Abstract:Experiments were conducted in a high-fidelity driving simulator to study driver distraction and workload with four route guidance systems: paper map; heads-down electronic map; heads-up turn-by-turn guidance display (HUD) with heads-down electronic map; and, voice guidance with heads-down electronic map. Simulator based measures included: number of navigation errors, speed and reaction times to external events. Workload was assessed using the NASA TLX subjective technique. The results indicated that the paper map was associated with the lowest speed, highest subjective workload and the largest number of navigation errors. The voice guidance / electronic map combination was associated with the highest speed, lowest workload and the least number of navigation errors. The electronic map was second best to the voice guidance / electronic map combination. The HUD / electronic map combination did slightly worse than the electronic map, because of some deficiencies in the design of the HUD.

Note:In Transport Canada, Ottawa, Ergonomics and Safety of Intelligent Driver Interfaces, ed. Y. Ian Noy. Published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.