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Method for Measuring Driver Distraction: Lane Change Test

By Hanna Mac New, Carmen Machado, Shraddha Swaroop, and Shane Toyohara

Psychology 627: Research Presentation

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Introduction

Problem Space
Definition
Results
Recommendations

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Credit: Maksim Tarasov

Recommendations

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Problem Space

Distraction is a major cause of traffic accidents.

Driver distraction has been increased due to in-vehicle information systems.

Visual, haptic, auditory

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Recommendations

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Problem Space

Driving is a simultaneous dual-task experience.

Primary Task = Driving
Secondary Task = Any other interaction!

Changes in glance behavior = worse driving performance.

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Recommendations

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Problem Space

Mechanism needed to assess in-vehicle device induced distracted driving to inform future designs.

Possible methodologies:

Occlusion
Peripheral Detection Task (PDT)
Lane Change Task (LCT)

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Recommendations

Researchers need a mechanism to assess in-vehicle device induced distracted driving to inform future designs.

Occlusion: a non-dual task method that solely focuses on visual distraction.

PDT: tries to assess both cognitive and visual distraction by requiring test participants to respond to a visual stimuli on an empty screen with a simple key press

These two methods lack face validity, meaning they are not realistic enough to resemble an actual driving task.

Lane change task:

Makes an effort to give a more realistic experience to the testing environment
Here, the participant is asked to the primary task of driving a car along a straight, open road at a constant speed. They’re also asked to make lane changes informed by road signs.
After the participant has practiced changing lanes for a few runs, the secondary task is introduced
This might be entering information into a navigation system ot changing the radio station.
So when the participant is also asked to perform the secondary task, driving performance degradation is observed

Pass to carmen to discuss LCT more

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Lane change task (LCT)

A PC simulated inexpensive dual- task method that quantitatively measures the demands of a driver simultaneously performing a secondary task with an in-driver device.

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Recommendations

(Petzoldt, Bär, & Drems, 2011)

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LCT continued…

Advanced Driver Attention Metrics (ADAM) Project
Standardization of the LCT in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 26022

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Recommendations

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Results

The ADAM project found that both cognitive and visual tasks showed a significant difference between easy and hard conditions.

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Recommendations

The Mattes & Hallen study looked at LCT and how the secondary influenced driving capability in the ADAM project. LCT demonstrated the highest correlation with high-end driving simulators and looked at reaction rate and performance. The ADAM project was done using a simulator and the mean deviation shows the difference between what the participant actually did compared to a normative model in terms of performance. This showed a significant difference between easy and hard conditions. In the cognitive condition, the participants had to do a math test: in the easy condition they had to add 2 from a starting number of 282 and the hard condition they had to subtract 7 from 581. In the visual task they participant had to scan for the one large circle amid many in the easy task and different sized circles in the hard task and it was harder to move the marker to select it. The destination input condition asked the participation to put in the navigation information as they were driving. This really shows the crux of the study as the reason this has become a seminal study of driver distraction is the inherent dangers of in-vehicle navigation systems.

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Results

In the Sensitivity of the Lane Change Test study found that visual tasks influenced a drivers’ ability to stay in his/her line compared to cognitive tasks

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Recommendations

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Results

This study examined learning effects by creating three groups: no training, LCT only and full training.
They found main effects on learning on every factor studied.

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Recommendations

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Benefits and Limitations

Benefits

Simple and cost-effective
More realistic than alternatives
Covers both visual and cognitive tasks
Offers quantitative measurements

Limitations

Further uses cause learning effects (both long-term and short-term)
Mixed design is lengthier and more complicated
Blocked design is less realistic

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Recommendations

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Recommendations

Use during simulations to determine the efficacy/safety of secondary features in a vehicle

Use visual/cognitive secondary tasks

Do not implement multiple times

Only test for features effects during first-time uses
Distraction levels diminish due to learning effects

Introduction

Problem Space

Definition

Results

Recommendations

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Questions?

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References

Mattes, S. & Hallén, A. (2009) Surrogate distraction measurement techniques: The lane change test. In M.A. Regan, J.D. Lee & K.L. Young (Eds.). Driver Distraction: Theory, Effects and Mitigation. CRC Press.

Young, K.L., Lenné, M.G. & Williamson, A.R. (2011). Sensitivity of the lane change test as a measure of in-vehicle system demand. Applied Ergonomics, 42, 611-618.

Petzoldt, T., Bär, N., & Drems, J.F. (2011). Learning effects in the lane change test (LCT) – evidence from two experimental studies. Transportation Research Part F, 14, 1-12.