Designing Feedback to Mitigate Distraction

The rapid development of sensor, wireless communication, and computing technology has given rise to a range of devices that are capable of entertaining, informing, and supporting the driver (e.g., MP3 players, cellular phones, and navigation systems). However, these devices may also undermine safety due to confl icts between the demands of the in-vehicle system and the demands of driving. Part 7 of this book describes design approaches that reduce the demands associated with using in-vehicle information system (IVIS) functions while driving. Technology that can assist in mitigating distraction in real time include warning the driver about dangerously high levels of distraction, locking out functions (see Chapter 26), or having a system adapt appropriately to the degree of distraction experienced by the driver (see Chapter 28). Such technology mainly focuses on enhancing immediate driving performance (i.e., real-time performance when the technology takes action to mitigate distraction). Another approach to mitigate distraction is to provide feedback to the driver to enhance immediate performance as well as to induce a positive behavioral change, such as diminishing the willingness to engage in future distracting activities to enhance long-term driving performance.