{"title":"Optimizing sound alerts for traveler information systems: Insights from a driving simulator and eye tracking study","authors":"Saquib M. Haroon , Elizabeth Smith , Alyssa Ryan","doi":"10.1016/j.trf.2025.07.022","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traveler information apps provide drivers with timely alerts about crashes, work zones, and road closures, using accurate, agency-reported data to enhance safety. This study evaluates the effectiveness of different types of road incident alerts in enhancing driver responses using a driving simulator, eye-tracking glasses, and a questionnaire. This study assesses driver reaction and perception behavior through a combination of recorded driving performance and eye movements, while also gathering participant feedback on the most effective alert types. The findings revealed that alerts providing comprehensive information such as incident notifications, distance to the incident, and actionable instructions were most effective in eliciting quick driver responses and improving safety, particularly when delivered two miles in advance of the incident. These types of alerts had a significantly faster response period compared to other types of alerts analyzed. Eye-tracking data indicated that simpler alerts, such as those with only incident information, could also help drivers maintain focus on the road and reduce decision-making complexity. Survey results supported these findings, showing a clear preference for alerts with detailed information, including distance and recommended actions. This study also identified the preferred optimal alert timing as being at least two miles before the incident in high-speed interstate roadway conditions. These findings emphasize the importance of clear, actionable alerts in traveler information systems and highlight opportunities for optimizing alert timing and simplicity to improve driver safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48355,"journal":{"name":"Transportation Research Part F-Traffic Psychology and Behaviour","volume":"114 ","pages":"Pages 1077-1097"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Transportation Research Part F-Traffic Psychology and Behaviour","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847825002608","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, APPLIED","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Traveler information apps provide drivers with timely alerts about crashes, work zones, and road closures, using accurate, agency-reported data to enhance safety. This study evaluates the effectiveness of different types of road incident alerts in enhancing driver responses using a driving simulator, eye-tracking glasses, and a questionnaire. This study assesses driver reaction and perception behavior through a combination of recorded driving performance and eye movements, while also gathering participant feedback on the most effective alert types. The findings revealed that alerts providing comprehensive information such as incident notifications, distance to the incident, and actionable instructions were most effective in eliciting quick driver responses and improving safety, particularly when delivered two miles in advance of the incident. These types of alerts had a significantly faster response period compared to other types of alerts analyzed. Eye-tracking data indicated that simpler alerts, such as those with only incident information, could also help drivers maintain focus on the road and reduce decision-making complexity. Survey results supported these findings, showing a clear preference for alerts with detailed information, including distance and recommended actions. This study also identified the preferred optimal alert timing as being at least two miles before the incident in high-speed interstate roadway conditions. These findings emphasize the importance of clear, actionable alerts in traveler information systems and highlight opportunities for optimizing alert timing and simplicity to improve driver safety.
期刊介绍:
Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour focuses on the behavioural and psychological aspects of traffic and transport. The aim of the journal is to enhance theory development, improve the quality of empirical studies and to stimulate the application of research findings in practice. TRF provides a focus and a means of communication for the considerable amount of research activities that are now being carried out in this field. The journal provides a forum for transportation researchers, psychologists, ergonomists, engineers and policy-makers with an interest in traffic and transport psychology.