Impact of Temporary Browsing Restrictions on Drivers’ Situation Awareness When Interacting with In-Vehicle Infotainment Systems

Looking away from the road during a task degrades situation awareness of potential hazards. Long glances back to rebuild this and are thought be critical for maintaining good vehicle control recognizing conflicts. To further investigate importance rebuilding awareness, controlled test-track study was performed that evaluated drivers’ hazard response performance surprise event after completing involved pausing partway through it look at road. Thirty-two drivers completed visual-manual infotainment system secondary task. Half were instructed pause their browsing mid-task, while others not. While being performed, lead activated its lights. It then unexpectedly dropped fake muffler once Drivers’ visual attention ability respond measured. The paused more aware vehicle’s lights, showed less muffler, executed measured avoidance maneuvers compared did not browsing. These findings suggest can better maintained when interactions paced, allowing longer monitoring environment. Mechanisms encourage take restorative on-road extended may key aspect an overall approach mitigating driver distraction.