scholarly journals Distractive Tasks and the Influence of Driver Attributes

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5094
Author(s):  
Sónia Soares ◽  
Carlos Campos ◽  
João Miguel Leitão ◽  
António Lobo ◽  
António Couto ◽  
...  

Driver distraction is a major problem nowadays, contributing to many deaths, injuries, and economic losses. Despite the effort that has been made to minimize these impacts, considering the technological evolution, distraction at the wheel has tended to increase. Not only tech-related tasks but every task that captures a driver’s attention has impacts on road safety. Moreover, driver behavior and characteristics are known to be heterogeneous, leading to a distinct driving performance, which is a challenge in the road safety perspective. This study aimed to capture the effects of drivers’ personal aspects and habits on their distraction behavior. Following a within-subjects approach, a convenience sample of 50 drivers was exposed to three unexpected events reproduced in a driving simulator. Drivers’ reactions were evaluated through three distinct models: a Lognormal Model to make analyze the visual distraction, a Binary Logit Model to explore the adopted type of reaction, and a Parametric Survival Model to study the reaction times. The research outcomes revealed that drivers’ behavior and perceived workload were distinct when they were engaged in specific secondary tasks and for distinct drivers’ personal attributes and habits. Age and type of distraction showed statistical significance regarding the visual behavior. Moreover, reaction times were consistently related to gender, BMI, sleep patterns, speed, habits while driving, and type of distraction. The habit of engaging in secondary tasks while driving resulted in a cumulative better performance.

Author(s):  
René Reinhard ◽  
Ender Tutulmaz ◽  
Hans M. Rutrecht ◽  
Patricia Hengstenberg ◽  
Britta Geissler ◽  
...  

Objective: The study explores associations of visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) with emergency braking reaction times (RTs) in driving simulator studies. It examines the effects over the progression of multiple simulated drives. Background: Driving simulator usage has many advantages for RT studies; however, if it induces VIMS, the observed driving behavior might deviate from real-world driving, potentially masking or skewing results. Possible effects of VIMS on RT have long been entertained, but the progression of VIMS across simulated drives has so far not been sufficiently considered. Method: Twenty-eight adults completed six drives on 2 days in a fixed-base driving simulator. At five points during each drive, pedestrians entered the road, necessitating emergency braking maneuvers. VIMS severity was assessed every minute using the 20-point Fast Motion Sickness Scale. The progression of VIMS was considered in mixed model analyses. Results: RT predictions were improved by considering VIMS development over time. Here, the relationship of VIMS and RT differed across days and drives. Increases in VIMS symptom severity predicted more prolonged RT after repeated drives on a given day and earlier within each drive. Conclusion: The assessment of VIMS in RT studies can be beneficial. In this context, VIMS measurements in close temporal proximity to the behaviors under study are promising and offer insights into VIMS and its consequences, which are not readily obtainable through questionnaires. Application: Driving simulator–based RT studies should consider cumulative effects of VIMS on performance. Measurement and analysis strategies that consider the time-varying nature of VIMS are recommended.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 4937-4942
Author(s):  
Nur Khairiel Anuar ◽  
Rohafiz Sabar ◽  
Mazli Mutazam

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the wayfinding and signage provisions, sensitivity of senior driving behavior and road safety. Three scenario types were designed using driving simulator to simplify the airport navigation and driving complexity of the road designs to the airport. An assorted road furniture was included on alternative airport road access to provide a variety of wayfinding complexity. Fifteen experience car drivers in range of age 50–54, 55–59 and over 60 years were selected to perform the study. Participants were asked to drove for approximately 20 minutes to complete the simulated driving. The types of errors (parameter) of simulated driving were identified, evaluated and compared to the age group. Results were analyzed by ANOVA and discussed with reference to the use of driving simulator. The ANOVA confirmed that senior drivers’ age group have no significant effect on the airport road design, wayfinding and all research parameters; risk of collisions, exceed the speed limit, traffic light tickets, centerline crossings and road edge excursions.


Author(s):  
Davide Maggi ◽  
Richard Romano ◽  
Oliver Carsten

Objective A driving simulator study explored how drivers behaved depending on their initial role during transitions between highly automated driving (HAD) and longitudinally assisted driving (via adaptive cruise control). Background During HAD, drivers might issue a take-over request (TOR), initiating a transition of control that was not planned. Understanding how drivers behave in this situation and, ultimately, the implications on road safety is of paramount importance. Method Sixteen participants were recruited for this study and performed transitions of control between HAD and longitudinally assisted driving in a driving simulator. While comparing how drivers behaved depending on whether or not they were the initiators, different handover strategies were presented to analyze how drivers adapted to variations in the authority level they were granted at various stages of the transitions. Results Whenever they initiated the transition, drivers were more engaged with the driving task and less prone to follow the guidance of the proposed strategies. Moreover, initiating a transition and having the highest authority share during the handover made the drivers more engaged with the driving task and attentive toward the road. Conclusion Handover strategies that retained a larger authority share were more effective whenever the automation initiated the transition. Under driver-initiated transitions, reducing drivers’ authority was detrimental for both performance and comfort. Application As the operational design domain of automated vehicles (Society of Automotive Engineers [SAE] Level 3/4) expands, the drivers might very well fight boredom by taking over spontaneously, introducing safety issues so far not considered but nevertheless very important.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Clemens Schartmüller ◽  
Klemens Weigl ◽  
Andreas Löcken ◽  
Philipp Wintersberger ◽  
Marco Steinhauser ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Primary driving tasks are increasingly being handled by vehicle automation so that support for non-driving related tasks (NDRTs) is becoming more and more important. In SAE L3 automation, vehicles can require the driver-passenger to take over driving controls, though. Interfaces for NDRTs must therefore guarantee safe operation and should also support productive work. (2) Method: We conducted a within-subjects driving simulator study (N=53) comparing Heads-Up Displays (HUDs) and Auditory Speech Displays (ASDs) for productive NDRT engagement. In this article, we assess the NDRT displays’ effectiveness by evaluating eye-tracking measures and setting them into relation to workload measures, self-ratings, and NDRT/take-over performance. (3) Results: Our data highlights substantially higher gaze dispersion but more extensive glances on the road center in the auditory condition than the HUD condition during automated driving. We further observed potentially safety-critical glance deviations from the road during take-overs after a HUD was used. These differences are reflected in self-ratings, workload indicators and take-over reaction times, but not in driving performance. (4) Conclusion: NDRT interfaces can influence visual attention even beyond their usage during automated driving. In particular, the HUD has resulted in safety-critical glances during manual driving after take-overs. We found this impacted workload and productivity but not driving performance.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-62
Author(s):  
Marcin Budzyński ◽  
Kazimierz Jamroz ◽  
Wojciech Kustra

Abstract In Poland, road inspections were implemented in June 2014 on all national roads. Previous traffic surveys mainly looked at the technical condition of roads, signs and markings; other safety issues were overlooked. The main problem of the inspections is that the qualitative assessment is subjective which affects the classification of the sources of hazard on the road. The paper presents an analysis of the variability of the qualitative assessments of road defects when they are assessed by different teams of inspectors. On this basis, guidelines were developed for the classification of risks based on the relationship between sources of road hazard and the personal and economic losses involved in road accidents. These relationships are quantified using mathematical models to simulate the effect of hazard variability on the consequences of selected road accident causes on sections of the road network.


2018 ◽  
Vol 231 ◽  
pp. 04011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Razin ◽  
Arkadiusz Matysiak ◽  
Mikołaj Kruszewski ◽  
Michał Niezgoda

The article presents the results of the road safety-targeted research on the influence of driving automation system interfaces, regarding the highway chauffeur scenario. The verification of multisensory test stand operation was planned through the research targeting transfer of control in a driving simulator. Such examination on one hand allowed to verify its efficiency as a whole (as well as its modules), while on the other hand it helped to answer a significant question regarding the efficient and time-minimizing communication form with driver through the HMI. One of the main analyzed, road safety-targeted parameters was time needed for taking over the control of the vehicle. The results of conducted experiment show that providing the RtI information using all interfaces available in the vehicle may not to be the most effective way. The examinees achieved the best results when informed through visual and auditory interfaces (t=3,84 s). The next stage of the research will cover the analysis of the maneuvers made after the control takeover.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1940
Author(s):  
Eveline Studer ◽  
Lutz Schönecker ◽  
Mireille Meylan ◽  
Dimitri Stucki ◽  
Ronald Dijkman ◽  
...  

The prevention of bovine respiratory disease is important, as it may lead to impaired welfare, economic losses, and considerable antimicrobial use, which can be associated with antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of respiratory viruses and to identify risk factors for their occurrence. A convenience sample of 764 deep nasopharyngeal swab samples from veal calves was screened by PCR for bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (BPI3V), bovine coronavirus (BCoV), influenza D virus (IDV), and influenza C virus (ICV). The following prevalence rates were observed: BRSV, 2.1%; BPI3V, 3.3%; BCoV, 53.5%; IDV, 4.1%; ICV, 0%. Logistic mixed regression models were built for BCoV to explore associations with calf management and housing. Positive swab samples were more frequent in younger calves than older calves (>100 days; p < 0.001). The probability of detecting BCoV increased with increasing group size in young calves. Findings from this study suggested that young calves should be fattened in small groups to limit the risk of occurrence of BCoV, although an extended spectrum of risk factors for viral associated respiratory disorders such as nutritional aspects should be considered in future studies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5899
Author(s):  
Yeonsoo Jun ◽  
Juneyoung Park ◽  
Chunho Yeom

This paper evaluates experimental variables for virtual road safety audits (VRSAs) through practical experiments to promote sustainable road safety. VRSAs perform road safety audits using driving simulators (DSs), and all objects in the road environment cannot be experimental variables because of realistic constraints. Therefore, the study evaluates the likelihood of recommendation of VRSA experimental variables by comparing DSs experiments and field reviews to secure sustainable road safety conditions. The net promoter score results evaluated “Tunnel”, “Bridge”, “Underpass”, “Footbridge”, “Traffic island”, “Sign”, “Lane”, “Road marking”, “Traffic light”, “Median barrier”, “Road furniture”, and “Traffic condition” as recommended variables. On the contrary, the “Road pavement”, “Drainage”, “Lighting”, “Vehicle”, “Pedestrian”, “Bicycle”, “Accident”, and “Hazard event” variables were not recommended. The study can be used for decision making in VRSA scenario development as an initial effort to evaluate its experimental variables.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document