Chronotype refers to individual differences in the timing of circadian sleep-wake cycles and subjective alertness throughout the day. It is a potential factor influencing people's driving behaviour, but no research has explored the mechanisms underlying this topic. The current study aimed to explore the relationship between morningness-eveningness preferences and driving behaviour and the mediating effect of visual search between them. Thirty-eight drivers were selected to participate in this study based on their chronotype. They were divided into morning-type and evening-type groups by their score on the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ). Both groups completed a visual search task and a simulated driving task in a morning session and an evening session. The results showed that morningness-eveningness preferences had synchronous effects on basic driving performance; specifically, morning-type drivers showed better driving behaviour in the morning than in the evening, and evening-type drivers showed the opposite trend. Furthermore, visual search abilities showed a mediating effect between morningness-eveningness preference and driving performance. The mechanisms underlying these results are discussed. Related results and data could aid with schedule arrangements for professional drivers.

时间型指昼夜节律睡眠-觉醒周期的时间和全天主观警觉性的个体差异。它是影响人们驾驶行为的潜在因素，但没有研究探讨过该主题背后的机制。目前的研究旨在探讨早晚偏好与驾驶行为之间的关系以及视觉搜索在它们之间的中介作用。38 名司机根据他们的时间类型被选中参与这项研究。根据他们在简化的早晚问卷 (rMEQ) 上的得分，将他们分为早间型和晚间型组。两组均在上午和晚上的课程中完成了视觉搜索任务和模拟驾驶任务。结果表明，早晚偏好对基本驾驶性能有同步影响；具体来说，晨型司机在早上的驾驶行为比晚上好，而晚间型司机则表现出相反的趋势。此外，视觉搜索能力显示出早晚偏好与驾驶性能之间的中介作用。讨论了这些结果背后的机制。相关结果和数据有助于为专业司机安排日程。讨论了这些结果背后的机制。相关结果和数据有助于为专业司机安排日程。讨论了这些结果背后的机制。相关结果和数据有助于为专业司机安排日程。