Human Factors Research

Research Plan

The objective of the research program in Human Factors for IntelliDrive^SM is to assess, counteract, and ultimately eliminate possible driver distraction from IntelliDrive^SM technologies. The program aims to investigate and implement technology-based solutions that could deter drivers from multitasking
and reduce vehicular sources of distraction.

Using a cooperative and cost-sharing approach, the program will foster collaborative work among
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), other DOT agencies, vehicle manufacturers, operators, equipment suppliers, and other stakeholders. This collaborative effort is intended to raise public awareness about the distracted driving problem and encourage vehicle and equipment manufacturers to design interfaces with minimal demands on driver workload.

The DOT Human Factors Research program includes the following research tracks:

Track 1 – Define the problem by identifying the types of distractions that contribute to crashes. Distraction is anything that diverts the driver’s attention from navigating the vehicle, and it often fits into more than one category. For example, eating is visual and manual, while using a navigation system is visual, manual, and cognitive.

Track 2 – Develop and evaluate performance metrics for distraction mitigation. By monitoring new technology interfaces and developing best practices, objective test procedures can be developed to assess distraction and usability factors in production vehicles and nomadic technologies.

Track 3 – Produce an integration strategy that allows nomadic systems to be functionally integrated with vehicle-based systems to optimize the driver-vehicle interface. Integration reduces interface complexity and multitasking. In addition, real-time distraction monitoring systems that provide distraction alerts or messages are potential areas of integration research.

Track 4 – Develop longer-term exposure testing through field operational experiments to determine the safety impacts of crash warning technologies and their effects on long-term driver behavior, which could affect the safety of distracted drivers.

Track 5 – Conduct strategic stakeholder outreach to identify requirements, information needs, and usability issues, toward the goal of ensuring that the IntelliDrive^SM program and its results are publicly acceptable.

The Human Factors Research program is a highly collaborative effort that addresses the effectiveness of safety applications by evaluating potential issues around driver distraction. The program will develop technology-based solutions and aim to eliminate distraction from IntelliDrive^SM technologies.