A study on how design Can influence Driver attention
Distracted driving is a problem that resonates deeply with me as both an automotive and technology enthusiast. Distracted driving crashes are entirely preventable, and they end up killing thousands of drivers across the world every year. While technological innovation is exciting and important in the automotive space, proper analysis of the interaction between humans and vehicles must be performed. I decided to research the causes of distracted driving, from the lens of built-in infotainment systems from BMW Group and Tesla Motors, as well as their tech company counterparts, Google’s Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay.
By exploring the different types of distractions drivers experience, their motivations for engaging in these distracting behaviors, different approaches to infotainment system design, as well as the features developed by the aforementioned auto and tech companies, I aimed to define a set of best practices for use in my own automotive user experience designs.
I concluded that five essential considerations must be paid when designing for an activity such as driving, with its high risk of distraction and enormous consequences for error: familiarity, simplicity & application access, voice controls, remote controlling, and sequestration.
By abiding these five central themes of human-centered design in automotive user experience design, we can build cars that are engaging to drive, easy to use, and less prone to distracting their drivers. It’s important to note that there are dozens of outside influences that may draw a driver’s attention, such as children, shifting cargo, or other road users, but things like navigation systems and cell phones should be at the bottom of that list. Every effort must be made to create a system that aids the driver, but doesn’t cause them to lose focus on the task of driving.
In the study below, I explain in detail the different types of technological distractions I examined, statistics about driver’s uses of those technologies while driving, an exploration of different options on the market, and finally how to avoid some of the pitfalls some automotive designers have fallen into.
Distracted driving is an extremely unfortunate and frustrating modern issue, made worse by a lack of understanding of how people interact with their cars. By adhering to the best practices listed in my study, designers can help reduce distracted driving, and make the roads a safer place.
