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Exploring drivers' mental workload and visual demand while using an in-vehicle HMI for eco-safe driving
Xiaomeng Li1, Atiyeh Vaezipour2, Andry Rakotonirainy1
1Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland (CARRS-Q), Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Kelvin Grove, Queensland, 4059, Australia.
Accident; Analysis and Prevention
|September 12, 2020
Summary
Eco-safe driving systems improve road safety and reduce emissions. This study found that while eco-safe human-machine interfaces (HMIs) promote safer driving, the
Area of Science:
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Road Safety Engineering
- Sustainable Transportation
Background:
- Eco-safe driving systems aim to enhance road safety and decrease transport emissions.
- Usability and safety appropriateness of these systems depend on reasonable driver mental workload and visual demands.
- Vehicle-to-vehicle/infrastructure technologies support the implementation of eco-safe driving systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of an eco-safe driving human-machine interface (HMI) on driver mental workload and visual demands.
- To evaluate four HMI information conditions: baseline, advice only, feedback only, and advice & feedback.
- To assess driver responses in simulated traffic scenarios with varying complexity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an advanced driving simulator to test 36 Australian drivers.
- Collected behavioral (braking, acceleration), visual (blink metrics, pupil size), and subjective workload data.
- Evaluated four HMI conditions across two traffic scenarios (intersection with/without traffic).
Main Results:
- The eco-safe HMI promoted smoother braking and acceleration, indicating improved driving behavior.
- Driver mental workload, measured visually and subjectively, was consistent across methods.
- The 'advice & feedback' HMI condition resulted in higher mental workload.
- Increased mental workload correlated with more blinking; increased visual demand correlated with blink inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Eco-safe driving HMIs can effectively promote safer driving behaviors.
- The tested HMI did not impose excessive mental or visual workload on drivers.
- Understanding the interplay between mental workload, visual demand, and driver behavior is crucial for HMI design.
