Recent technological innovations and the need for increased safety and congestion reduction on the world's roads have led to the introduction of In-Vehicle Information Systems (IVIS). These systems will provide navigation and advisory information to drivers while they are driving. One aspect of these systems, In-Vehicle Signing and Information Systems (ISIS), would provide the warning, regulatory, and advisory information that is currently found on road signs. These systems may be of particular benefit when external elements such as rain, snow, or night driving reduce or eliminate the opportunity for drivers to detect road signs. This study attempts to determine what benefits, if any, are realized by drivers using this system. Fifty-eight drivers operated an instrumented Oldsmobile Aurora, either with or without an ISIS, under a variety of visibility conditions. The visibility conditions included either rain or no rain, and either day or night driving. Younger drivers (18-30 years old) and older drivers (65 years or older) took part in this study. Three measures of driver performance were collected along with subjective preference data. Each measure was evaluated in order to determine what impact, if any, weather, time of day, age, and ISIS use had on performance. Subjective data were evaluated in order to determine driver preference and acceptance of the ISIS display. The results indicated that use of the ISIS display led to more appropriate speeds and greater reaction distances for all drivers. Evidence was found that seems to indicate that drivers may receive a particular benefit from ISIS in complex, unfamiliar, or low visibility situations. Subjectively, the majority of the drivers indicated that the ISIS display made them more aware of road sign information, and the acceptance rate among drivers was high. (Author/publisher)
Abstract