Cars In The Future : In-Vehicle Information Systems
Return to Cars In The FutureModern vehicles can have many systems that give the driver information, whilst the concept of giving the driver information is clearly not new - as even early automobiles would have dials and gauges to inform the driver - what has changed recently to is the increase in the number of drivers using communication and navigation devices.
Early information systems gave necessary information about the state of the vehicle – speedometers and rev counter are systems designed to give the driver information. Some systems are designed as an entertainment function - in car radios, CD’s and more lately MP3 players are examples of this.
Communication systems have also become available, and since the invention of mobile phones, drivers have had the ability to (illegally in the case of hand help phones) conduct phone conversations.
Driver assistance systems also communicate information to the driver, as do satellite navigation units and a wide range of in vehicle devices designed to help drivers with tasks.
This has lead to the question, what level of information can drivers receive whilst driving before it becomes a safety risk, and how can this risk be managed or reduced?
The UK ban on mobile phone laws is an example of how this has been done; research showed that mobile phone use whilst driving caused a significant distraction, and evidence became available that this risk was causing deaths and injuries on the road. The use of mobile phones presented an unnecessary risk, and a legal change to ban hand held mobile phones whilst driving was introduced.
Whilst it is certainly not suggested that all devices with the potential to distract should be banned (for example a well designed satellite navigation system may cause less excess workload than the driver trying to find and follow road signs), their inherent risk should be highlighted. This is especially the case with nomadic (portable) devices that can be fitted into the vehicle, as this can create the potential for the driver to receive many bits of information at the same time.
The current rise and use of in-vehicle information systems demonstrates a potential road safety risk that must be controlled by
- educational messages about their potential distraction
- training to help drivers understand when and how to use systems safely and correctly
- better designed systems to reduce distraction
- consumer information designed to inform the purchaser about the comparative risk of systems
- appropriate enforcement measures where their use has created careless or dangerous driving or has been a factor in an accident.
In short, a well-designed system will give the driver the necessary information when he or she needs it, without attracting the driver’s attention unintentionally. The type of tasks that a device triggers must also be considered, as different tasks will demand different levels of cognitive attention.
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