Human Factors Concerns: Drivers’ Perception on Electronic Sideview System in 21st Century Cars

Abstract

Technology evolution has changed the way people reason, interact and how machinery is designed. Technology has grown beyond human comprehension, especially in the automotive industry. As technology evolves, things have become more crucial in a human’s life. As a result, invention of new cars and other means of transportation have become a huge success. Use of automatic cars is expanding day-by-day. Modern cars now come with some benefits such as adaptive cruise control system, lane change information, electronic sideview system, blind spot information, warning indicator of distance between cars and backup camera, etc. Yet, the possible stress caused by using some of these technologies and its impact on drivers have not be fully investigated. This study investigated driver’s cognitive stress from using electronic sideview system versus regular sideview mirror for lane changing. Due to limited availability of cars equipped with electronic sideview system, only twenty drivers participated in the study. Sampled drivers included 7 females and 13 males. Seventy percent of the participants fell into age category of 18–28, 10% fell into age category of 29–39 and 20% in age category of 40–50, while none falls into the category above 50 years old. The study was conducted in the Midwest, United States (US) and the University Institutional Review Board approved the study protocol. Results reveal that 60% of the drivers responded to be more stressed using the electronic sideview system compared with the manual sideview mirror. About 50% affirmed that the electronic sideview system has a better image compared with the regular sideview mirror, but 70% of this 50% complained of cognitive overload. Two-drivers who affirmed that the electronic systems work perfectly also acknowledged that the confusion associated while deciding on which of the two systems to use. Further, 70% of the drivers reported to having difficulty using the electronic sideview system when driving in the same direction with sunlight ray. Twelve percent of the drivers responded to like the electronic system, but requested for car manufacturer improvement. The findings from this study could add to the existing knowledge on the impacts of modern cars inbuilt with electronic sideview system on drivers.