Eye tracking as a method to evaluate users' strategies in contact with driver assistance systems

The development of new driver assistance systems for motor vehicles requires an evaluation of these systems during the development process. It is interesting to know how drivers deal with such a new system. In the case of visual working diver assistance systems, e. g. infrared night vision systems, the time the driver needs to process the given information is important. Safety critical situations can occur when the driver turns his view away from the road for a long time period. To answer the question, in which way drivers use an infrared night vision system a field study was carried out. The users' strategies in contact with the night vision system were evaluated with an eye tracking system and a questionnaire. The objective eye tracking data were correlated with the answers of the subjects. The results show a fast process of getting accustomed to the night vision system. All subjects drove without mistakes. The time they needed to get information from the system was below a safety-critical point. No one drove by display only.