Effects of Hybrid Interface on Ecodriving and Driver Distraction

Hybrid interfaces are emerging in-vehicle technologies that have received minimal research attention in the literature concerning potential impacts on driver performance. Hybrid interfaces have the potential to improve driver fuel efficiency but also to distract drivers. Participants drove a number of urban and suburban routes in the University of Calgary Driving Simulator while interacting with a hybrid interface and attempting to drive fuel efficiently. A within-subjects design was used and each participant drove with and without the hybrid interface. With the hybrid interface, significant reductions in acceleration from a stop were observed when compared with driving without the hybrid interface. Participants spent significantly less time looking to the road ahead while driving with the interface than without it. The duration of participant eye glances to the interface did not exceed 1.6 s; however, drivers tended to combine glances to the interface and speedometer. This combination resulted in several glance durations above 1.6 s without looking back to the road ahead. Balancing ecodriving benefits with driver distraction costs is discussed.