Contents: Foreword. Preface. What Are Statistical Decisions? Non-Parametric Measures of Sensitivity. Gaussian Distributions of Signal and Noise With Equal Variances. Gaussian Distributions of Signal and Noise With Unequal Variances. Conducting a Rating Scale Experiment. Choice Theory Approximations to Signal Detection Theory. Threshold Theory. The Laws of Categorical and Comparative Judgement. Appendices: Answers to Problems. Logarithms. Integration of the Expression for the Logistic Curve. Computer Programmes for Signal Detection Analysis. Tables.

A Primer of Signal Detection Theory; Table of D' and β

Driver behavioral cues may present a rich source of information and feedback for future intelligent advanced driver-assistance systems (ADASs). With the design of a simple and robust ADAS in mind, we are interested in determining the most important driver cues for distinguishing driver intent. Eye gaze may provide a more accurate proxy than head movement for determining driver attention, whereas the measurement of head motion is less cumbersome and more reliable in harsh driving conditions. We use a lane-change intent-prediction system (McCall et al., 2007) to determine the relative usefulness of each cue for determining intent. Various combinations of input data are presented to a discriminative classifier, which is trained to output a prediction of probable lane-change maneuver at a particular point in the future. Quantitative results from a naturalistic driving study are presented and show that head motion, when combined with lane position and vehicle dynamics, is a reliable cue for lane-change intent prediction. The addition of eye gaze does not improve performance as much as simpler head dynamics cues. The advantage of head data over eye data is shown to be statistically significant (p < 0.01) 3 s ahead of lane-change situations, indicating that there may be a biological basis for head motion to begin earlier than eye motion during "lane-change"-related gaze shifts.

On the Roles of Eye Gaze and Head Dynamics in Predicting Driver's Intent to Change Lanes

This research effort provided valuable insight into the nature and severity of lane changes in a naturalistic driving environment. Sixteen commuters who normally drove more than 25 miles (40 km) in each direction participated. The two research vehicles were a sedan and a sport utility vehicle; each participant drove each vehicle for ten days. Data gathering was automatic, and no experimenter was present in the vehicle. There were 8,667 lane changes observed over 23,949 miles of driving, making this the largest known data collection effort for the study of lane changes. Analysis of the full data set resulted in many interesting findings regarding the frequency, duration, urgency, and severity of lane changes in regard to maneuver type, direction, and other classification variables. A subset of the full data set (500 lane changes) was then analyzed in greater depth using the sensor data collected by the instrumented vehicle. The sampled lane changes were generally of the more severe and urgent types since these are the cases in which a lane change collision avoidance system (CAS) is likely to be of greatest help. Variables analyzed for the sampled lane changes included turn signal use, braking behavior, steering behavior, eye glance patterns, and forward and rearward area analysis. The concept of a safety envelope for lane changes was then developed using the forward and rearward area analyses. Finally, the data were used to provide recommendations for designers of a lane change CAS in terms of display location and activation criteria. Overall, the research described in this report provides insight into the behaviors and parameters associated with lane changes, while the naturalistic data archive has the potential to address other questions related to driving behavior.

/pdf/a-comprehensive-examination-of-naturalistic-lane-changes-1vs8en950m.pdf

A comprehensive examination of naturalistic lane-changes

A cooperative vehicle collision warning system is made possible by the progress in advanced positioning systems and wireless communication technology. We report our work in developing a cooperative intersection collision warning system that is not limited by the requirement of line-of-sight. The novel elements of the system include the use of a dynamic ad hoc wireless network for peer-to-peer data sharing, a new intersection collision warning algorithm, and a flexible and extensible software architecture and system design. The very same system is also capable of collision warning for other scenarios such as frontal and rear-end. Further, the tunable parameters in the algorithm make it possible for the system to adapt to the preference and capability of each individual driver.

An adaptive peer-to-peer collision warning system

As computers and other information technology move into cars and trucks, distraction-related crashes are likely to become an important problem. This paper begins to address this problem by examining how alert strategy (graded and single-stage) and alert modality (haptic and auditory) affect how well collision warning systems mitigate distraction and direct drivers attention to the car ahead when it unexpectedly brakes. We conducted two experiments in which drivers interacted with an in-vehicle email system and a collision warning system signaled a braking lead vehicle. The first experiment showed that graded alerts led to a greater safety margin and a lower rate of inappropriate responses to nuisance warnings. A second experiment focused on attitudes toward the collision warning system and found that graded alerts were more trusted than single stage alerts and that haptic alerts, a vibrating seat in these experiments, were perceived as less annoying and more appropriate. Graded haptic alerts offer a promising approach to developing context aware computing in a safety-critical application.

/pdf/collision-warning-design-to-mitigate-driver-distraction-4v9fi4t0x7.pdf

Collision warning design to mitigate driver distraction

Data are presented on the eye glance behavior of passenger car and van drivers before the start of discretionary lane changes. Thirty-nine volunteers ranging from 20 to 60 years of age served as either van drivers (N = 19) or passenger car drivers (N = 20) in the study. Each driver used an instrumented vehicle and was accompanied by a ride-along observer in daylight and dry pavement conditions. The test route included driving on both public highways at 55 mph or more and city roads at 25 to 35 mph. A total of 549 lane changes (290 for vans, 259 for passenger cars) were analyzed in terms of driver eye glance behavior 10 s before the lane change start. Results indicated that for left-to-right lane changes, the probability of a glance to the center mirror was substantially higher than the probability of a glance to the right side mirror. For right-to-left lane changes, the probability of a glance to the center mirror was substantially less than that for rightward lane changes, and the probability of a glance to the left side mirror was appreciably higher than that for right side mirror use in rightward lane changes. These results held for both van and passenger car drivers. Except for a slightly higher probability of over-the-shoulder glances on city roads, these results hold for both highway and city street driving. These data should be factored into the design of lane change warning system displays and mirror systems.

Eye glance behavior of van and passenger car drivers during lane change decision phase

In this report, the authors examine the applicability of haptic displays for rear-end collision avoidance warnings. Concepts and published research studies are reviewed in the report. This is followed by three small-scale studies of mono-pulse braking and active steering displays. Two parameter setting studies are first discussed. The first examined the display parameter settings of a mono-pulse braking display, while the second examined the effects of active steering vibration amplitude frequency, and duration on display detectability and appropriateness ratings. Based on the results obtained, the authors suggest that active steering displays be reserved for future collision avoidance system integration. In the third study, the authors examined the response of drivers in a car following situation to a mono-pulse braking display under two different simulated rear-end collision avoidance warning scenarios. Results suggest that mono-pulse braking displays might be of use in rear-end collision avoidance applications.

Preliminary studies in haptic displays for rear-end collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control system applications

The influence of individual differences on driver distraction was examined in this study. Sixteen (16) test participants were trained on destination entry procedures with four commercially available route guidance systems, as well as the dialing task on a commercially available wireless cellular telephone and on manually tuning an after-market car radio. The participants then drove an instrumented vehicle at approximately 45 mph on a 7.5 mile oval test track with very light traffic while concurrently engaging in various tasks with these devices. In-vehicle task completion time, average glance duration away from the road ahead, number of glances away from the road ahead, and number of lane exceedences were recorded. The participants were later given an automated battery of temporal visual perception and cognitive tasks. Performance on the test battery was then correlated to performance on the test track measures to determine the extent to which individual driver differences could account for observed perfo...

https://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/Human%20Factors/driver-distraction/PDF/4.PDF

Individual Differences and in-Vehicle Distraction While Driving: A Test Track Study and Psychometric Evaluation

A test-track study was conducted to assess the diagnostic properties of SAE J2364, the so called 15-second rule. Ten (10) drivers between the ages of 55 and 69 completed tasks both in a parked vehicle (statically) and while driving (dynamically). They engaged in 15 different tasks, including various destination entry tasks, with four commercially available route guidance systems, manual cell phone dialing, manually tuning an after-market in-dash radio to specific AM and FM stations, and adjusting the HVAC controls in the test vehicle.Simple linear regression models to predict dynamic task completion time from static task completion time revealed an R2 = 0.39. A model to predict number of lane exceedences from static completion time had an R2 = 0.27. A regression equation to predict lane exceedences from dynamic completion time had an R2 = 0.43.Classification performance of the 15-second rule was analyzed using criteria based on “degraded performance” defined as 2 or more drivers exhibiting 2 or more lane ...

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/154193120004402014

Edwin Parmer

Papers

Eye glance behavior of van and passenger car drivers during lane change decision phase

Preliminary studies in haptic displays for rear-end collision avoidance system and adaptive cruise control system applications

Individual Differences and in-Vehicle Distraction While Driving: A Test Track Study and Psychometric Evaluation

Preliminary evaluation of the proposed sae j2364 15-second rule for accessibility of route navigation system functions while driving