An Evaluation of the Interior Design of the Stockholm Bypass Tunnel – A Driving Simulator Study

Ceci, Ruggero; Patten, Christopher; Mårdh, Selina · 2013 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-39354-9_1

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Summary

This study evaluates the impact of interior design features, specifically ceiling string lighting, on driver behavior and subjective experience in long tunnels. The research was motivated by the upcoming construction of the 18 km Stockholm Bypass Tunnel, where maintaining safety and preventing driver drowsiness or distraction in such a lengthy environment is critical. Previous studies indicated that visual design affects speed perception and mental workload, prompting this investigation into whether decorative lighting would negatively impact vehicle performance or enhance driver arousal. The researchers conducted a within-subject experiment using VTI’s advanced driving simulator in Linköping, Sweden. Twenty-four participants (12 men, 12 women, aged 30–45) drove two versions of a simulated tunnel based on the bypass blueprints: one with decorative string lighting in the ceiling and one without. All other design features remained identical. Data collection included eye-tracking metrics via a helmet-mounted device and subjective ratings using the Category Ratio Scale 10 (CR10) for distraction, visual clutter, arousal/stimulation, and safety/well-being. Due to technical issues, valid eye-tracking data was obtained from only 12 participants. The results indicated that the tunnel with string lighting was perceived as significantly more "visually stimulating/arousing" and "visually cluttered" than the plain tunnel, though ratings for distraction and safety did not differ significantly between conditions. In terms of visual behavior, drivers made significantly longer glances at the ceiling lighting (mean duration 445.3 ms) compared to the plain ceiling (234.3 ms). However, these glance durations remained well below the 2000 ms safety threshold for visual distraction. Subjectively, 58% of participants preferred the tunnel with string lighting, while 29% preferred the plain design. A correlation analysis showed a link between glance duration and perceived distraction, but the magnitude of distraction was rated as low. The study concludes that the negative safety implications of elaborate interior lighting are minimal, as glance times do not pose a serious risk. Instead, the lighting provides beneficial visual stimulation that helps break the monotony of long tunnel driving. Based on these findings, the authors recommend incorporating stimulating lighting features at various locations along the length of the Stockholm Bypass Tunnel to enhance driver experience without compromising safety.

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• visual occlusion
• roadway lighting effects

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• Methodological Resource: tool software, validation psychometrics