An ergonomics study on side- and rear-view CMS display locations in two lane-changing scenarios

In an effort to address existing knowledge gaps in human factors research on camera monitor system (CMS) display layout, this study investigated the effects of side- and rear-view CMS display locations under two lane-changing scenarios with different levels of urgency. Fifty participants performed a simulated lane-changing task four times in each of 12 driving conditions (2 side-view display locations × 3 rear-view display locations × 2 driving scenarios), and their response time, number of collisions, eyes-off-the-road time, and subjective ratings (accuracy, learnability, memorability, intuitiveness, preference, and satisfaction) were collected. The study findings highlight the importance of aligning CMS display locations with driver's mental model by positioning the displays near the traditional mirror locations while minimizing eye gaze travel distances by positioning them close to driver's forward line of sight. Additionally, the relative importance of these two conflicting design characteristics may vary depending on the context-dependent roles of CMS displays.