Right-hook crashes in right-hand traffic where cyclists going straight are struck by right-turning vehicles pose a major safety concern. This study aims to establish to which extent such conflicts may stem from non-driving-related tasks (NDRT), low saliency of cyclists (covertness), or drivers’ insufficient knowledge of applicable rules.

Forty-four drivers participated in a fixed-base driving simulator study using an extended reality (XR) setup with integrated eye tracking. Participants were stratified by urban cycling experience (cyclist-drivers vs. drivers) and self-reported driving style (cautious vs. assertive). Each drove an urban route including 12 right-turn-on-yield scenarios, with and without NDRT. Observed visual sampling was combined with a questionnaire-based rule knowledge assessment to examine whether scanning failures were due to workload or lack of rule knowledge.

NDRT engagement primarily reduced default glances while glances to relevant areas (Left, Right, Over Shoulder) were preserved. Over-the-shoulder checks were rare overall. In 85 % of right-turns, no such glance occurred before turning, regardless of NDRT status. Rule knowledge mirrored these patterns, with drivers being more likely to correctly indicate the requirement to yield to salient crossing traffic streams of cars (96 % correct) or cyclists and pedestrians (81 % correct) than non-salient crossing bicycle or pedestrian traffic (46 % correct). Drivers with cycling experience scored slightly better overall but still missed nearly half of the non-salient yielding requirements.

The findings indicate that gaps in rule knowledge contribute to failures to check for cyclists. Countermeasures should prioritise systemic interventions, complemented by education, rather than solely relying on behaviour-focused measures.