Blocking-out auditory distracters while driving: A cognitive strategy to reduce task-demands on the road (original) (raw)
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2017
Inexperienced younger (29), middle-aged (29), and older drivers (25) participated in a study evaluating the effects of auditory cognitive distractions on driving safety. Unlike prior research, the secondary tasks were typical of everyday behavior such as listening to a story and participating in a radio quiz. The study also examined driving performance more broadly than prior studies. Outcome measures included speed and lateral control similar to prior studies but in addition included headway maintenance, mean headway time, gap acceptance, mirror use, proper signaling, stopping behavior, intersection scanning. Performance was evaluated in a wider range of driving tasks than prior studies (e.g. included gap tasks such as lane changes, freeway merges, left turns in addition to straightaway car-following). Results showed that older drivers were affected the most by these distractions and that performance was often degraded beyond speed and lateral control to include signaling, mirror u...
The effect of a simulated hearing loss on performance of an auditory memory task in driving
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
Hearing loss has been shown to exacerbate the effect of auditory distraction on driving performance in older drivers. This study controlled for the potentially confounding factor of agerelated cognitive decrements, by applying a simulated hearing loss in young, normally hearing individuals. Participants drove a simulated road whilst completing auditory tasks under simulated hearing loss or normal hearing conditions. Measures of vehicle control, eye movements and auditory task performance were recorded. Results showed that performing the auditory tasks whilst driving resulted in more stable lateral vehicle control and a reduction in gaze dispersion around the road centre. These trends were not exacerbated by simulated hearing loss, suggesting no effect of hearing loss on vehicle control or eye movement patterns during auditory task engagement. However, a small effect of simulated hearing loss on the performance of the most complex auditory task was observed during driving, suggesting that the use of sound-based invehicle systems may be problematic for hearing impaired individuals. Further research incorporating a wider variety of driving scenarios and auditory tasks is required in order to confirm the findings of this study.
The effect of distraction modality on driver performance
The increased implementation of in-vehicle information systems presented in the different perceptual modalities and the implications this has on driver distraction has prompted a research focus in this area. The present study investigated the effect of attending to a secondary comprehension task in three different perceptual modalities on driver performance. Twenty four students participated. There were three modality conditions (central visual, peripheral visual, auditory) and two difficulty conditions (low and high). The central vision condition presented text in the central visual field, the peripheral visual condition presented text in the horizontal periphery, while pre-recorded texts were played in the auditory condition. Results confirmed that driving performance decreases with concurrent secondary task attention in any perceptual modality. Auditory distraction degrades driver performance the least (~19%) compared to pure driving, followed by central visual distraction (~31%)...
The Impact of Distraction Mitigation Strategies on Driving Performance
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2006
Objectives: An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of distraction mitigation strategies on drivers? performance and productivity while engaged in an in-vehicle information system task. Background: Previous studies show that in-vehicle tasks undermine driver safety and there is a need to mitigate driver distraction. Method: An advising strategy that alerts drivers to potential dangers and a locking strategy that prevents the driver from continuing the distracting task were presented to 16 middle-aged and 12 older drivers in a driving simulator in two modes (auditory, visual) and two road conditions (curves, braking events). Results: Distraction was a problem for both age groups. Visual distractions were more detrimental than auditory ones for curve negotiation, as depicted by more erratic steering, F(6, 155) = 26.76, p < .05. Drivers did brake more abruptly under auditory distractions, but this effect was mitigated by both the advising, t(155) = 8.37, p < .05, and lo...
The Effect of Cognitive Load on Auditory Susceptibility During Automated Driving
Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
Objective We experimentally test the effect of cognitive load on auditory susceptibility during automated driving. Background In automated vehicles, auditory alerts are frequently used to request human intervention. To ensure safe operation, human drivers need to be susceptible to auditory information. Previous work found reduced susceptibility during manual driving and in a lesser amount during automated driving. However, in practice, drivers also perform nondriving tasks during automated driving, of which the associated cognitive load may further reduce susceptibility to auditory information. We therefore study the effect of cognitive load during automated driving on auditory susceptibility. Method Twenty-four participants were driven in a simulated automated car. Concurrently, they performed a task with two levels of cognitive load: repeat a noun or generate a verb that expresses the use of this noun. Every noun was followed by a probe stimulus to elicit a neurophysiological resp...
Does Music Help to Stay Focus on the Road?
WSEAS TRANSACTIONS ON ACOUSTICS AND MUSIC, 2020
Attention in the physiological definition in one of several simultaneous occurrences of ideas takes ownership of the mind which means removing certain stuff to cope efficiently with others. Particular attention is required in driving in order to maintain track of the driver's vigilance to prevent the road accident. In this study, the driver's attention is analyzed by their driving performance from both the amplitude and accident rating of Electroencephalographic (EEG). The subjects were stimulated with radio talk, instrumental music and no sound (silent) in three separate recordings. It was found that drivers encounter much fewer accidents while listening to the radio talk compared to the music and worse driving score when driving in silence. This finding could be used as a foundation to develop tips or methodology to avoid the attention deficit while driving.
Cognitive workload and driving behavior in persons with hearing loss
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 2013
To compare the effect of cognitive workload in individuals with and without hearing loss, respectively, in driving situations with varying degree of complexity. Methods: 24 participants with moderate hearing loss (HL) and 24 with normal hearing (NH) experienced three different driving conditions: Baseline driving; Critical events with a need to act fast; and a Parked car event with the possibility to adapt the workload to the situation. Additionally, a Secondary task (observation and recalling of 4 visually displayed letters) was present during the drive, with two levels of difficulty in terms of load on the phonological loop. A tactile signal, presented by means of a vibration in the seat, was used to announce the Secondary task and thereby simultaneously evaluated in terms of effectiveness when calling for driver attention. Objective driver behavior measures (M and SD of driving speed, M and SD of lateral position, time to line crossing) were accompanied by subjective ratings during and after the test drive. Results: HL had no effect on driving behavior at Baseline driving, where no events occurred. Both during Secondary task and at the Parked car event HL was associated with decreased mean driving speed compared to baseline driving. The effect of HL on the Secondary task performance, both at Baseline driving and at the lower Difficulty Level at Critical events, was more skipped letters and fewer correctly recalled letters. At Critical events, task difficulty affected participants with HL more. Participants were generally positive to use vibrations in the seat as a means for announcing the Secondary task. Conclusions: Differences in terms of driving behavior and task performance related to HL appear when the driving complexity exceeds Baseline driving either in the driving task, Secondary task or a combination of both. This leads to a more cautious driving behavior with a decreased mean driving speed and less focus on the Secondary task, which could be a way of compensating for the increasing driving complexity. Seat vibration was found to be a feasible way to alert drivers with or without HL.