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 ?