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Evaluating driver eye glance behavior and secondary task engagement while using driving automation systems.
Alexandria M Noble1, Melissa Miles2, Miguel A Perez3
1Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Accident; Analysis and Prevention
|January 1, 2021
Summary
Drivers using partial driving automation systems (DAS) look away from the road more often and engage in more secondary tasks, like using cell phones. This reduced driver monitoring poses safety risks for automated driving.
Area of Science:
- Human-Factors Engineering
- Automotive Safety
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Partial driving automation systems (DAS) shift drivers from active participants to passive supervisors.
- This role change may lead to insufficient monitoring of both the automation and the driving environment.
- Understanding driver behavior with active DAS is crucial for ensuring safe operation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess differences in driver eye glance behavior and secondary task engagement when DAS are active versus inactive.
- To evaluate the impact of driving automation on driver attention and monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of driving data from 19 drivers in the Virginia Connected Corridors 50 Elite Naturalistic Driving Study.
- Comparison of eye glance behavior and secondary task engagement (e.g., cell phone use) between active and inactive DAS conditions.
- Utilized a subset of driving data (n = 148) for detailed behavioral assessment.
Main Results:
- Drivers exhibited significantly more time looking away from the road when driving automation systems were active.
- Drivers were more frequently observed engaging in secondary tasks, such as browsing on cell phones, while using DAS.
- Increased frequency and duration of glances away from the roadway were noted.
Conclusions:
- Current driving automation systems necessitate human oversight, yet drivers tend to disengage from monitoring.
- Drivers' inclination towards secondary tasks and reduced road monitoring while using DAS raises safety concerns.
- Substandard driver monitoring may lead to performance deficits, including omission errors and delayed reactions.
