Human Performance and Behavior

28 Janet Creaser and Michael Manser, Department of Mechanical Engineering Development and Evaluation of a Second Generation In-Vehicle Driver Assistance for Teenagers to Facilitate a Reduction in Crash Rates Status: In progress Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers, with speeding, seat belt noncompliance, alcohol, and distractions serving as the primary contributors to an unacceptably high crash rate. In an effort to mitigate this situation, a prototype teen driver support system (TDSS) has been designed and developed. This computer-based system provides real-time feedback to teens on speed limit violations and warns of upcoming speed zone changes. A unique feature of this system is that speed limit feedback is relative to the speed limit posted on the roadway on which the teen is driving. By informing teens of speeding behavior, it is hoped this system will reduce teen crash rates. To date, this project has integrated a smart-phone-based TDSS system into a vehicle, which has been tested within a small road network around the University of Minnesota. Additionally, a usability study of the TDSS has been completed for which a small sample of teen drivers (aged 18–19) drove with and without the system and then answered questionnaires about the TDSS and its functions. Data collection for this task is complete and data analysis is currently under way. The second phase of this project is to develop a mechanism within the TDSS structure to provide feedback to parents when their teens have committed an infraction and to identify a tentative structure for graduated driver licensing (GDL)-related incentives and restrictions that will contribute to the overall goal of reducing the rate of teen deaths due to motor vehicle crashes.