Eye Tracking Evaluation of Driver Visual Behavior with a Forward Collision Warning and Mitigation System

Abstract

As Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technologies become more commonplace and monitor an increasing number of aspects of the visual environment for drivers, typical driver visual behavior is likely to shift accordingly. Research on drivers’ responses to vehicles equipped with different ADAS technologies is required to evaluate how these systems influence driver visual behavior. The current study analyzed eye tracking metrics collected as part of a larger test track evaluation of drivers’ responses to a simulated emergency lead vehicle braking event while driving a vehicle equipped with a forward collision warning and mitigation (FCWM) system. In the experiment, driver behavior was examined both with and without concurrent performance of a secondary arithmetic task conducted on a hands-free cell phone. We found that participants experienced a startle response (as indicated by pupil dilation) at the time of the emergency event, which indicates the event was an effectively surprising experimental manipulation. We also found that participants predominantly fixated the lead vehicle, although participants performing the secondary task fixated the lead vehicle less often. All participants fixated the head-up display (HUD) rarely and briefly. However, older drivers spent more time fixating the HUD than younger drivers.