Browsing by Author "Cooper, Jennifer"
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Item Human Factors of Vehicle-Based Lane Departure Warning Systems(Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2015-06) Edwards, Christopher; Cooper, Jennifer; Ton, AliceRun-off-road (ROR) crashes are a concern for two-lane rural and urban roadways throughout Minnesota due to the frequency by which they contribute to fatal crashes (Minnesota Crash Facts, 2013). Mitigating the severity of the ROR events is an on-going research goal in order to help reduce the number of ROR crashes. Examining countermeasures that may reduce ROR crashes is important to determine the most efficient and effective method of warning. Behavioral responses were examined through the use of an in-vehicle haptic-based lane departure warning system (LDWS) using a driving simulator. The study incorporated systematic variation to both the reliability of the warning and sequence of treatment conditions. An additional analysis examined the presence of behavioral adaptation after repeated exposure to the system. Severity of a ROR event was measured as the total time out of lane (TTL) and maximum lane deviation (MLD). Covariates (e.g. road shape) were examined to determine the influence they may have on the severity of a ROR. The results reveal overall LDWS efficacy. TTL was significantly longer when no system was active compared to when it was active. LDWS led to shorter duration of ROR events. Greater velocity was found to be highly predictive of longer TTL. MLD was also greater for baseline drives compared to treatment drives. No behavioral adaptation or system overreliance was detected, suggesting long term benefits of the LDWS. Drivers who actively engaged in a distraction task were at far greater risk of traveling greater and more dangerous distances out of lane.Item A Next Generation Non-Distracting In-Vehicle 511 Traveler Information Service(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2014-10) Morris, Nichole L.; Ton, Alice; Cooper, Jennifer; Edwards, Chris; Donath, MaxThis study investigates the current features of state and proprietary traveler information applications, elements of good design and usability, human factors issues regarding visual and cognitive distraction, and makes recommendations for the next generation of Minnesota’s traveler information application, MN 511. Traveler information systems were created to serve drivers by providing accurate information about traffic and road conditions before drivers began their trip. The advancement of cellular telephones provided a new opportunity for drivers to access traffic and road information en-route, but introduced considerable cognitive distraction on drivers navigating the complex phone trees. The evolution of traveler information systems onto smartphone applications has eased the cognitive demand previously imposed by phone tree systems, but has shifted the demand to drivers’ visual resources. The dichotomy between state-funded 511 travel information applications and proprietary traveler information applications is primarily determined by the features each contains. The common features included in the current proprietary traveler information applications provide insight into the opportunities for future iterations of MN 511 mobile applications. The MN 511 application can continue to improve by incorporating select features from proprietary applications, such as voice commands, route guidance, saved places, and travel time estimates, while taking into account cognitive workload and visual distraction. This is important because publicly funded traveler information applications have a greater responsibility, compared to proprietary applications, to account for distraction and ensure the safety of its users.Item Older Driver Support System (ODSS) Usability and Design Investigation(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2018-01) Morris, Nichole L.; Craig, Curtis M.; Libby, David A.; Cooper, JenniferOlder drivers represent a high-risk population on the road, due to age-related declines in cognition and perception. The present research investigated whether an Older Driver Support System (ODSS) smartphone application would be useful. The research presented here was comprised of (1) focus groups, surveys, and interviews, (2) simulated driving with video playback, and (3) on-the-road field-testing. The methodology centered on iterative re-design of the ODSS interface based on feedback and behavior of older drivers. This iterative re-design approach was successful at making the ODSS interface more usable when considering System Usability Scale (SUS) scores. Furthermore, older drivers during the field test reported minimal mental effort expended when using the smartphone application and many significantly positive statements about the application. The field test resulted in several final recommendations for the ODSS application. A promising final takeaway was a universal design approach preferred by the older drivers, as they did not want to be singled out for special attention.Item Teen Driver Support System (TDSS) Field Operational Test(Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, 2015-11) Creaser, Janet; Morris, Nichole L.; Edwards, Christopher; Manser, Michael; Cooper, Jennifer; Swanson, Brandy; Donath, MaxAlthough teen drivers make up a small percentage of the U.S. driving population, they are at an especially high risk of being involved in a crash. Factors that contribute to teen drivers’ risk include their lack of experience and their tendency to engage in unsafe behaviors such as speeding, driving aggressively, or using a cell phone while behind the wheel. To help teen drivers stay safe on the road, we developed the Teen Driver Support System (TDSS), a smartphonebased system that provides real-time, in-vehicle feedback to teens about their risky behaviors—and reports the behaviors to parents via text message if teens don’t heed the system’s warnings. The TDSS provides geographically specific, realtime feedback to a teen driver at the time unsafe driving behavior occurs so that behaviors can be immediately corrected. This report documents a 12-month field operational test of the system involving 300 newly licensed teens driving on Minnesota roads. The test included a control group that received no feedback, a treatment group that received only TDSS in-vehicle feedback, and a second treatment group that received both TDSS in-vehicle and TDSS parental notifications. Research results indicate an overall safety benefit of TDSS, demonstrating that in-vehicle monitoring and driver alerts, coupled with parental notifications, is a meaningful intervention to reduce the frequency of risky driving behaviors that are correlated with novice teen driver crashes. In particular, the system was shown to be an effective strategy for reducing excessive speeds when used with parental feedback and potentially even without parental involvement.