A practical Human Factors Perspective on Driver Information and Assistant Systems

This paper discusses in-vehicle driver information and assistance systems and proposes that from a practical human factors perspective, it is more useful to consider functions or services as perceived by the driver.

A specific framework is developed to compare the key differences between ‘In-built’, ‘Informing’, ‘Warning’ and ‘Assisting’ functions and the main safety issue arising from consideration of the driver’s locus of control are explored.

The paper then develops a classification of warnings provided to the driver and, concentrating on the most urgent and safety critical, proposes a number of warnings guidelines.