Exploring the Mechanisms of Driver Distraction

The current study was designed to empirically examine the effects of individual differences in attention and memory deficits on driver distraction. Forty-eight participants consisting of 37 non-ADHD and 11 ADHD drivers were tested in a medium fidelity GE-ISIM driving simulator. All participants took part in a series of simulated driving scenarios involving both high and low traffic conditions in conjunction with completing a 20-Questions task either by text- message or phone-call. Measures of UFOV, simulated driving, heart rate variability, and subjective (NASA TLX) workload performance were recorded for each of the experimental tasks. It was hypothesized that ADHD diagnosis, type of cellular distraction, and traffic density would affect driving performance as measured by driving performance, workload assessment, and physiological measures. Preliminary results indicated that ADHD diagnosis, type of cellular distraction, and traffic density affected the performance of the secondary task. These results provide further evidence for the deleterious effects of cellphone use on driver distraction, especially for drivers who are diagnosed with attention-deficit and memory capacity deficits. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and directions for future research are also presented.

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Time-Dependency-Aware Driver Distraction Detection Using Linear-Chain Conditional Random Fields

2020 IEEE 23rd International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC) ◽

10.1109/itsc45102.2020.9294313 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Baotian He ◽

Penghui Li ◽

Natasha Merat ◽

Yibing Li

Keyword(s):

Random Fields ◽

Conditional Random Fields ◽

Linear Chain ◽

Driver Distraction ◽

Time Dependency

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Examination of Driver Visual and Cognitive Responses to Billboard Elicited Passive Distraction Using Eye-Fixation Related Potential

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21041471 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 1471

Author(s):

Yongxiang Wang ◽

William Clifford ◽

Charles Markham ◽

Catherine Deegan

Keyword(s):

Visual Information ◽

Driving Simulator ◽

Tracking System ◽

Eye Gaze ◽

Driver Distraction ◽

Experimental Results ◽

Human Information Processing ◽

Cognitive Responses ◽

Information Processing Model ◽

Eye Fixation

Distractions external to a vehicle contribute to visual attention diversion that may cause traffic accidents. As a low-cost and efficient advertising solution, billboards are widely installed on side of the road, especially the motorway. However, the effect of billboards on driver distraction, eye gaze, and cognition has not been fully investigated. This study utilises a customised driving simulator and synchronised electroencephalography (EEG) and eye tracking system to investigate the cognitive processes relating to the processing of driver visual information. A distinction is made between eye gaze fixations relating to stimuli that assist driving and others that may be a source of distraction. The study compares the driver’s cognitive responses to fixations on billboards with fixations on the vehicle dashboard. The measured eye-fixation related potential (EFRP) shows that the P1 components are similar; however, the subsequent N1 and P2 components differ. In addition, an EEG motor response is observed when the driver makes an adjustment of driving speed when prompted by speed limit signs. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed measurement system is a valid tool in assessing driver cognition and suggests the cognitive level of engagement to the billboard is likely to be a precursor to driver distraction. The experimental results are compared with the human information processing model found in the literature.

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