Targeting young driver emotions can reduce their cellphone distractions

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to evaluate the relationship between young drivers' intention to engage in cellphone distractions while driving and their emotions towards the associated risks. First, we assessed whether the emotions of guilt, shame, and fear are associated with young drivers' intention to engage in cellphone distractions, through an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model. Second, we evaluated whether road signs that may evoke these negative emotions reduce cellphone use intentions among young drivers.

METHODS

An online survey was conducted with young drivers (18 to 25 years old) from Ontario, Canada. 403 responses were collected, of which, 99 responses were used to evaluate the first objective and all 403 responses were used to evaluate the second objective.

RESULTS

Anticipating feelings of guilt, shame, and fear negatively predicted the intention to engage in cellphone distractions, above and beyond the standard TPB constructs (i.e., attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control). When prompted with potentially emotion-evoking road signs (children crossing, my mom/dad works here), an increase in anticipated feelings of these emotions corresponded with lower intention to engage in cellphone distractions.

CONCLUSION

Countermeasures that target young driver emotions toward distracted driving risks may be effective in reducing their distraction engagement. Future studies in more controlled environments can investigate causal relationships between emotions and distracted driving among young drivers.

A mirror in the sky: the effects of map format and user expertise on navigation performance and mental workload

A novel map display concept named Mirror in the Sky (MitS) has been introduced to improve performance and reduce workload in navigation tasks. However, this display will be novel to most users and as such, an evaluation of MitS in comparison with more conventional map formats is warranted. This study investigated the effects of map display format (MitS vs. north-up and track-up maps) and user expertise on mental workload (MWL) and performance, using both soldiers (experts) and civilians (novices) as participants. Participants followed a prescribed route to a destination in a virtual environment (route following task) while also performing a secondary task (detection response task). Soldiers generally performed better than civilians. Soldiers reported a higher MWL with MitS than with the north-up map, whereas civilians reported a higher MWL with MitS than with the track-up map. Regardless of user expertise, there were performance and workload challenges with MitS, despite its potential. Practitioner summary: A new map display concept called Mirror in the Sky (MitS) was compared with two conventional map formats: a north-up and track-up map. The experiment tested soldier and civilian users in a route following task. Both groups got further into the route and had fewer obstacle collisions with north-up and track-up maps than they did with the MitS map. MWL measures generally indicated higher workload with MitS. Abbreviations: MitS: mirror in the sky; FFOV: forward field of view; AR: augmented reality; MWL: mental workload; VR: virtual reality; HF: human factors; HR: heart rate; HRV: heart rate variability; DRT: detection response task; DRDC: defence research and development Canada; VE: virtual environment; RT: response time; ANOVA: analysis of variance.

Comparing an augmented reality navigation display to an electronic map for military reconnaissance

The next generation of displays for soldiers may include augmented reality capabilities. One such display, called Mirror in the Sky (MitS), presents survey information in the upper visual field. Using a virtual reality simulation of a military reconnaissance scenario, we compared a MitS prototype to a familiar electronic 2D north-up map. Participants (24 soldiers) were told to follow a prescribed route, detect potential threats, and reroute around them. They also performed a secondary task as a measure of mental workload. At the end of the route, the soldiers were asked to recall the locations of threats and route changes. Participants made better reroute decisions with the north-up map than with MitS, although no differences were observed for threat detection or mental workload. They also scored higher on recall with the north-up map than with MitS. Practitioner Summary: An augmented reality navigation aid was compared to an electronic north-up map in a military reconnaissance scenario, in a virtual reality simulation. Participants made better route decisions and had better recall with the north-up map, but no mental workload differences were found between displays.