Benefits & Safety Risks

DISCUSSION ISSUES/TOPICS

Extent of Problem & Safety Risks

• To what extent is there a safety problem? Are problems limited to new users who are first learning to use the system, or are they more pervasive and wide spread?
• How can we maintain benefits without sacrificing safety?
• What can we expect to see in terms of impacts and how do we assess the appropriate level of safety risks from using in-vehicle technologies?
• • Can we expect crash rates to increase as a result of in-vehicle technologies?
  • How will these technologies affect individual’s ability to drive?
  • Can drivers be trusted to regulate their use of these technologies – limiting their use to situations when it is presumed safe to operate.
  • Will drivers become less cautious as they become routinely exposed to these technologies?

• What are the important unanswered questions relating to safety & benefits of in-vehicle technology. What research issues should we invest our time and resources studying?

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Extent of Problem & Safety Risks
	The Impact of Internal Distraction on Driver Visual Behavior   5/17/00 2:30:52 PM Authors:   Harbluk, J. L., Noy, Y. I. (Transport Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada), & Eizenman, M. (University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada). View Entire Paper Abstract Driver distraction can arise from sources internal as well as external to the driver. In this paper we describe a study (in progress) designed to examine the influence of internal distraction, created by cognitive tasks, on drivers’ visual behavior and vehicle control. Sixteen drivers will drive a city route while carrying out tasks of varying cognitive complexity. The tasks and their responses will be communicated via a handsfree cell phone so that drivers will not have to look away from the road or manually operate the phone. Driver performance will be examined under conditions of close vehicle following and more open driving conditions. Visual scanning patterns will be recorded using eyetracking equipment, measures of vehicle control will be obtained using the MicroDAS system, and drivers’ subjective evaluation of workload and safety will be assessed through questionnaires. Based on previous research, it is expected that increased cognitive load will result in a reduced area of visual inspection. In addition, detailed analyses will be made of the fixation distributions as a function of cognitive task. The results of this study will contribute to the understanding of driver internal distraction that may be associated with voice interactive technologies.   The Influence of the Use of Mobile Phones on Driver Situation Awareness   5/17/00 2:31:00 PM   Issues in the Evaluation of Driver Distraction Associated with In-Vehicle Information and Telecommunications Systems   5/18/00 9:44:51 AM   Individual Differences and In-Vehicle Distraction While Driving: A Test Track Study and Psychometric Evaluation   5/18/00 10:35:38 AM   A Technical Platform for Driver Inattention Research   5/18/00 1:34:17 PM   In terms of safety, what type of distraction concerns you more?      Have you ever witnessed, or experienced a close call or crash resulting from a driver using a cellular phone or from your personal use with a cell phone?      How capable are drivers at making decisions about when it is safe to use technology while driving?      my own inability   7/6/00 8:21:30 AM   driving while inconversated   7/6/00 8:31:21 AM   honk honk honk! hang up the @#$%$#@ cell phone please!    7/6/00 8:40:13 AM   Driving is dangerous enough.   7/8/00 12:16:49 AM   More distractions?   7/8/00 9:24:29 AM   more comments after reading studies   7/8/00 9:28:20 AM   Have you ever witnessed, or experienced a close call or crash resulting from a driver being distracted by something other than a cell phone? (e.g. reading a map, eating, personal grooming)      in-vehicle technology needs to be eliminated   7/13/00 10:17:06 PM   Hang-up and Drive   7/14/00 10:31:02 AM   General comments about distracted drivers   7/14/00 3:33:25 PM   Passenger airbags; forcing children, especially rear-facing infants to the back seat where they are responsible for crash causing driver distractions.   7/14/00 5:48:07 PM   Multitude of distractions   7/15/00 11:26:03 PM   Distraction Perspective   7/17/00 10:42:58 PM   Driving is Given Less Attention Than it Deserves   7/18/00 9:10:49 AM   Now that we know.....   7/18/00 9:15:10 AM   Lonely on the road   7/18/00 5:18:40 PM   cell phones   7/18/00 5:27:39 PM   Distractions   7/18/00 8:09:55 PM   Latest attempt to legislate common sense at the expense of freedom   7/18/00 9:21:39 PM   Children in the back seat   7/18/00 10:27:26 PM   Benefits are minimal; not worth the risks   7/19/00 10:20:19 AM   Comment on "Benefits are minimal..."   7/19/00 5:07:26 PM   Benefits---I am not convinced   7/20/00 10:42:30 AM   There is a solution - it's called the train   7/20/00 12:34:16 PM   The *real* problem   7/21/00 11:52:59 AM   What about other in-vehicle technologies?   7/21/00 5:24:54 PM   The scope of "distractions" needs to be cast much wider   7/21/00 9:35:32 PM    Trained drivers susceptible to distraction? (See detailed question below)   7/25/00 8:56:18 AM   oh dear its you we should watch for   7/26/00 10:13:43 AM   Driver Training   7/26/00 12:45:19 PM   Engage brain before putting mouth into gear   7/27/00 1:17:58 PM   comment on: Benefits---I am not convinced   8/1/00 9:57:07 AM   RE: oh dear its you we should watch for    8/3/00 7:06:56 AM   Map Readfing while driving   8/3/00 7:25:10 AM   RE: Latest attempt to legislate common sense at the expense of freedom   8/3/00 7:59:16 AM   Referring to: cell phones    8/3/00 8:54:22 AM   RE: Greg Knight's comment   8/3/00 10:14:11 AM    Technology Related Distraction & Crashes (see detailed question below)   8/3/00 10:28:09 AM   Comment on: RE: Greg Knight's comment   8/3/00 12:35:46 PM   Have you been to Westport, CT?   8/5/00 9:25:19 PM   RE: Lonely on the road    8/7/00 11:30:54 AM   driver awareness   8/8/00 10:04:57 AM   Think about it   8/8/00 2:58:44 PM   911?   8/8/00 3:12:11 PM   Critical Input: Headway to vehicle in front   8/8/00 4:46:30 PM   Riding my bike home from work   8/8/00 10:26:39 PM   Infants in the back seat   8/10/00 11:10:47 AM   RE: 911?   8/10/00 12:08:03 PM   Human element cannot be minimized by technology   8/10/00 9:57:59 PM   One size does not fit all   8/11/00 2:27:09 PM
Research Needs