title: Advanced driver assistance systems: Using multimodal redundant warnings to enhance road safety.
abstract: This study investigated whether multimodal redundant warnings presented by advanced assistance systems reduce brake response times. Warnings presented by assistance systems are designed to assist drivers by informing them that evasive driving maneuvers are needed in order to avoid a potential accident. If these warnings are poorly designed, they may distract drivers, slow their responses, and reduce road safety. In two experiments, participants drove a simulated vehicle equipped with a forward collision avoidance system. Auditory, vibrotactile, and multimodal warnings were presented when the time to collision was shorter than five seconds. The effects of these warnings were investigated with participants performing a concurrent cell phone conversation (Exp. 1) or driving in high-density traffic (Exp. 2). Braking times and subjective workload were measured. Multimodal redundant warnings elicited faster braking reaction times. These warnings were found to be effective even when talking on a cell phone (Exp. 1) or driving in dense traffic (Exp. 2). Multimodal warnings produced higher ratings of urgency, but ratings of frustration did not increase compared to other warnings. Findings obtained in these two experiments are important given that faster braking responses may reduce the potential for a collision.
authors.affiliation: Jaguar Land Rover, United Kingdom; University of Padova, Italy; Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States. Electronic address: francesco.biondi1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biondi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Strayer
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gastaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mulatti
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D040421:Cell Phone; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003463:Cues; D000071826:Distracted Driving; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time; D012449:Safety; D013016:Sound; D014732:Vibration; D016526:Workload; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Automation; Multimodal; Warnings