Presentation
Examining Driver Vigilance in Partially Automated Vehicles: The Impact of Push Notifications
SessionPoster Session 2
DescriptionModern partially automated vehicles shift drivers’ roles from full control to monitoring automation and stepping in when needed. This task requires vigilance—the ability to stay alert and respond to important events over time. However, vigilance tends to decline during prolonged tasks, a phenomenon known as vigilance decrement. In-vehicle systems like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay may further reduce vigilance by delivering push notifications that capture visual attention and momentarily divert focus from the road. According to multiple resource theory, when two tasks compete for the same cognitive resources—such as visual attention—performance can decline. Responding to notifications while supervising automation may therefore impair driving performance. This study examined how push notifications affect vigilance during partially automated driving. Participants completed a 40-minute simulated drive in one of two conditions: either focusing solely on driving and identifying road hazards or driving while also responding to notifications. Results showed that participants detected fewer hazards and were less sensitive when handling notifications. These findings suggest that push notifications can compromise driver vigilance and raise safety concerns. As smartphone integration in vehicles becomes more widespread, understanding how these systems impact attention is essential for designing safer human-machine interfaces in automated vehicles.
Event Type
Poster
TimeWednesday, October 15th5:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
LocationRiverside East
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