Using Glance Behaviour to Evaluate ACC Driver Controls in a Driving Simulator
This paper examines the glance behaviour of drivers while interacting with two different driver-vehicle interface concepts for an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system. With the integrated concept, the speed and following distance controls were located on the steering wheel whereas with the divided concept the speed control was moved to the dashboard. A virtual Head-Up Display (HUD) was used to show the ACC settings and current speed. Twelve subjects (19 to 53 years old) drove a rural road course in a fixed-base driving simulator while being verbally instructed to adjust the speed and/or following distance of the ACC system. Dividing the controls between the steering wheel and dashboard caused significantly larger mean and maximum glance times and a lower glance frequency to the displays and controls. The percent glance time “off-road” furthermore increased significantly during task completion. Other significant results were observed between the task type and task length.
Effect of active cruise control design on glance behaviour and driving performance
Minimising driver distraction is a crucial factor in the design of new driver assistance systems and in-vehicle information systems. Therefore two different driver-vehicle interface concepts for an Active Cruise Control (ACC) system were designed and tested with 12 drivers in a static driving simulator. These concepts differed in the location (steering wheel vs. dashboard) and type of controls. Feedback on the ACC settings was given in a simulated Head-Up Display. While driving, participants were required to adjust the desired speed and following distance of the ACC system. The concepts were compared based on objective measurements of task times, driving performance and glance behaviour as well as subjective questionnaires. The type of task had a significant effect on all dependent measures, whereas the control concept had a lesser effect. The results are used to derive guidelines for the general design of the driver-vehicle interface of such driver assistance systems.
Demographic influences in sensation seeking and expressions of sensation seeking in religion, smoking and driving habits
A large sample of readers of a popular psychology magazine took the Sensation Seeking Scale (form V) and filled out a personal data form. The information in the data form was used to examine the relationship between SSS scores and demographic and experience variables. Sex and age showed strong relationships with the SSS. Education and occupation of the subjects and their parents showed lesser relationships with the SSS and primarily in females. Non-believers in conventional religion and infrequent church-goers had higher SSS scores than those who identify with such religions and attend church regularly. Smokers had higher scores than non-smokers although the relationship with amount of smoking was not a linear one. Driving habits of speeding related strongly to sensation seeking in a linear fashion.