How can you reduce driver distraction and still provide useful information?

1 Define the problem

The first step is to understand the nature and scope of the driver distraction problem. Driver distraction occurs when something takes your attention away from the primary task of driving. This can be anything from a phone call, a text message, a navigation system, a radio, or even a passenger. Driver distraction can impair your perception, decision-making, and reaction time, leading to errors and crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver distraction was involved in 8.5% of fatal crashes and 15% of injury crashes in 2019.

2 Identify the sources

The next step is to identify the sources of driver distraction in your vehicle design. You can categorize them into three types: visual, manual, and cognitive. Visual distractions are anything that makes you look away from the road, such as a display, a button, or a notification. Manual distractions are anything that makes you take your hands off the wheel, such as a dial, a switch, or a touch screen. Cognitive distractions are anything that makes you think about something else than driving, such as a conversation, a voice command, or a music selection.

3 Apply the principles

The third step is to apply some basic principles of user experience design to reduce driver distraction and still provide useful information. To do this, you should minimize the amount and complexity of information on the screen, ensuring you only show what is relevant and necessary for the current driving situation and task. Utilize icons, symbols, and colors to convey meaning quickly and clearly. Additionally, maximize the readability and visibility of the information by using large fonts, high contrast, and clear labels. Avoid clutter, glare, and reflection that can obscure the information. Optimize the interaction and feedback by using simple and intuitive controls that are easy to reach and operate. Provide clear and consistent feedback that confirms the user's actions and expectations. Additionally, avoid distracting sounds, vibrations, and animations that can interfere with the driving. Finally, adapt to the context and user by using sensors, cameras, and data to adjust the information and interaction according to the driving conditions, user preferences, and behavior - for example dimming the screen at night or muting notifications in heavy traffic.

4 Evaluate the solutions

The fourth step is to evaluate your design solutions for reducing driver distraction and still providing useful information. To test and measure the effectiveness and usability of your design, you can employ various methods and tools such as user testing, eye tracking, and cognitive workload. Through user testing, you can observe and interview real users as they interact with your design in a simulated or real driving environment. Eye tracking enables you to track the user's eye movements and gaze patterns as they interact with your design. Additionally, cognitive workload measures the user's brain activity and mental effort as they interact with your design. By using these methods and tools, you can collect data on user satisfaction, performance, errors, how much and how often they look at the screen, the road, and other elements, as well as how much and how well they can process the information and perform the tasks.

5 Learn from the examples

The fifth step is to learn from the examples of other automotive designers who have successfully reduced driver distraction and still provided useful information. You can examine their design decisions, features, and innovations, and apply them to your own design. For instance, a head-up display projects information onto the windshield so that the user can view it without looking away from the road. Voice control enables the user to interact with the system using voice commands, so that their hands remain on the wheel and eyes on the road. Driver monitoring utilizes cameras and sensors to monitor the user's attention, alertness, and fatigue, and provide feedback or assistance accordingly. It may even warn of potential hazards or suggest breaks, or take over the driving in some cases.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?