A Survey of Driver Distraction and Inattention in Popular Commercial Software-Defined Vehicles

TL;DR

This paper surveys how user interface designs in software-defined vehicles influence driver distraction and inattention, emphasizing the importance of ergonomic UI strategies to improve safety in modern automotive systems.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of UI features in commercial SDVs that impact driver attention, offering design insights to reduce cognitive load and enhance safety.

Findings

UI controls often increase driver cognitive load

Many commercial SDVs lack considerations for driver inattention

Design strategies can mitigate UI-related distraction risks

Abstract

As the automotive industry embraces software-defined vehicles (SDVs), the role of user interface (UI) design in ensuring driver safety has become increasingly significant. In crashes related to distracted driving, over 90% did not involve cellphone use but were related to UI controls. However, many of the existing UI SDV implementations do not consider Drive Distraction and Inattention (DDI), which is reflected in many popular commercial vehicles. This paper investigates the impact of UI designs on driver distraction and inattention within the context of SDVs. Through a survey of popular commercial vehicles, we identify UI features that potentially increase cognitive load and evaluate design strategies to mitigate these risks. This survey highlights the need for UI designs that balance advanced software functionalities with driver-cognitive ergonomics. Findings aim to provide valuable guidance to researchers and OEMs to contribute to the field of automotive UI, contributing to the broader discussion on enhancing vehicular safety in the software-centric automotive era.