HAROLD
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Institute for Transport Studies
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Spyridakos P
(2020)
Behavioural validity of driving simulators for prototype HMI evaluation
in IET Intelligent Transport Systems
Öztürk I
(2023)
Driving at night and how it's influenced by perceived driver skills
Öztürk I
(2023)
The effect of cognitive load on Detection-Response Task (DRT) performance during day- and night-time driving: A driving simulator study with young and older drivers
in Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
| Description | Using a series of driving simulator studies, we have studied driver response and eye movements during day and night time driving. Specifically, we have considered how engagement in tasks that take drivers' mind off the driving task (such as handsfree phone conversations), affect detection of peripheral targets, such as crossing pedestrians. We have studied the behaviour of younger and older drivers in this context. Preliminary results show that detection is later when drivers are engaged in the distracting task. Older drivers find engaging in the distraction task challenging, especially at night. Both old and young drivers' vehicle control is affected by engaging in the distraction task. |
| Exploitation Route | This work is immensely relevant to understanding driver behaviour at the present time, with drivers' attention being caught by many systems both in and out of the vehicle. These include messages and warnings presented by the vehicle's own devices, demand from nomadic devices, such as mobile phones, and simple disraction imposed by everyday demands of a busy life in the 21st century. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Transport |
| Description | The work in HAROLD has focused on how engagement in "cognitively distracting tasks" such as hands free phone use affects driver detection of peripheral targets. Research has illustrated that tasks which take drivers' mind off the road, such as engaging in a handsfree phone conversation, causes a "freezing" of drivers' eye gaze towards the road centre area, reducing chances of detecting peripheral targets. Engagement in such purely cogntive tasks (which do not necessarily take drivers' eyes away from the road centre) could be detrimental to detection of objects in areas other than the road centre, including pedestrians. Engagement in such tasks by drivers is known to reduce gaze towards other safety critical areas such as the side or rear view mirrors. Through a series of driving simulator studies, we have studied driver detection of artificial peripheral targets (study 1) and crossing pedestrians (studies 2 and 3), during day time and night time conditions. We have also compared response by younger and older drivers. Preliminary results show lower detection of peripheral targets when drivers are engaged in a secondary cognitive task (the artificial N-back task, which is thought to require the same demands as a handsfree telephone conversation). Results also show differences in performance between younger and older drivers, with recommendation in place regarding tranining needs for both age groups. A final study partly funded by the project has been used for a new PhD student, considering how day and night time conditions affect detection of road hazards (pedestrians and cars) during manual and highly automated (SAE Level 2) driving. Both vehicle based and eye tracking data have been collected and are currently being analysed. Preliminary results were presented at the international Driver Distraction and Inattention conference in Michigan (Oct 2024). |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |
| Description | COLLABORATION WITH JLR AS PART OF iCASE STUDENTHIP |
| Organisation | Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC |
| Department | Jaguar Land Rover |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Data is collected using the driving simulator, as part of the project, for an iCASE studentship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | in-kind support via supervision and facilities. Direct cash for studentship. |
| Impact | publication, further collaboration on new iCASE |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with Smart Eye |
| Organisation | Smart Eye |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Data collection using the Smart Eye cameras |
| Collaborator Contribution | provision of expert advice and eye tracking kit |
| Impact | please see publications |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Collaboration with Tobii |
| Organisation | Tobii Technology AB (Stockholm) |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Data collection using the Tobii eye tracker, provided in kind |
| Collaborator Contribution | Tobii 3 eye tracker and software provided for data collection and analysis |
| Impact | please see publication |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Overview of current understanding in driver distraction |
| Organisation | AECOM Technology Corporation |
| Department | AECOM, Nottingham, UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | The team has been advising the Department for Transport and CCAV on research needs for mitigating driver distraction |
| Collaborator Contribution | A joint project to identify areas for further research in this area |
| Impact | A report with recommendations for further research has been prepared between the two teams and we are awaiting news of follow on funding |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Literature review and expert workshop - Department for Transport |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | An expert workshop with industrial, policymakers and academic partners with an expertise in driver distraction, to inform further research by the UK DfT |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Panel Discussion DDI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | International Panel Discussion about the prevalence of distraction and inattention on the road |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://ddi2022.org/2022-program/ |