Safety of driver interaction with in-vehicle information systems

Abstract

Advances in vehicle instrumentation are driven by customer demand, by the desire of manufacturers to add value and by technology that offers increasingly sophisticated and cost effective options. The range of information and communications equipment available to the driver has grown considerably over the past 5 years. Trip computers and radio data systems (RDS) are now standard on many vehicles, and the use of in-vehicle telephones has also increased. Other driver information products, such as congestion warning and route guidance systems, are becoming increasingly common. Much development of in-vehicle information has, necessarily, focused on getting the technology to work. Now, as products are emerging, the real needs of drivers and their interaction with new systems is receiving much greater attention. The human-machine interface (HMI) is emerging as a key area that has a significant impact on the overall usability and safety of in-vehicle systems. This paper discusses HMI safety and how it is being addressed through standards, codes of practice and design guidelines.