Driver visual attention and in-vehicle touchscreen: the role of short training session

Hazoor, Abrar; Marinelli, Giuseppe · 2026 · Crossref

DOI: 10.55329/xznx4003

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Summary

This study investigates whether a short, pre-drive training session can mitigate visual distraction and improve driver interaction with in-vehicle touchscreens. The widespread adoption of touchscreen interfaces for infotainment and vehicle controls has raised significant safety concerns, as drivers must divert visual attention from the road to perform secondary tasks. While previous research highlights the dangers of distracted driving and the potential benefits of training, evidence regarding the specific efficacy of brief familiarization sessions for touchscreen use remains limited. This research aims to determine if such training enhances visual attention efficiency and reduces distraction during driving. The researchers employed a between-subjects experimental design using a fixed-base driving simulator equipped with eye-tracking technology. Sixty licensed Norwegian drivers were randomly assigned to either a trained group or an untrained control group. The trained group participated in a five-minute, instructor-led observational training session demonstrating the touchscreen’s layout and functions, while the control group received no prior instruction. All participants completed a 13-kilometer simulated motorway drive, performing eight secondary tasks involving media, climate, and navigation controls. Eye-tracking data captured visual attention metrics, including fixation count, total fixation duration, and gaze transition probabilities within defined areas of interest. Results indicated that all participants exhibited high visual demand when interacting with the touchscreen. The trained drivers demonstrated slightly lower fixation counts, shorter fixation durations, and reduced self-transition probabilities within the touchscreen area compared to the untrained group. These trends suggest that trained drivers engaged in more efficient visual scanning patterns. However, statistical analysis revealed that these differences were not significant, indicating that the short training session had a limited measurable effect on visual attention metrics. The study concludes that while pre-drive familiarization may offer marginal improvements in interaction efficiency, it does not substantially mitigate the visual distraction associated with complex touchscreen interfaces. The findings underscore the complexity of these systems and suggest that brief observational training alone may be insufficient to significantly enhance safety, highlighting the need for further investigation into more effective countermeasures or interface designs.

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-09; verification: verified.

Topics

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• visual
• visual manual
• temporal
• visual occlusion
• useful field of view
• attention allocation

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• Empirical Findings: behavioral performance data
• Methodological Resource: measurement protocol