NHTSADRIVER DISTRACTION RESEARCH:

Past, Present, and Future

By: Dr. W. Riley Garrott

Vehicle Research and Test CenterVehicle Research and Test CenterChief, Vehicle Stability and Control DivisionChief, Vehicle Stability and Control Division

July 18, 2000July 18, 2000

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Presentation Overview

n What is the distraction problem?

n Past NHTSA driver distraction/workload research

n Current research

n Upcoming research

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Driver Distraction:What is the Problem?

Link to video clip ofdriver inserting a CDwhile drinking a softdrink and driving on atest track.

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Driver Distraction

n Distraction is a known safetyproblem

n New communication and informationtechnologies may make the problemworse

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Driver DistractionResearch Objectives

n How can we measure driverdistraction?

n What are the effects on safety of:é Using wireless phones while driving?é Heavy truck dispatching systems?é Route navigation systems?é Other multi-function systems?

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Past Research

n Truck Driver Workload Study(1992 – 1995)

n Wireless Communications Study(1993 – 1997)

n Route Navigation Systems Studies(1992 – 2000)

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Truck Driver WorkloadStudy: Goals

n Develop and evaluate workloadassessment tools

n Conduct on-roadresearch withinstrumentedtractor-semi trailerusing professionaldrivers

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Truck Driver WorkloadStudy: Test Video

Link to video clip oftruck driver dialing acellular phone whiledriving on a public road.

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Truck Driver WorkloadStudy: Results

n Comparative assessment ofdistraction-related crash risk moreuseful than absolute measures

n Workload assessment tools (visualallocation, lane tracking, etc.) widelyaccepted

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Wireless Communication Report

n Assessed current state of knowledge on impact of phone use while driving

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WirelessCommunication Report

n Does cellular telephone use whiledriving increase the risk of a crash?

é “Yes, at least in some cases.”

n Will crashes likely increase withincreasing number of cellular telephonesin the fleet?

é “Yes.”

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n Magnitude of traffic safety problem?é Unknown due to insufficient data

n “…conversation itself is the mostprevalent single behavior associatedwith cellular telephone relatedcrashes...”é Hands-free phones will not totally solve

the problem.

WirelessCommunication Report

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n Recommended actionsé Improve data collection and reporting with

appropriate training of enforcementpersonnel

é Conduct researché Perform benefits analysesé Encourage states to enforce their reckless

and inattentive driving lawsé Improve consumer education

WirelessCommunication Report

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Route NavigationSystems Studies

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TravTek Study

n Route navigation systems installedin 100 rental vehicles in Orlandoé Approximately 1 million miles driven in 10

monthsé Destination entry locked out while vehicle

is in motion

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TravTek Study Results

n TravTek systems did not degradedriving safetyé Safety neutral on congested roadsé Safety neutral to safety positive on un-

congested roads

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Destination EntryStudy: Goals

n Compare distraction potentialamong:é Destination entry using 4 route navigation

systems, including voice activationé Phone dialingé Radio tuning

n Compare performance for younger(35-) vs. older (55+)subjects

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Destination Entry

Link to video clip ofdriver entering adestination into a routenavigation system whiledriving on a test track.

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Destination EntryStudy: Resultsn Visual/manual destination entry

while driving is ill-advisedn Voice recognition technology less

distracting than visual/manualdestination entry

n Older drivers had more difficultywith visual/manual destination entry

n Age differences disappeared forvoice input

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15-Second Rule

n 15 second rule was developed by theSAE Safety and Human FactorsCommittee

n Intended to provide guidance todesigners as to what route navigationfunctions should be available todrivers while driving

n Developed by consensus betweenresearchers and designers

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15-Second Rule Study

n Evaluated proposed SAErecommended practice for routenavigation systems (e.g., destinationentry functions)

n 10 older (55-69) subjects performedstatic and dynamic tasks, includingdestination entry

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15-Second Rule Study

Link to video clip of driverentering a destination into aroute navigation system whilesitting in a parked vehicle aspart of NHTSA’s 15 secondrule testing.

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15-Second Rule Study:Results

n Static test not sufficient to identifytasks with significant distractionpotential

n Revision of 15-second rule proposalrecommended

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Research CurrentlyUnderway

n AutoPC test track study

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AutoPC Test TrackStudyn Cooperative study between NHTSA

and Transport Canada§Compare voice and non-voice

technologies for:é Phone dialingé Radio tuningé E-mail retrieval

n Determine how drivers learn to usecomplex multi-function technologies

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AutoPC Test TrackStudy

n Drivingperformanceand eye glancebehavior willbe analyzed

n Results will help determine what tasksare appropriate for drivers to accesswhile driving on public roads

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Research CurrentlyUnderway

n Wirelesstelephoneinterface on-road study

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Wireless TelephoneInterface Study

Hand-held

Link to video clip ofdriver dialing and talkingon a hand-held wirelessphone while driving on atest track.

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Wireless TelephoneInterface Study

Hands-free (manual dialing, hands-free talking)

Link to video clip ofdriver dialing and talkingon a hands-freewireless phone whiledriving on a test track.

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Wireless TelephoneInterface Study

Totally hands-free (voice dialing, hands-free talking)

Link to video clip of driverdialing and talking on a totallyhands-free (AutoPC) wirelessphone while driving on a testtrack.

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Wireless TelephoneInterface Study

n Naturalistic Studyé Instrumented vehicles driven by members

of general public for 6 weeks

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Wireless TelephoneInterface Study

n Compare distraction potential fordifferent interface designs

n Compare use patterns for differentinterface designs

n Determine conditions under whichdrivers are willing to use wirelessphones

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Upcoming Research

n Major portion of future research willbe performed on NADS

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National AdvancedDriving Simulatorn National Advanced Driving Simulator

(NADS) becomes operational in 2000

Link to video clip ofNational AdvancedDriving Simulator(NADS)

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Upcoming NADSResearch

n Planning underway for series of projectson driver workload and distractioné Due to Wireless Communications Devices

é Due to In-Vehicle Information Systems

n Development of Research Toolsé Standard NADS Driver Distraction Test

Methods, Procedures, & Test Courses

é Assessment Techniques for EvaluatingCognitive Driver Distraction

Questions ?