 The Impact of Internal Distraction on Driver Visual Behavior 5/17/00 2:30:52 PM
Divided Attention Ability of Young and Older Drivers 5/30/00 1:12:17 PM
Speech-based Interaction with In-vehicle Computers: The Effect of Speech-based E-mail on Drivers’ Attention to the Roadway 5/31/00 11:52:26 AM
Integration of Driver In-Vehicle ITS Information 5/31/00 11:53:14 AM
E-Distraction: The Challenges for Safe and Usable Internet Services in Vehicles 5/31/00 12:04:41 PM
Can Collision Warning Systems Mitigate Distraction Due to In-Vehicle Devices? 5/31/00 1:12:43 PM
In-Vehicle Communication and Driving: An Attempt to Overcome their Interference 6/1/00 11:55:10 AM
 If purchasing an in-vehicle device, how much of an influence does the design and ease of use of devices have on your selection?
Can auditory systems (devices with the capability to interpret voice commands, or communicate using speech messages) address the safety concerns associated with operating in-vehicle technologies?
Do you believe hands-free technology is sufficient to address safety concerns related to cell phone use while driving?
Is it possible to design electronic maps that can be safely used while driving?
Is it possible to design wireless Internet devices (e.g., e-mail systems) that can be safely used while driving?
 Integration of Driver in vehicle ITS 7/6/00 2:13:53 PM
 In your opinion, what is the maximum number of recommended information displays a HUD should feature? 7/14/00 8:52:05 AM
Passenger Air Bag technology saves lives, BUT... 7/14/00 6:11:10 PM
Radio designs are needlessly dangerous 7/18/00 3:04:26 PM
Radio designs are needlessly dangerous, II 7/18/00 6:32:12 PM
Possible solution 7/18/00 6:44:54 PM
disable devices while car is in motion 7/19/00 11:19:00 AM
low cost "black-box" equipment for motor vehicles 7/19/00 11:50:17 AM
In your opinion, what is the maximum number of recommended information displays a HUD should feature? Can you specify related references? 7/19/00 4:11:36 PM
What role can automation play in reducing the driver distraction problem? What automated or assistance systems can we expect to see in the future? 7/20/00 7:47:20 AM
Confusing radio controls 7/20/00 4:05:31 PM
Older vs. Younger 7/24/00 9:47:24 PM
E-mail in the car 7/24/00 10:09:21 PM
HUD usage 7/26/00 1:46:27 PM
HUD usage 7/26/00 1:47:16 PM
Radio/CD player designs need standards 7/31/00 2:13:49 AM
Integration and solutions causing potential new problems 8/1/00 10:09:55 AM
Radio content can be distracting 8/1/00 10:25:10 AM
Ergonomic design and visual pollution 8/3/00 2:14:33 PM
Ergonomic design and visual pollution (ergonomically improved!) 8/3/00 2:23:18 PM
Craig Biggerstaff
Private Citizen
Refering to: Ergonomic design and visual pollution
Visual pollution (the assault on the senses of distracting lights, signs, controls, etc.) is the single biggest factor in increased driving complexity, particularly because it's increasing the fastest. NHTSA needs to assess both auto design standards and how the surrounding environment affects the driver.
The cardinal rules of ergonomics are these:
1. Use placement, color, shape, size, brightness, and so forth, to express function. Avoid using visual elements that do not express function.
2. Provide prime (front-and-center) placement to the most necessary, most important, and most often used visual elements.
3. Avoid visual elements that draw the eye away from more important elements.
A few counterexamples to illustrate these points:
a. The dash design of a 1990 Mazda Miata is nearly ideal, containing almost nothing unnecessary within the driver's field of vision. The exception is the letters "UNLEADED GASOLINE ONLY" in 24-point type, put there no doubt due to regulation. Given the proportion of time a driver spends driving, versus filling the tank, there is no justification for cluttering the dash in this way.
b. Red lighting does not impair night vision as does blue-white lighting. Astronomers and pilots rely on red-lit instruments for this reason. Yet new cars are increasingly using blue-white xenon headlights despite their detrimental effect on other drivers.
Some European cars have yellowish headlights -- should we adopt this? Has any research been done comparing international standards to American ones for effectiveness?
c. Controls within a car are often laid out to look "high-tech" and impress the buyer, not to improve usability. An array of 30 buttons, particularly backlit for night usage, requires considerable driver effort to find the desired button in the clutter.
d. Addition of visual elements do not help. Subtraction is what is needed.
This is why daytime running lights and "cyclops" rear center taillights do not help -- the supposed safety value of these is due to their novelty. When a majority of cars have these, they cease to stand out and increase the ambient level of visual pollution, causing drivers to pay even less attention.
As another example of this, consider that police lights years ago were rotating red, then rotating blue, and now generally rotating red, blue, and white flashing strobe together, in an arms race to be seen.
| 
