Get Ready for Take-Overs: Using Head-Up Display for Drivers to Engage in Non–Driving-Related Tasks in Automated Vehicles

Objective The study aims to investigate the potential of using HUD (head-up display) as an approach for drivers to engage in non–driving-related tasks (NDRTs) during automated driving, and examine the impacts on driver state and take-over performance in comparison to the traditional mobile phone. Background Advances in automated vehicle technology have the potential to relieve drivers from driving tasks so that they can engage in NDRTs freely. However, drivers will still need to take-over control under certain circumstances. Method A driving simulation experiment was conducted using an Advanced Driving Simulator and real-world driving videos. Forty-six participants completed three drives in three display conditions, respectively (HUD, mobile phone and baseline without NDRT). The HUD was integrated with the vehicle in displaying NDRTs while the mobile phone was not. Drivers’ visual (e.g. gaze, blink) and physiological (e.g. ECG, EDA) data were collected to measure driver state. Two take-over reaction times (hand and foot) were used to measure take-over performance. Results The HUD significantly shortened the take-over reaction times compared to the mobile phone condition. Compared to the baseline condition, drivers in the HUD condition also experienced lower cognitive workload and physiological arousal. Drivers’ take-over reaction times were significantly correlated with their visual and electrodermal activities during automated driving prior to the take-over request. Conclusion HUDs can improve driver performance and lower workload when used as an NDRT interface. Application The study sheds light on a promising approach for drivers to engage in NDRTs in future AVs.

Impact of Safety Culture Implementation on Driving Performance among Oil and Gas Tanker Drivers: A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) Approach

This research aims to develop a safety culture model by investigating the relationship between safety culture and driving performance. In previous studies, safety culture has been one of the factors that determine safety issues. These issues were then contextually transformed via a pilot study and organized in the form of a theoretical model. The data were collected from 307 oil and gas tanker drivers in Malaysia through questionnaire surveys. Consequently, structural equation models of partial least squares (PLS-SEM) were applied to statistically assess the final model of this study. The results showed that the implementation of safety culture contributes to driving performance at a substantial level; there is a strong association with an effect of 67.3%. The findings of this research would serve as a benchmark for decision-makers in the oil and gas transportation sector, as promoting an awareness of safety culture should boost the efficiency of drivers. This research fills a gap in knowledge by identifying that positive safety culture practices and mindset are direct antecedents for the improvement of driver performance and, thus, the avoidance of road accidents.

How Do Non-driving-related Tasks Affect Engagement Under Highly Automated Driving Situations? A Literature Review

Driving automation has become a trending topic over the past decade, as recent technical and technological improvements have created hope for a possible short-term release of partially automated vehicles. Several research teams have been exploring driver performance during control transitions performed under highly automated driving (i.e., while resuming manual driving, when facing a critical situation for instance). In this paper, we present a state of the art of studies dealing with control transitions as well as the concept of non-driving-related task (NDRT) engagement. More specifically, we aim to provide a global view on how task engagement is investigated in the literature. Two main utilisations of task engagement emerged from our literature review: its manipulation as independent variable to vary the driver’s engagement state before a control transition, and its measurement as dependent variable to compare its variation to driving behaviour variables during a control transition. Furthermore, we propose a new perspective on control transition, which was so far studied through a techno-centric approach; research works were indeed designed in function of the system state. Our article suggests a more cognitive-centred view by taking in account the evolution of engagement mechanisms along control transition stages. Finally, we provide a categorisation of engagement mechanisms’ variables involved during these different stages, with a view to facilitate future investigations on the driver’s engagement state during this crucial phase of highly automated driving.

The impact of measuring driver performance on the bulk fuel supply chain

Background: The distribution of bulk fuel products to customers is one of the key activities in the downstream petroleum supply chain. For this activity to be effected successfully, three groups of supply chain participants, drivers, supervisors and customers, play key roles. Truck drivers are responsible for conveying the final product to the customer, whilst supervisors ensure that trucks are dispatched on time, driver performance is monitored and performance feedback is properly communicated to drivers. Customers, who purchase the final products, are the foundation of business success. Business success is only possible by meeting or exceeding customer expectations, and it is therefore imperative that the performance of employees is measured and monitored regularly.Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine the impact of measuring driver performance on the bulk fuel supply chain and on customer service.Method: A quantitative research methodology was conducted using structured questionnaires which were disseminated before and after the key performance indicators were implemented to three target groups.Results: The study found that the performance of drivers improved because of the performance feedback they received from supervisors who were perceived to have improved in their performance through the effective utilisation of key performance indicators, and as a result, this increased customer service levels.Conclusion: Whilst the research was limited to a single petroleum company, the results can provide management with guidance and insight on how to improve performance of employees through the use of key performance indicators, with a goal of providing excellent customer service.

Grip Force on Steering Wheel as a Measure of Stress

Driver performance is crucial for road safety. There is a relationship between performance and stress such that too high or too low stress levels (usually characterized by stressful or careless driving, respectively) impair driving quality. Therefore, monitoring stress levels can improve the overall performance of drivers by providing either an alert or intervention when stress levels are sub-optimal. Commonly used stress measures suffer from several shortcomings, such as time delays in indication and invasiveness of sensors. Grip force is a relatively new measure that shows promising results in measuring stress during psychomotor tasks. In driving, grip force sensor is non-invasive and transparent to the end user as drivers must continuously grip the steering wheel. The aim of the current research is to examine whether grip force can be used as a useful measure of stress in driving tasks. Twenty-one participants took part in a field experiment in which they were required to brake the vehicle in various intensities. The effects of the braking intensity on grip force, heart rate, and heart rate variability were analyzed. The results indicate a significant correlation between these three parameters. These results provide initial evidence that grip force can be used to measure stress in driving tasks. These findings may have several applications in the field of stress and driving research as well as in the vehicle safety domain.

Evaluating the Impact of Sight Distance and Geometric Alignment on Driver Performance in Freeway Exits Diverging Area Based on Simulated Driving Data

The decision sight distance (DSD) at freeway exits is a major factor affecting traffic safety. Based on the Hechizhai Interchange in Xi’an City (Shaanxi Province, China), this paper designs a simulation experiment. Through a simulator study and a questionnaire survey, this paper discusses the impact of the DSD, 1.25 times the stopping sight distance (SSD) and a circular curve deflection on a driver’s driving state (including steering wheel angle rate and steering wheel angle frequency domain). Thirty volunteers participated in this research. The result shows that (1) it is safer to drive on an exit that meets DSD. (2) If it only meets the 1.25 times the SSD requirement, the overloaded driving tasks and operation would be more likely to cause crashes. The driving state of the driver on the right circular curve is obviously better than that on the left circular curve, because changing lanes to the right on the left circular curve does not meet the driver’s expectations. (3) Left and right circular curve should be treated differently in the driving area and the constant sight distance requirements should not be applied. (4) The left circular curve should be more stringent to ensure driving safety.

Evaluation of fog warning system on driving under heavy fog condition based on driving simulator

Purpose Heavy fog results in low visibility, which increases the probability and severity of traffic crashes, and fog warning system is conducive to the reduction of crashes by conveying warning messages to drivers. This paper aims at exploring the effects of dynamic message sign (DMS) of fog warning system on driver performance. Design/methodology/approach First, a testing platform was established based on driving simulator and driver performance data under DMS were collected. The experiment route was consisted of three different zones (i.e. warning zone, transition zone and heavy fog zone), and mean speed, mean acceleration, mean jerk in the whole zone, ending speed in the warning zone and transition zone, maximum deceleration rate and mean speed reduction proportion in the transition zone and heavy fog zone were selected. Next, the one-way analysis of variance was applied to test the significant difference between the metrics. Besides, drivers’ subjective perception was also considered. Findings The results indicated that DMS is beneficial to reduce speed before drivers enter the heavy fog zone. Besides, when drivers enter a heavy fog zone, DMS can reduce the tension of drivers and make drivers operate more smoothly. Originality/value This paper provides a comprehensive approach for evaluating the effectiveness of the warning system in adverse conditions based on the driving simulation test platform. The method can be extended to the evaluation of vehicle-to-infrastructure technology in other special scenarios.