The effects of a Head-Up Display (HUD) on drivers were tested under field conditions and compared with those of a conventional instrument. The effects of stress, speed control and monitoring the instruments on 36 male subjects were studied. Subjects were required to drive twice along a test route of 87 km with identical VW Passats (VW Dasher), one of which was equipped with a HUD. Eye movements were registered by an electro-oculogram (EOG); speed and heartbeat rate were recorded simultaneously per computer. It was found that the HUD - a digital device - was read more often and faster than the conventional speedometer - an analogue device. Reading of the speed from the HUD was much easier than from the conventional speedometer, as was shown by parameters of the eye movements and from subjective comments made by the subjects. The effects on speed control were insignificant. A slight reduction in frequency of exceeding the speed limit was observed.
Samenvatting