Advanced Traveler Information Systems and Commercial Vehicle Operations Components of the Intelligent Transportation Systems: Head-Up Displays and Driver Attention for Navigation Information

Hooey, B.L.; Gore, B.F. · 1998 · ROSA P / United States. Federal Highway Administration

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Summary

This study, conducted by the Battelle Human Factors Transportation Center for the Federal Highway Administration, investigates the safety and performance implications of using automotive Head-Up Displays (HUDs) for Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS). The research was motivated by concerns that HUD images, projected into the driver’s forward line of sight, might interfere with driving tasks through "cognitive capture" or distraction, particularly for older drivers who face distinct visual and cognitive limitations. While HUDs offer potential benefits by reducing the need for visual accommodation and keeping eyes on the road, prior literature provided equivocal guidance on their safety for presenting critical navigation information. The specific objective was to determine how navigation aids (HUD versus Head-Down Display [HDD]) and driver age interact to influence driver behavior, navigation accuracy, and response to unexpected events. The experiment utilized the Battelle High-Fidelity Driving Simulator, featuring a 1994 Saturn Sedan instrumented to collect performance data. Twenty-four subjects, comprising both younger and older drivers, participated in the study. Each subject drove three experimental scenarios (two urban, one rural) while adhering to speed limits and lane boundaries. Navigation information, including directional arrows and street names, was presented either on a 4-inch LCD fixed to the dashboard (HDD) or as a virtual image projected approximately 35–38 inches from the driver’s eye position (HUD). To assess attention and reaction capabilities, subjects were required to respond rapidly to simulated emergency incidents, such as a ball rolling into the road, a vehicle crossing against a red light, or a lead vehicle braking suddenly. Dependent variables included navigation errors, collision rates, braking response times, vehicle speed, lane position, and steering wheel angle. The results revealed no significant differences in navigation performance, response to unexpected events, or overall driving performance between the HUD and HDD conditions. Specifically, the HUD was not associated with any performance decrements, nor did it act as a distraction or cause cognitive capture. While differences were observed between younger and older drivers regarding navigation errors and braking response times, these variations reflected established age-related cognitive and manual control limitations rather than interactions with the display type. Consequently, the presence of the HUD did not exacerbate the challenges faced by older drivers. The study concludes that automotive HUDs can be safely used to present simple route guidance information without negatively impacting driving performance or safety. The findings alleviate concerns that HUDs distract drivers or impair their ability to detect and respond to roadway hazards. These results support the integration of HUDs into ATIS and Commercial Vehicle Operations systems, suggesting that designers can utilize this technology to present critical information without compromising driver attention or vehicle control. The study provides empirical evidence that HUDs do not hinder driver performance, thereby aiding the development of human factors design guidelines for Intelligent Transportation Systems.

Key finding

There were no differences in navigation performance, response to unexpected events, or driving performance as a function of navigation aid, indicating that HUDs are not associated with performance decrements or cognitive capture compared to head-down displays.

Methodology

simulator

Sample size: 24

Provenance

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Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• hud ar windshield
• useful field of view
• visual
• in vehicle displays
• external distraction
• situational awareness

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Applied Guidance: design guidelines
• Empirical Findings: behavioral performance data
• Methodological Resource: tool software