Driver Feedback

Changing driver behaviour through social norms

Distraction is a significant concern for teen drivers, because they more widely use technologies that are key sources of driver distraction and they lack critical strategic and tactical skills possessed by more experienced adult drivers. Parents and peers significantly impact the values, beliefs, and behaviours of teenagers. Through a survey study, we found that teenagers misperceived their parents’ and peers’ level of engagement and approval of distracted driving. Providing distraction-related feedback to teenagers on what their parents and peers do and think can help mitigate this dangerous activity by correcting such misperceptions. For example, such a system can show the teens how they compare to their parents in terms of engagement in distracting activities and the resulting driving performance. In the simulator, we showed that a social norms feedback system based on what the parents do can reduce the level of distraction engagement among the teens.

Sponsor(s): Toyota CSRC, AUTO21

Student PI(s): Maryam Merrikhpour

Changing young drivers’ behaviours using gamification

Introducing elements commonly found in games – such as points and leaderboards – can increase the motivation towards and enjoyment of engaging in positive behavioral changes. We designed a gamified in-vehicle system dubbed RoadHero, that incorporates an overarching theme, avatars, and badges, to encourage young drivers to adopt safer driving behaviors. In a simulator study, we found that this gamified system reduced the rate and duration of long glances away from the road, which are known to increase crash risks. These initial findings show that gamification can reduce distracted driving in younger drivers, although much remains to be explored in applying gamification to road safety. Our research has been featured in Toyota CSRC Report for 2017.

Sponsor(s): Toyota CSRC, AUTO21

Student PI(s): Jeanne Xie

Modifying driver behavior using a reward system

Providing feedback and rewards to drivers may help them reduce their dangerous driving habits. We looked at the effects of a feedback-reward system on speeding and tailgating behaviours. Data was collected from 37 drivers in a field trial where feedback and rewards were provided to the drivers based on complying with speed limits and maintaining safe headway distances. Drivers collected rewards for compliant behaviour. In addition, an in-vehicle display provided drivers with real-time feedback when they were driving, in the form of warnings when they exceeded the speed limit or when they were tailgating. The system resulted increased speed limit and headway compliance. When the system was removed, the positive effect for speed limit compliance continued.

Sponsor(s): Connaught New Researcher Award, Transport Canada

Modifying driver behaviour using feedback

The primary objective of this project is to identify the relationship between driver attitudes towards safe driving and driver behaviour in response to feedback. This objective will be achieved by performing statistical analysis on a dataset collected through an on-road experiment which was conducted by Transport Canada. The findings of this research will have implications for the design of distraction-related safety systems.

Sponsor(s): Connaught New Researcher Award, Transport Canada

Role of emotions in cellphone distraction engagement among young drivers

Young drivers appear to have disproportionate involvement in road crashes due to cellphone distractions. Distracted driving has contributed to a higher fatality rate among younger drivers than among older drivers. In order to mitigate distracted driving risks among young drivers, a variety of countermeasures can be developed and implemented. Development of the remedial programs requires an understanding of the reasons behind engagement in distractions and identifying factors to leverage, such as young drivers’ emotions towards their engagement in cellphone distractions while driving. In a survey study, we investigated how young drivers’ intention to engage in cellphone distractions is negatively associated with whether they felt guilty, ashamed, or scared for exhibiting distracted driving. We also found a difference between female and male young drivers in the extent to which they felt negative emotions. However, no differences were found in terms of their engagement intention. The results of our survey study serve as the preliminary findings with implications for emotion-based manipulations that can reduce distracted driving among young drivers. In its next steps, our research will further assess the role of emotions in young drivers’ engagement in cellphone distractions while driving through driving simulation studies.

Student PI(s): Mehdi Hoseinzadeh

Publications

Changing driver behaviour through social norms

Donmez, B., Merrikhpour, M., & Hoseinzadeh Nooshabadi, M. (2019). Mitigating teen driver distraction: In-vehicle feedback based on peer social norms. Human Factors, 63(3), 503-518.

Merrikhpour, M. & Donmez, B. (2017). Designing feedback to mitigate teen distracted driving: A social norms approach. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 104, 185-194.

Merrikhpour, M. (2017). Utilizing the Social Norms Theory to mitigate teen driver distraction (PhD Dissertation). University of Toronto.

Merrikhpour, M. & Donmez, B. (2016). Social norms and teenage driver distractions. In Proceedings of the 26th Canadian Association of Road Safety Professionals Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Student Paper Competition, Honorable Mention.

Merrikhpour, M. & Donmez, B. (2016). Designing feedback to mitigate teen distracted driving behaviour: A social norms approach. (HFASt2016-02), University of Toronto Human Factors and Applied Statistics Laboratory. Technical report submitted to Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center.

Changing young drivers’ behaviours using gamification

Xie, J., Chen, H. Y. W., & Donmez, B. (2016). Gaming to safety: Feedback gamification for mitigating driver distraction. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 60th Annual Meeting (pp. 1884-1888), Washington, DC. Surface Transportation Technical Group Best Student Paper Award.

Xie, J. (2016). Gaming to safety: The design and evaluation of feedback gamification for mitigating driver distraction (MASc Thesis). University of Toronto.

Modifying driver behavior using a reward system

Merrikhpour, M., Donmez, B., & Battista, V. (2014). A field operational trial evaluating a feedback-reward system on speeding and tailgating behaviors. Transportation Research Part F: Psychology and Behaviour, 27, 56-68.

Merrikhpour, M. (2013). Effects of a feedback-reward system on speeding and tailgating behaviours (MASc Thesis). University of Toronto.

Merrikhpour, M., Donmez, B., & Battista, V. (2012). Effects of a feedback/reward system on headway maintenance. In Proceedings of the Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference, Banff, AB.

Merrikhpour, M., Donmez, B., & Battista, V. (2012). Effects of a feedback/reward system on speed compliance rates and the degree of speeding during noncompliance. In Proceedings of the Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C

Facilitating anticipatory driving strategies

Stahl, P., Donmez, B., & Jamieson, G. A. (2019). Eye glances towards conflict-relevant cues: The roles of anticipatory competence and driver experience. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 132, 105255.

Stahl, P., Donmez, B., & Jamieson, G. A. (2016). Supporting anticipation in driving through attentional and interpretational in-vehicle displays. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 91, 103-113.

Stahl, P. (2015). Defining, investigating, and supporting anticipatory driving: A systematic investigation of the competence to predict traffic (PhD Dissertation). University of Toronto.

Stahl, P., Donmez, B., & Jamieson, G. A. (2014). Anticipation in driving: The role of experience in the efficacy of pre-event conflict cues. IEEE Transactions on Human-Machine Systems, 44(5), 603-613.

Stahl, P., Donmez, B., & Jamieson, G. A. (2014). Correlations among self-reported driving characteristics and simulated driving performance measures. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 58th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.

Stahl, P., Donmez, B., & Jamieson, G. A. (2014). A model of anticipation in driving – processing pre-event cues for upcoming conflicts. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications, Seattle, WA.

Stahl, P., Donmez, B., & Jamieson, G. A. (2013). Anticipatory driving competence – motivation, definition, & modeling. In Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Donmez, B., Boyle, L., & Lee, J. D. (2006). The impact of distraction mitigation strategies on driving performance. Human Factors, 48(4), 785-804.

Donmez, B., Boyle, L., Lee, J. D., & McGehee, D. M. (2006). Drivers’ attitudes towards imperfect distraction mitigation strategies. Transportation Research Part F: Psychology and Behaviour, 9(6), 387-398. (Among Top 25 Hottest Articles in Transportation Research PartF, Jul-Dec 2006).

Donmez, B., Boyle, L., Lee, J. D., & McGehee, D. M. (2005). Driver acceptance of distraction mitigation strategies: Focus group and simulator studies. In Proceedings of the Transportation Research Board 84th Annual Meeting (05-1740), Washington, D.C.

Donmez, B., Boyle, L., & Lee, J. D. (2003). Taxonomy of mitigation strategies for driver distraction. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 47th Annual Meeting (pp. 1865-1869). Denver, CO.

Modifying driver behaviour using feedback

Merrikhpour, M. & Donmez, B. (2016). Towards mitigating teenagers’ distracted driving behaviors: Comparison of real-time and post-drive feedback in a simulator study. In Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 60th Annual Meeting (pp. 1879-1883), Washington, DC.

Chen, H. Y. W., Donmez, B., & Chung, I. (2016). Designing feedback to induce safer driving behaviors: A naturalistic study of feedback characteristics and speed limit compliance behaviour in automobile driving. (HFASt2016-01), University of Toronto Human Factors and Applied Statistics Laboratory. Technical report submitted to Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center.

Xie, J., Chen, H. Y. W., & Donmez, B. (2015). Designing feedback to induce safer driving behaviors: The influence of feedback timing and motivation on driving performance and distraction engagement. (HFASt2015-02), University of Toronto Human Factors and Applied Statistics Laboratory. Technical report submitted to Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center.

Chen, H. Y. W., Donmez, B., Chung, I., & Vargas, E. (2015). Interim Report. Designing feedback to induce safer driving behaviors: A naturalistic study of feedback characteristics and speed limit compliance behaviour in automobile driving. (HFASt2015-04), University of Toronto Human Factors and Applied Statistics Laboratory. Technical report submitted to Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center.

Chen, H. Y. W., Marulanda, S., Hoesktra-Atwood, L., Donmez, B., & Giang, W. C. W. (2014). Designing feedback to induce safer driving behaviors: A laboratory study of driver characteristics and susceptibility to driver distractions. (HFASt2014-01), University of Toronto Human Factors and Applied Statistics Laboratory. Technical report submitted to Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center.

Feng, J. & Donmez, B. (2013). Designing feedback to induce safer driving behaviors: A literature review and a model of driver-feedback interaction. (HFASt2013-01), University of Toronto Human Factors and Applied Statistics Laboratory. Technical report submitted to Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center.

Feng, J., & Donmez, B. (2013). Design of effective feedback: understanding driver, feedback, and their interaction. In Proceedings of the 7th International Symposium on Human Factors in Driver Assessment, Training, and Vehicle Design, Bolton Landing, NY.

Donmez, B., Boyle, L., & Lee, J. D. (2008). Mitigating driver distraction with retrospective and concurrent feedback. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 40, 776-786.

Donmez, B., Boyle, L., & Lee, J. D. (2008). Designing feedback to mitigate distraction. In M. Regan, J. D. Lee, & K. Young (Eds.), Driver Distraction: Theory, Effects and Mitigation. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL., pp. 519-532.

Donmez, B., Boyle, L., & Lee, J. D. (2007). Safety implications of providing real-time feedback to distracted drivers. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 39, 581-590. (Among Top 25 Hottest Articles in Accident Analysis and Prevention, Jul-Sep 2007).