task across six distinct landscape conditions across three primary Areas of Interest (AOIs). Within-subject analysis of variance (ANOVA) comparing barren, turf, and woody landscapes revealed that increased greenness significantly directs drivers’ eye movements towards greenery. Comparative analysis of the six landscape conditions suggested that shrub landscape settings achieved the most balanced distribution of visual attention across AOIs, preventing drivers from excessively focusing on either natural or artificial features. Moreover, the ANOVA examining two shrub settings and two tree settings revealed a trade-off effect between landscape greenness and complexity. This study provides crucial empirical evidence for a balanced configuration of greenness and complexity in landscape design, confirming its critical role in achieving optimal visual perception outcomes. Finally, it proposes a triangular theoretical framework linking visual perception, mental states, and driving performance, offering theoretical support and practical reference for future research and design of healthy and safe driving environments.