Distraction Effects of Phone Use During a Crucial Driving Maneuver

Forty-two licensed drivers were tested in an experiment that required them to react to an invehicle phone at precisely the same time as they were faced with making a crucial driving decision. Using test track facilities, we extended a previous evaluation of this form to include examination of the influence of driver gender and driver age. Specifically, each driver was given task practice and then performed two blocks of twenty-four trials each, where one trial represented a circuit of the test track. Half of the trials were control conditions in which neither the stop-light was activated or the in-vehicle phone triggered. Four trials required only stopping and a further four only phone response. The remaining four trials required the driver to complete each task simultaneously. The order of presentation of specific trials was randomized. The invehicle phone response task also contained an embedded memory task that was evaluated at the end of each trial. Results confirmed previous observations of slower task response followed by increased braking and that these patterns varied by driver age and gender. Most importantly, we recorded a critical 15% increase in non-response to the stop-light in the presence of the phone distraction task which represents stop light violations on the open road. Further, results showed that age had a much large effect on response than gender, especially on task components that required speed of response. Since driving represents a highly complex and interactive environment, it is not possible to specify a simplistic relationship between these distraction effects and outcome accident patterns. However, we can conclude that such technologies erode performance safety margin and distract drivers from their critical primary task of vehicle control. As such there is expectedly a causal relation in accident outcome that is a crucial concern for invehicle device designers and for all others seeking to ameliorate the adverse impact of vehicle accidents

Evaluating Workload Associated with Telematic Devices via a Secondary Task Protocol

There are a variety of driver distractions that negatively affect driver workload and performance. These distractions range attempting to light a cigarette, and putting on make-up, to eating or drinking, tuning the radio, using a cellular phone, or using an in-vehicle navigation system. Of particular present interest are the distracting effects of telematic devices, which include traffic information systems, telecommunication, intelligent aid and control, and navigational systems. These devices can now be found on-board various types of U.S. and foreign automobiles. Despite having many potential benefits, there are also several behavioral problems resulting from poor use of these devices. The present research was designed to investigate the deleterious effects of telematics on driver performance. It was hypothesized that all the telematic systems used in this study would degrade driver performance and increase workload. A mixed-model factorial design (2x3) was used, with telematics being a between-subject factor and allocation phase a within-subject factor (repeated measures). All participants were required to drive three, four-minute simulated (pre, during, and post) allocation phases. In the preallocation phase, participants were required to drive while performing a secondary counting task, (counting and responding to a series of randomly presented visual signals). During the allocation phase, participants were required to drive and perform the secondary counting task while either talking on the phone or tuning a radio (distractibility task). In the post-allocation phase, participants were required to drive while performing the secondary counting task. Data from the counting task (number of correct, wrong, and misses) and driving errors (collisions, crossing the median, leaving the road, maintaining the speed limit, and lane deviations) were recorded and statistically analyzed. Thirty-four participants (nine males and 25 females) from the University of Central Florida participated in this study. A series of analyses of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to test for the effects of telematics and workload on each of the dependent measures. A significant main effect of phase on lane deviations was observed, F(2, 64) = 10.58, p < .001, indicating that more lane deviations were made during the cell phone and radio tuning use (M = 9.14) than during both of the pre-allocation (M = 4.14) and post-allocation (M = 5.88) phases. ANOVA also yielded a significant main effect of phase on crossing the median, F(3, 68) = 4.63, p < .05, indicating that more crossings were made during the allocation phase (M = 5.05) than during the pre-allocation (M = 3.05) and post-allocation (M = 4.47) phases. Similarly, the results also showed a significant effect of phase on the distraction task performance, F(2, 64) = 5.70, p < .01, indicating that more errors were made during the allocation phase (M = 6.50) than during the pre-allocation (M = 4.50) and the post-allocation (M = 3.38) phases. The present findings indicate that both cellular phone and radio systems are capacity demanding. The counting task results demonstrate the increased level of workload associated with these telematic devices. In addition, driving performance errors were also higher for both the cellular phone and the radio systems. Our findings suggest the need to regulate the use of such devices in order to avoid overloading the driver’s attentional spare capacity

Evaluating the Presence of In-Vehicle Devices on Driver Performance: Methodological Issues

A central concern of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is the effect of in-vehicle devices (e.g. cell phones, navigation systems, radios) on driver performance and safety. As diverse and innovative technologies are designed and implemented for in-vehicle use, questions regarding the presence and use of these devices assume progressively greater importance. Concern for the safety of advanced driver training and require us to develop and validate reliable and effective procedures for assessing such effects. This work examines a number of candidate procedures, in particular the evaluation of cognitive workload as a strategy by which such goals might be achieved

The Effects Of Computer User Handedness On A Mouse-Clicking Task

The present study examined computer user handedness on a motor task using Fitts\u27s Law. Results indicated that right-handed participants were significantly faster than the left-handed participants when performing the motor task as measured by the Index of Performance. This finding could be partially attributed to the mouse design that is inconsistent with differential user handedness. Conversely, this finding could also be partially attributed to the degree of training left-handed participants received relative to their right-handed counterparts. The right-handed users outperformed their counterpart left-handed users perhaps because of physical design biases or relative degree of training. The present findings have practical implications for computer input device such as game controllers, joysticks, or mice that are physically designed for right-handed users

Automation And Human Performance: Theory And Applications

There is perhaps no facet of modern society where the influence of computer automation has not been felt. Flight management systems for pilots, diagnostic and surgical aids for physicians, navigational displays for drivers, and decision-aiding systems for air-traffic controllers, represent only a few of the numerous domains in which powerful new automation technologies have been introduced. The benefits that have been reaped from this technological revolution have been many. At the same time, automation has not always worked as planned by designers, and many problems have arisen-from minor inefficiencies of operation to large-scale, catastrophic accidents. Understanding how humans interact with automation is vital for the successful design of new automated systems that are both safe and efficient. The influence of automation technology on human performance has often been investigated in a fragmentary, isolated manner, with investigators conducting disconnected studies in different domains. There has been little contact between these endeavors, although principles gleaned from one domain may have implications for another. Also, with a few exceptions, the research has tended to be empirical and only theory-driven. In recent years, however, various groups of investigators have begun to examine human performance in automated systems in general and to develop theories of human interaction with automation technology. This book presents the current theories and assesses the impact of automation on different aspects of human performance. Both basic and applied research is presented to highlight the general principles of human-computer interaction in several domains where automation technologies are widely implemented. The major premise is that a broad-based, theory-driven approach will have significant implications for the effective design of both current and future automation technologies. This volume will be of considerable value to researchers in human

Trend Analysis Of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Uavs) Research Published In The Hfes Proceedings

The present study was designed to examine the research trends in the literature focusing on Human Factors issues relevant to Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems. As these UAV technologies continue to proliferate with increasing autonomy and supervisory control requirements, it is crucial to evaluate the current and emerging research trends across the generations. This paper reviews the research trends of 228 papers matching our search criteria. The search retained only relevant and complete papers published over the past thirty years (1988-2017) in the Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Results were tabulated, graphed, and discussed based on research categories, topic areas, authors\u27 affdiation, and sources of funding. Results showed a substantial increase in the number of articles in the last two decades, with most papers driven by academic institutions and military and government agencies

A Student\u27S Guide To Hci Research And Database Development

This paper is intended to provide a useful guide and reference for those students (or researchers) attempting to familiarize themselves with the large body of HCI research available. This paper discusses trends, labs, funding sources, implications, and major contributions to HCI over the past decade (1995-2005) as documented through the British Journal of Behaviour & Information Technology. Several graphs are provided to illustrate patterns of interest and publication of HCI research with step-by-step guidance for the overwhelmed student (or researcher) for everything from narrowing relevant HCI journals and articles to a sampling of funding sources. All in the hope of providing a guide to understanding what has been done in the field, where to get started, and the direction HCI research may be going in the future

Executive Attention As A Predictor Of Distracted Driving Performance

The present study empirically examines the role of executive attention as a predictor of distracted driving performance. As ADHD is an attention-related disorder, we hypothesized that ADHD individuals would show poorer executive attention compared to individuals from a community sample. Second, we predicted that individuals with poorer executive attention would show riskier driving as measured by a self-report questionnaire and simulated driving trials. One-hundred thirteen individuals with and without ADHD completed an executive attention task, a driving behavior questionnaire, and three (pre-distracted, distracted, and post-distracted) simulated driving routes. Results showed that executive attention is associated with braking response times during distracted driving trials. There was also evidence for carryover effects of distraction, with participants showing slower braking response times even after the distracting task was discontinued. Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between ADHD and executive attention