Impact of Vehicle Automation on Young Drivers’ Distraction and Strategies for Mitigating Risks

Abstract

Automated Driving Systems (ADS) are vehicle technologies designed to reduce human error and enhance drivers' safety and comfort. ADS can temporarily (SAE Level 3) or permanently (SAE Level 4 – 5) take over part of the driving task. At Level 3, drivers can rely on the system to handle all driving tasks, but may need to take control in certain situations. However, the use of these technologies can introduce new challenges related to human factors. Previous research indicates that drivers tend to engage in non-driving-related tasks (NDRTs) even when lower levels of automation are engaged. This behavior can lead to issues such as delayed reaction times and reduced situation awareness. This is especially risky for teenage or young drivers, who are less experienced and more likely to use NDRTs while driving. Therefore, it is important to understand how young drivers interact with NDRTs when using higher levels of automation. To address this, an observational study was conducted with 12 young drivers. The study used eye movement observations to gain insights into how young drivers interact with NDRTs and automation. Additionally, the drivers' reactions provided details on how these interactions affect their awareness of the system. These observations imply that if uninterrupted, young drivers will continue to engage in NDRTs and that drivers look to the instrument panel for better communication. The findings from this observational study were then used to design and develop two new human-machine-interaction (HMI) systems that would help mitigate distraction behaviors and improve takeover behaviors. A second simulator study was conducted involving 24 teenage drivers with the aim of thoroughly evaluating the effectiveness of two methods. In this study, participants' focus, as well as their attention on driving-related areas and the secondary tasks, were evaluated. The findings indicate that drivers who received DSM alerts were better at responding to TOR and maintained stable driving performance during manual driving. Participants given the CHMI did show an improvement in takeover response and better driving performance compared to the control group, though this was not significantly different. Providing alerts to redirect drivers' attention toward driving-related areas while approaching takeover situations may be sufficient to help them take control safely and quickly. The findings provide valuable insights into the interaction of distraction behaviors of teenagers and higher levels of automation, while also providing a deeper understanding of distraction mitigation in the context of automation.H. Clay Gabler Scholar’s Program Award by the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM)Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.