The impact of distraction mitigation strategies on driving performance.
OBJECTIVE
An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of distraction mitigation strategies on drivers' performance and productivity while engaged in an in-vehicle information system task.


BACKGROUND
Previous studies show that in-vehicle tasks undermine driver safety and there is a need to mitigate driver distraction.


METHODS
An advising strategy that alerts drivers to potential dangers and a locking strategy that prevents the driver from continuing the distracting task were presented to 16 middle-aged and 12 older drivers in a driving simulator in two modes (auditory, visual) and two road conditions (curves, braking events).


RESULTS
Distraction was a problem for both age groups. Visual distractions were more detrimental than auditory ones for curve negotiation, as depicted by more erratic steering, F (6, 155) = 26.76, p < .05. Drivers did brake more abruptly under auditory distractions, but this effect was mitigated by both the advising, t (155) = 8.37, p < .05, and locking strategies, t (155) = 8.49, p < .05. The locking strategy also resulted in longer minimum time to collision for middle-aged drivers engaged in visual distractions, F (6, 138) = 2.43, p < .05.


CONCLUSIONS
Adaptive interfaces can reduce abrupt braking on curve entries resulting from auditory distractions and can also improve the braking response for distracted drivers.


CONCLUSIONS
These strategies can be incorporated into existing in-vehicle systems, thus mitigating the effects of distraction and improving driver performance.
Donmez
Birsen
B
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52245, USA.
Boyle
Linda Ng
LN
Lee
John D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology; D003626:Data Display; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012449:Safety; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014584:User-Computer Interface